New-York tribune., 1920-01-11
Senator Mills Utters Pro-
test at Action of Assem-
bly, at Meeting of Repub-
lican State Committee
Sweet Answers
Hughes's Criticism
Speaker Upholds Right of
Legislature to Pass Upon
Eligibility of Members

T4ASAAAs OA AAOA1AANA .
The action of the Assembly in ex-
eluding the five Socialist members
and Charles Evans Hughes's letter
to Speaker Sweet criticising it
formed the chief topic of discussion
at yesterdays meeting of the Repub-
lican State Committee at the Ma
tional Republican Club.
Following the meeting former
State Senator Ogden L. Mills,
strongly condemned the Assembly's
course. He said:
s"The proposition which contem-
plates the right of the majority of
q representative assembly to exclude
minority because of the expressed
political belief of the party to which
the minority belongs is revolutionary
and as serious a threat to American
Institutions as will be found in our
entire history"
The Young Republican Club an
uounced that meeting Friday night,
afte- consultation with George A.
Glyn. Republican State Chairman, had
aorted a resolution, presented by
Sanley NJ. Isaacs, protesting against
as Assembly action.
Koenip Withbolds Action
Samuel S. Koenig, president of the
Republican County Committee, said
that, after talking the matter over
with members of the organization and
In view of the almost unanimous vote
excluding the Socialists, he had de-
cided to withhold action until after
the legislative inquiry.
Speaker Sweet yesterday replied to
former Justice Hughes in the follow
ing letter.
II notice in to-day's columns of
the press that you communicated to
ME your views upon the. action of
the Assembly in the adoption of the
resolution suspending the right of
the five Socialists to seats in that
body pending an investigation of the
charges that they are unfit to oc-
cupy seat in the Assembly of the
state of New York. 1t seems from
your communication that you have
assumed that the action of the AS
sembly was in the nature of expul-
sion. If you read carefully and were
familiar with the language of the
resolution adopted you would see
/ that the resolution provides as fol-
the said naming the five Socialist
members be denied seats in this
Assembly pending the determination
Of their qualifications and eligibility
to their respective seats
You should bear clearly in mind
that no attack is made upon the views
OF the Assemblymen en-elect in ques-
ton, However opposed they may be in
theory TO the institutions of the
United States and Of this state. The
question presented squarely is wheth-
er the different organizations of
which they are members, and which
.ney seek to represent in the Legis-
Ature, advocate methods and employ
tactics TO bring about the overturn Of
eur form Of government which will
,ustify their exclusion from partici-
pasing IN legislative proceedings. The
evidence respecting the Socialist
rarity Of America and other organi-
zations to which they belong and the
conduct OF The FIVE Assembl blymen-elect
members thereof will be presented
ceiore the Judiciary Committee, and
VIII there be impartially judged with
= view to determine the rights and
ssness Of those individuals to take
she'r seats; and in this connection it
m'snt be we'll to call your attention
70 This outstanding faet~-thas sharp
nne Of demarcation was drawn in
.nps'i, 1917, between Socialism and
.a .se socialist Party of America
.aose Socialists who placed the honor
tneir country above their creed
aa'gnsd from the Socialist Party Of
.aasfica, and have done their utmost
- poiSt out that the Socialist Party
nmerica as at present constituted
american, is allied with the
t.ss 49,. Of Soviet Russia in an at
up 70 institute in t,is country q
,ns.t nrs form OF government and dicta-
'nlp Of the proletariat.
Wants Judgment Withheld
10 quote from your letter, you
s:sNn; sss,s; If public officers or private
iilsns isa:ssns have any evidence that any
s'.siou@l, Or group Of individuals,
l. sapuing revolution and seeking
raysIs '.o'shs measures TO change our
kssssahmsnt, let the evidence be laid
~. me proper authorities'
M nct the Judiciary Committee Of
No. n1ss.ssmbly the proper tribunal to
sseL sL"EAte the fitness Of those who
s rajs. ss@ts IN the Assembly, AZ the
-. 10 of that body provide, and is
*syt sne AssembIy :tseIf the proper
Ssnsn Ssuaai 10 determine the question Of
sss.ss ssnsss Of these five men? The eon-
aTIiacn - neaa o. this state 50 provides.
~ al'ys Dsheys u IL my duty, an it ig that
iadm.si- patriotic citizen, 70 withhold
ss.asn, sssssa, until findings Of fact are
had h1d1s''sd aid q fair determination
s.,i.last must further emphasize that I
stmh,. mat criticism Of the AS
-.--.'ys action without full knowl-