New-York tribune., 1920-01-10
the Declaration of In

Fund, which was opened yesterday
afternoon to finance the fight to reseat
the ousted five, had reached a total of
nearly a thousand dollars in the first
hour.
During the day it was announced
that special issue of "The New York
Call" dealing exclusively with the
Socialist side of the controversy,
would be published Sunday, and would
be distributed without charge on the
streets. Announcement also was made
of an open air protest meeting. which
will take place this afternoon at 10th
Street and Fifth Avenue, where the
suspended legis ators and the local
leaders of the movement will speak.
Other mass meetings are planned.
Committee Statement Issued
At noon yesterday the State Execu-
tive Committee issued statement,
signed by S. John Block. state chair
man; Algernon Lee and James O'Neal,
which attacks the Assembiys: resou-
tion suspending the FIVE legislators
from a dozen different angles. This
document reads in part:
'In it's proclamation last August the
Socialist party declared that we pledge
our supp rt to the revolutionary work
ers of Russia in the maintenance of
their soviet government; to the radical
Socialists Of Germany, Austria and
Hungary in their efforts to establish
working-class rule in their countries
This statement, which followed the
overthrow Of czarism and kaiserism,
is craftil construed to imply that our
organization wh ch in America par
ticipates in political campaigns and
appeals to the suffrage Of the voters, is
committed to force and violence to
accomplish its aims.
THE Assembly resolution further as
serts that the Socialist party is COM
mitted to the Moscow international and
that the latter is pledged to the vo-
lent overthrow Of organized govern
mont. The Socialist party is not COM
mitted to any International organiza-
ton, and even if affiliated with the
Moscow international, this would not
commit it to violence. This interna-
tional in it's official statement leaves
to the affiliated national groups qies-
tlons of policy and methods. stating
distinctly that political action is per-
fectly consistent with such afli iation.
AS recently as last August our party
emphatically reanirr,ed its polio of
education. organization and peaceful
appeal to the suffrage of the voters.
We nave deeply sympathized with the
struggles of the Russian peasants ard
workers in their efforts to establish
their own ins itutions. In doing so
we have kept in mind the experience
OF the American coionIsts in 1776
when they were engaged in a similar
struggle for self-determination.
Party Pledge Defended
Our party pledge which pledges
members to be guided by the constitu-
ION end platform of the party is in
cluaed as one OF our crimes. In re-
curing this pledge of members. q
pledge that has been a qualification
for membership for tw.nlv years, we
have intended to guard against polit-
'cai trading or compro mi g. wi III other
political parties. To sign such a pledge
Is no more violation fthe Con titu-
ton OF the United States than similar
pledges taken by members OF the
Masonic order knights Of Columbus,
trade unions, or any other association
of citizens. -
1T is absurd and dishonest to con-
tend, as the third paragraph of the
Assembly resolution does. that there
is something illegal or criminal in the
acceptance of such pledge. Through
out the country, small clioues of
po iticians, bankers and business men
instruct and pledge representatives Of
the two dominant parties to carry out
certain policies, and there are many
cases OF representative who failed to
obey these cliqucs and we're retired
TO private life. The Socialist party
openly pledges the loyalty of it's mem
sers and, elected officials to its con-
structive programme, and we presume
this is it's crime.
Charge Of Alienism Disputed
eve deny that instructions are given
elected officials by the executive com
mittee made up in who.e or part of
aliens or alien enemies' The over
wi Ginning majority of the party mem.
bership is composed Of cilizcns Its
officers and members of political com
mittees are always citizens The
party has maintained bureaus and
special committees to aid non-citzens
to become citizens and it has often
been obstructed in this civic work
by Republican and Democratic poll
ticians who are voc ferrous in their
'Americanism
mo Official or member of the party
has ever received instructions in viola
, ton Of the state or Federal constitu-
t ons, or in violation of any laws of
the state or nation. With the low cum
ming Of man with bad case, our
enemies seek 10 convey the impression
that we have done so, but they cannot
produce the slightest evidence to verify
their statement.
"The s.. Louis resolution, now three
years old, is referred to in the hope Of
justifying the usurpations OF the As
scmby. The Socialist party was op-
oosed to the war and many other citi-
zens were opposed to entering it. in
c udng members Of Congress-. Many
people who then disagreed with our
views now believe that events both dur
ing and since the close of t. great
war afford justification for our views.
However, the resolution proceeds to de
liberate falnehood when it asserts that
tt e 5cialist party urged the people to
refuse to engage even in the produc-
ton of munitions of war and other
necessities
Antagonism to Law Denied
"Neither before nor after the war
did the Socialist party urge the viola
ton of any war laws or peace laws.
We conducted our educational work
along legal lines. Quoting from the
ST. Louis resolution, we expressed our
opposition to all proposed legislation
for military or industrial conscription,
and should such Legislation be enacted
we pledged the party TO continuous
efforts for the repeal of such laws
We circu ated thousands Of mass petit
tons for. the repeal Of the so called
sclective draft law, the petitions also