New-York tribune., 1920-02-01
400 Delegates
Ask Seating
OF Socialists
Albany Conference Adopts
Resolution Threatening
Defeat of Assemblymen
Responsible for Custer
Fund of $500 Is Raised
Row Over Presence of De-
partment of Justice Men;
Are Denounced as Spies
Staff Correspondence

Staff Correspondence
ALBANY, Jan. 31.-Thc action Of
Thaddeus c. Sweet, Speaker of the
Assembly, in oustng the five Socialist
Assembly lymen, was denounced here to-
day as an attack on representative
government by upward Of 400 dele
gates, representing nearly as many
civic. labor and Socialist organizations
throughout the state, with member
ship in excess of a million.
Resolutions were adopted demanding
the immediate seating of the Socialists,
and before the meeting ended a state
wide movement was lnaugurated to
assist the ousted Socialist delegation in
every possible way.
More than $500 was subscribed to a
fund to aid the Socialists in their fight
to regain their seats and several thou
sand dollars additional was pledged
by the delegates present on behalf of
their respective organizations.
Numerous resolutions were adopted
protesting against the >use Of injunc
tions during strikes and condemning
the so-called sedition bills now before
Congress and the state Legislature.
Text Of the Resolution
The resolution condemning the un-
seating Of the Socialists follows:
Whereas, the New York State As
sembly, by It's unwarranted suspension
Of five duly elected representatives,
has struck the most serious blow at
legislation and representative govern
ment yet suffered in the United States
of America,
whereas, Representative govern
ment is based on the right of the
people, residents anc voters. in their
several districts, to elect without in
reference by any outside authority,
citizens to serve them as Representa-
tlvcs, and this right, the basic right
OF representative government, has been
basely revoked by the New York State
Assembly; and,
Whereas, Free government, repre-
sentative government, places no re-
strctlons, nor can place any restric-
tlons, on political or religious beliefs,
nor on party adherence; and,
Whereas, AS citizens, differing wide
ly in political beliefs but adherng as a
unit IN our purpose to reestablish and
MAINTAIN representative government, we
united support to this end Therefore
be it
"Resolved, That this conference de-
mands the T. tsoration of representative
government IN New York and the i'm
mediate seating by the Assembly Of
the ousted representatives, not because
they are Socialists, but because they
are the duly elected representatives Of
their constituencies; and be it further
but fcr
upon all its delegates, and through
them upon their constituencies, to
pledge the defeat Of every member of
the Assembly in any way responsible
for the un-American, unconstitutional
and indetensibc ousting of these duly
elected representatives, that any po-
litica party nominating them for pub
lie Office be held equally responsible
for this attempt of reactionaryism to
subvert representative government and
place bigotry, prejudice and ignorance
as judges of individual or party quail
tications for citizenship or right to
represent people in official capacity"
Hays Precipitates Row
During the discussion of the reso-
luton attacking the scdition bills Ar
thur G. Hays of New York former
Progressive, precipitated a good sized
row by inquirne If any representa-
tives of the Department of Justice
were present. There was a chorus of
"Yes!' from several parts of the room.
"Well," continued Hays, II think
that is the most contemplate thing
possible. hope they will report
what they have heard Who are we
that we should be subjected to es-
pionage and suspicion?
After the vote was taken adopting
the resolution former Socialist AS
semblyman Abraham I. Shiplacof asked
how the Department OF Justice men
voted. A dozen Buffalo, Rochester and
Syracuse labor men jumped to their
feet hot with anger There was 80
much confusion that the chairman, Jo-
scph G. Cannon. of Lackawanna, for q
moment lost complete control of the
meeting Finally, r. c. Lacey, of the
Buffalo Central Labor Union, was rec
ognized.
eve are here to act as American
citizens" he declared, land II doesn't
come with good grace to attack the
United States government when We
are attacking men who are putting
down the principles of American lib
ertY. The Department of Justice men
have as much right here as anybody
else"
"Not if they are spying" retorted
Shiplacoff. This was followed by an
OprOAI. ClNaliN tNt voice or MISS
Becky uawley, an pretty auburn haired
representative of the Buffalo wait
resses' union. was heard above the din.
This talk against the United States
government must ceasei" she shouted
"You will Kill your own cause to get
these men seated We want to help
them, but slamming the Department of
Justice is the wrong way"
Lacey made Il motion that the speak
ers be made TO eonhne themselves to
the matter before the house and leave
out further references to the Depart
ment of Justice or other United States
officials The Socialists fought so hard
against tins motion that the chairman
tried to get Lacey to withdraw it,
"Never,' yelled Lacey at the top of
his voice.
The Socialists insisted that they mad
the right TO criticize government oth
clals. One New Yorker declared that
IN New York many people were sub
Jected to brutal treatment from the De
partment of Justice.
Lacey's motion was carried, with
few votes recorded against it.
In the anti-sedition resolution the
measures were characterized as Skill
fully drawn as to prevent free polit-
cal and economic discussion either bv
word or mouth or in the PRESS and as
violating every principle upon which
this government was founded and as
opposed TO all labor and civic rights"