Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-01-22
SOCIALISTS BOUND
BY CONSTITUTION
TO STAND UNITED
Platform of 1917 introduced
as Evidence at Trial of
ASSemblymen.

socialist party, was the first witness
called today at the trial before the
assembly judiciary committee of the
five suspended socialist assemblymen
charged with disloyalty.
Committee counsel began presenta-
ton of evidence after Chairman Louis
NJ. Martin had denied an application
by Morris Hillquit, chief counsel for
the defense, to introduce certain "ad-
missions of fact" which. he said.
would serve to clear the issues and
save calling of a large array of wit
, neSSeS. Objection was taken by John
b. Stanchfield. committee counsel, on
the ground that his side considered
itself able to select what evidence it
thought necessary to establish the de-
sired facts.
AS soon as Gerber had been sworn
Mr.. Stanchfield obtained from him a
copy of the constitutional platform
of the socialist party in 1917, which
was introduced as evidence.
Mr.. Stanchtield also introduced in
evidence the state constitution of
the socialist party, from which he
| viding that candidates for public Of
| flee should. on receiving nomination,
leave their designations with the
PARTY to insure their fulfilling party
commands. Then he introduced the
! bylaws of the New York county So
(
Application Card Exhibited.
The applications of Samuel A. de Witt
and Samuel Orr, two of the suspended
aSSemblymen, were introduced as eX-
hibits, and Mr.. Hillquit admitted for
his clients that the other three men,
berS. Charles Solomon. August Claes-
sons and Louis Waldman, had signed
identical cards.
sThe card bore on one side the fam
ing torch, which is the socialist en-
blem, as well as the declaration by the
applicant that he recognized the neces-
sity of organization in the struggle be-
tween the capitalist class" and the
| workers. The other side of the card
contained information as to residence,
! citizenship, age, place of birth, and the
| names of the socialist publications of
which he was a regular reader.
Mr.. Stanchfield read extracts from
the national constitution of the party
! to show that ANY person residing in
the United States. of eighteen years
of age and upward. without discrimina-
ton on account of race, sex. color or
with all other political parties" shall
| be eligible to membership
The constitution sets forth that the
consent of the party organization.
| state or local, is necessary for any
member of the party to hold public
!
must subscribe to a pledge to be guided
in all political actions by the constitu-
ton and principles of the party or.
ganization.
Any socialist voting for an ap-
preparation for military or naval pur-
party, According to the constitution
The Instrument further prescribed
that socialists elected to Legislative
bodies should organize into group
separate from all other parties and
should always vote as a unit
Pledged to Stand Together.
| Expulsion from the party is the
penalty provided in the constitution
| for voting for any candidate for pub
members, who has not been Endorsed
or recommended by the party organi-
zation.
! Mr.. Stanchfield also read from the
national constitution provisions call
| ing for complete adult suffrage re-
CARELESS of sex. residential or educa-
tional qualifications. and enfran-
| chisement of those declaring their in.
tention to become citizens after one
years residence.
| excerpts showing New York socialists
were governed by the platform and
! constitution of the national organiza-
ton, and that the dues paying men,
bership had powers of expulsion. He
| also read the form Of the resignation
| from public office which candidates
must sign to insure their obedience
| to party principles.
The bylaws of the New York coun-
ty organization described the organi-
cation and administration of the local
and also contained the stipulation that
candidates for public office must, upon
accepting nomination. file their I'M
dated designations with the organiZa-
! ton to become effective whenever
they should prove disloyal, in their
political acts. to the party.
| Mr.. Stanchfield drew from Gerber
! information that the New York Call
was an organ of the socialist party
in which official news was recorded.
Mr.. Hillquit brought out the infor-
nation that virtually all the provi-
sions of the constitution, the bylaws
| and the application blanks had been
operative since the formation of the
state socialist organization, in 1899
The provision for members of the
party elected to Legislative bodies to
form separate group had been in
| the constitution since 1912.
After Gerber had testified that he
was familiar with the literature OF
| the socialist party in other countries
Mr.. Hillquit asked if it was not true
that the same rule prevailed in the
! socialist party the world over.
Gerber said no excerpts of constitu-
I ton or bylaws read by Mr.. Stanch-
field were provisions revised in recent
years
Tells OF Men Taking Oaths
| Francis NJ. Hugo. secretary of state
! followed Gerber on the stand. He
1 identified for the record oaths of office
/ taken by the five defendants In this
| state these oathS are administered not
! by the assembly, but by the secretary
of state. Cross-examined by the De
| tense. Mr.. Hugo said the socialist
members had shown no hesitation in
| taking their oaths.
Three more preliminary motions by
! the defense were denied yesterday.
/ bringing the total introduced and
overruled to six. Yesterdays asked re-
| instatement of the defendants during
trial; dismissal of charges because
! they do not include cause for dis
missal and production of specifica-
| lions ito which even the meanest
criminal is justified" Argument on
! these motions consumed the entire
I day.
suspended assemblymen was asserted
| by Martin w. Littleton associate
counsel for the committee. to involve
| the question as to whether socialists
| "can THEORETICALLY masquerade as a
political party, strike hands with
| every agency of force and revolution
| and still make simple American peo-
pie understand they are not sworn
enemies of their country and ready
to overthrow it."
He charged that Trotsky and Lenin
are attempting installation in America
of the soviet form of government and
that before the waves of public opin-
ion stirred by this case have sub
sided this country will understand
that this so-called political party is
the agent and co-conspirator with the
dark forces of the invisible empire.
whose object is forcible destruction
of constitutional government in Amer