Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1920-01-23
Assault on Representative Government

NEW YORK politics has been thrown into
l Il state OF Juror by tho expulsion OF five
Socialist members from the General Assem-
bly, at the instance OF the Republican leaders
of that body headed by Speaker Sweet No
charges have been preferred against the So
cialist ASscmblymcn. No overt act has been
committed by any one of them. No other
disaualifying fact has been alleged in their
case except that they arc Socialists and are
representatives OF a party whose purpose it
Is to change the form OF the American gov
eminent.
The net OF the Assembly in refusing seats
TO these citizens, all Of whom were duly
elected, has been denounced with Indignation
D! many of the leading meE and women OF
the State. The most conspicuous Of those
who feel outraged by the Asscmbly's move
IS former Associate Justice OF the United
states Supreme Court Charles t. Hughes
late Republican candidate for the presidency
Judge Hughes declares that his political as
socrates in the Legislature have aimed ter
r'ole plow at the principle OF representative
government III America and most good
Americans will concur in that view
II IS undoubtedly true that the Socialist
program calls Tor the gradual undermining
ol the present system OF government in the
United states In the abstract; i, promotes
revolution and to that end seeks by all the
power IT can command, 10 undermine the
me Socialists Of the moderate type do not
propose this by force and violence They
nave undertaken TO carry through their pru-
gram by pcacea BILE methods They resort
10 education and nropagand They operate
WITHIN the law. II is no crime 10 be q So
ciallst any more than it X a crime to be n
democrat OF Prolibitionist or a Mugwump
As long as Socialists proceed in good order
WITH their campaigning they must he accorded
nIo
thcir candidates 10 Office if they have a ma
jcritS, ana TO support tho reforms" which
lhcir Spokesnlcn urge. 1t is only when tha
SOCIALIST becomes terrorist an incendiarv
violent Bolshevis or a Communist n,ndpcd
10 the overthrow of the American govern
sn. .! use OIL lorcc, that he becomes men
ace TO the community
There is wide difference between tho
peaceful Socialists OF tho type found in nj
most every community of the United States
anu the AMEN bomb-thrower and anarchist
VINO aiiiateS himself with the Communist
party aud the Communist Labor party an
nounclng with boldness his determination To
american institutions by use of the
loren and the bullet. The government 4.
absolutely justified in deportine such aliens
ana would be derelict in its DUTY ia tho no
.lon II IL did not resort to the use OF nth
Tess methods, il need be. 10 rid the country
OF such danger.
me New York Asscnblyncn NAV have
peei iictuated only by the most patriotic of
motives III announcing 10 tho State and tbe
country that they would not sit dav nv day
oA me hoor OF legislative body beside ae-
socta.eS VINO are committed to a program
TOT the overthrow of free institutions Dut
!. seems 10 most impartial observers thai
.heS aliowed their zeal to carry them bevond
Tue oonas OF reason. and that all they bav
80! pi'snea Is to give aid and encourage
ment to socialism throughout ,hc nation