The New York herald., 1920-01-23
State Scores When Claessens'
Bolshevism Harangue Is
Admitted.
PLEA FOR REVOLUTION
Socialists Lawyers, Overrulcd
on All Points, Threaten to
Withdraw.
GET THE PLEDGE IN WRITING
Minority Files Dissent from Decisions
Made by the Chairman,
Louis NJ. Martin. -
GET THE PLEDGE IN WRITING
Special Despatch to the Herald }

Special Despatch to the Herald
ALBANY, y. Y, THURSDAY the close
OF day of legal battling, during which
the States case moved slowly, John r.
Stanchfield presented one OF the strongest
pieces of evidence gathered by the As
Tsembly against two of the five Socialist
members who are on trial for disoyalty.
This was stenographic report OF
speech made by August Claessens. Of the
Bronx, at a meeting in his district to cele-
brate the second anniversary of the Rus
sian Soviet government. Assemblyman
Claessens in bitter denunciation of de-
mocracy described this nation as the
United States of thieves indorsed the
sentiment, Tho American Republic is
based on fraud" declared that what I'VE
Socialists want is social revolution"
which will overthrow established govern
ment and recitcd at length what he and
Charlie Solomon" would do in the State
Assembly and out to further the doctrine
of revolution. Mr.. Solomon is one of the
Suspended Assenlblymen on trial
The State is making much of this state
ment. 1t evidently is one of the definite
things which the accusers Of the As
semblymen have been promising TO pro-
ducc as big sensation. Counsel for the
Assembly and others said tonight they
considered this speech would justify the
expulsion Of Mr.. Claessens and possibly
,ir. Solomon.
Attorney General Newton. head counsel
for the committee, announced he had en-
gagged Thomas Carmody formerly Attor-
ney General, to succeed Martin w. Little
ton, who was forced to withdraw from the
case yesterday. The appearance of Elon
r. Brown, of Watertown. formerly 1;epub-
ican leader Of the Senate, also was noted.
Pledge n disappointment.
The Claessens speech is regarded as the
only important evidence brought OUT by
the Assembly's counsel during the first
day of taking testimony. Members Of the
Assembly sitting in the trial generally
expressed disappointment when it devel-
Ioped that the written designations which
it has been charged the Assemblymer
gave their executive committee when
elected was in reality nothing more than
their pledge of allegiance to their party
such as is taken by every Socialist. The
five men evidently did not write out any
specific resignation applying to their Of
fices as Assemblymen. The Socialist
counsel declared the provision In the con-
stitution covering this point has been a
dead letter for ten years.
Not once during a day of continuous
protesting did Mr.. Hillquit obtain a ia
vorable ruling. Finally. almost in dcs-
peration. he threw UP his arms and ex-
claimed what is the use OF going ahead
with this farce: this is nothing but a
travestry on Justice" lie decided to g.
ahead however.
O. tho numerous documents pro
sen was Red Book on BolsheNisu
It contained an article condemning and
one praising the Russian Soviet. The STATE
read into the records some of tho fic-y
passages from the article opposing R"'
shevism and refused the Socialists th"
right of reading the other article. In
vain Mr.. Hlquit argued that he did uot
know the author OF the article; that Il
could have no possible bearing on tho
case Of the Assemblymeu. Counsel for
the State said it referred TO tho case IN
a general way and Mr.. Martin ruled TO
let il in anyhow, and the committee
would decide afterward."
Ov~rruIed Twenty Times.
Mr.. Hillquit and his associates made 2
losing fight on every point. They wore
overruled probably twenty times aud
every time the point was the admission
OF books. pamphlets and other docu-
ments dealing with the general subject OF
Bolshevism. The committee apparently
made no special effort TO follow. any
definite charges during most Of the pro-
ceeding. Much Of the evidence gathered
by the Lusk Committee and read la sum-
mer in New York was presented.
The Socialists objected TO having their
books and records taken as evidence un-
less IL was shown what was wanted and
that precipitated a long fight. on the
questions Of the philosophy and doctrines
of Socialism and Boshevism the States
counsel were no match for the Assembly,
mems counsel. Mr.. Hillquit was az home
when he cross-examined on those subjects
MIR. Stanchfield and his associates were
entering comparatively new field
Twice members of the committee OBJ
jected 90 Mr.. Martins ruling. but eleven
OF the thirteen members sustained the
chairman. Mr.. Evans filed a minority
opinion objecting 10 the committees de-
cisions and Messrs Evans and Block
noted dissenting views on the record TO
the ruling which admitted the so-called
Miller book on Bolshevsm.
William Smart. a stenographcr, OF New
York. testified that he was i'm hall I'm the
Bronx when Assemblymsn Claessens made
his speech celebrating Bolshevism Dav
Mr Claessens devoted much Of his speech
to n denuncistion OF the election frauds
which he charged had been practised in
his own and other districts and which
were the subject Of some investigation
His bitterness and his denunciation Of
Americanism Is explained by his assoc
ciatcs as having been due TO his over
wrought condition resulting from the
frauds.
Want n social Revolution.
Part Of the speech was as tollows;-
what We Socialists want is more than
change in government. We want So
cial revolution. which means a completes
change in the economic social, intellectual,
moral as well as physical phases of life.
The foundation OF present day society is
the exploitation OF one human being by
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(Continued on Page Three, Col, 0ns.l