Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1920-03-30
New York Assemblymen
Recommend Ousting Of
Five Members.
PARTY PRINCIPLES
ENOUGH TO CONVICT
Judiciary Committee Of House Fav-
ors Expulsion Of Five soeialistS as
Enemies Of Government-Party
Policies Held to bo Criminal-He'
port Comes Up For Final Action
Thursday-Rooseveit Opposed.
BY Associated Press.


Albany, March so.-Branding the
socialist party as IAN organization
composed exclusively OF perpetual
traitors" a majority of the Judiciary
committee of the New York state as
sembly in report transmitted to the
lower house today recommended the
expulsion of the five socialist
assemblymen, August Claessens'
Charles Solimon, Louis Waideiisiii.
Samuel Orr and Samuel A. Dewitt.
Minority reports were submitted by
members Of the committee who dis
sented from the finding of the ma
jority. Action on the report will be
made the special order of business in
the assembly tomorrow, and it is ex-
pected that the final vote will be
taken on Thursday.
While no concerted action has been
taken by those who are opposed to
the expulsion of the socialists, Ma
jority Leader Simon l.. Adler, of
Monroe. and Assemblyman Theodore
Roosevelt, of Nassau, will speak and
vote against that program.
Not Obedisnt to Laws.
The charges of unfitness against
the ffve socialist members were sus-
tanned by majority of the assem-
bly, judiciary committee in 10000
word report submitted to the legisla-
ture today.
An enactment Of law to prevent
any organization which admits, an
ems to its membership from occupy
ing the position OF a. political party
on the state ballot is advocated.
The socialist assemblymen. the
findings state, "are not obedient to
the constitution and laws Of the
United States nor desirous of the
welfare Of the country, nor in hearty
accord with its government and its
institutions"
The report mentions the fact that
the partys constitution provides that
"any socialist elected to an office
who shall in any way vote to appro-
pirate moneys for military or naval
purposes shall be expelled from the
party"
The report reviews evidence that
the socialist party opposed prosecu-
tion of the war and opposed all leg
islation for industrial and military
conscription. pledged its members to
work for the repeal Of the conscrip-
tfon law, advised resistance to con-
scription Of life and labor. and urged
the reputation Of war debts.
Policies Are Criminal.
Referring to tho statement that
some 1000 socialists had been arrest
ed for their activities. the report
says:
TT was impossible to give express
sion to or act upon the true doctrines
of the socialist party during the war
without running foul of the criminal
law.
''The socialist party Of America is
an organization or group of men
combined together for the purpose Of
hindering and obstructing, the gov
ernment Of the United States. and
the dues paying members Of this
group, including the flve socialist as
senblymen, BY their membership. ac-
tivities and contribution of funds
were and are disloyal to this
government.
"The socialist party Of America as
now constituted with its present pro-
gram, is q disloyal organization COM
posed exclusively 'of perpetual trait
ors. - S. 81. = y
Therefore the act OF member Of
that party in subscribing to the con-
sIituIivn.; Toatn vi vm;oe &c &C :s:.:cc.c-t :.cc.c-
the constitution of the United States
and the constitution Of the state Of
New York, should be utterly disre-
garded az patiently sham and cloak
for treachery.' ,
Two Republicans Oppose.
Two republicans, William w. Pei
4 lett, OF New York, and Theodore
Stitt, OF Brooklyn, signed report
, expressing the belief that the social
lists were entitled to retain their
seats. They state that no evidence
was produced to show that the atti-
tude OF the socialists du-ing the war
was not Other than eegative, q with
hc!a!rs lsld and comfort to their gov
ernment rather than q positive one Of
giving aid and comfort to the ma
tion's enemies. !
4 ''To exclude a duly elected member
because OF his membership In par
ticular political party or because Of
his political or economic views" they
\ say. moi vniy wouIo De contrary to
{ the spirit Of the constitution but
would be p most dangerous attack
ylron fha risht of repreaentatiya gov
ernmspt and free political action"
None Of the assemblymen, they
saY was charged with breach OF the
criminal anarchy statute OF the state
Or the espionage act
Two democratic members OF the
c11nmittAs, Maurice Bloch and Will
! liam ID. Evans, OF New York. hold
stlsaH the members Of the assembly.
ckn not unseat the ave Socialists