New-York tribune., 1920-01-08
Accused of Being Against
Government of U.S.and
: the State of New York
in Formal Indictment
Speaker Arraigns
Five Legislators
Similar Action Planned
Against Socialists in the
B o a r d of Aldermen
Staff Correspondence,

Staf, Correspondence
ALBANY, Jan. THE Assembly
OF the State Of New York, ,as it's first
act after organizing to-day, suspend
ed the five Socialist Assemblymen.
pending their trial on charges of be-
ing opposed to the organized govern
ment of the United States and the
State of New York.
Unless the Judiciary Committee.
of the Assembly reports that the So
cialists are loyal and eligible to take
their seatsSand the Assembly adopts
this report, they will be denied all
rights and privileges as members.
Similar action, it is said, is con-
templated against the Socialist men,
bers of the New York City Board of
Aldermen.
The five Socialists elected from
the Assembly are August Claessens.
representing the 18th Assembly Dis
|trict Of Manhattan; Louis Wald-
man, Of the 9th Assembly District,
Manhattan; Charles Solomon, Of the
|23d Assembly District, Brooklyn;
Samuel A. Dewitt, Of the Sd Assem-
bly, District, the Bronx, and Sam
uel Orr, of the 4th Assembly Dis
trict, the Bronx.
Applause Creets Exit
The charges against the Socialists
were predicated on evidence OBJ
tanned by the Lusk Committee, and
the Indictment against them was
drawn up by Charles D. Newton,
State Attorney General, as counsel
to the Lusk Committee.
The charges were embraced in . reso-
luton offered by Assemblyman Simon
L. Adler, of Rochester, majority leader.
Only six votes were recorded against
the measure, four of them being cast
by Socialists and the other two by As
semblymen j. Fairfax Mclaughlin and
William Evans, Democrats, both Of the
Bronx
Immediately after the vote was taken
the five Socialists were escorted from
their seats by the sergeant-at-arms and
placed outside the brass rail, inside of
which none but members of the Legis-
lature may go.
The exit of the Socialists was greeted
by applause both from the membevs of
the Assembly and the spectators.
The first indication that a move to
oust the Socialists would be made came
when Thaddeus C. Sweet, after his cleo
tion as Speaker, addressed the As
sembly. He declared that laws should
be framed to curb the Bolsheviki and q
resolution adopted memorializing Con-
gress to enact law to disfranchise
"the seditious parlor socialist, who by
social standing, financial and personal
influence encourages. or abets q plot for
the overthrow of our constituted gov
ernment."
Five Face Speaker
Immediately after finishing his
speech of acceptance Speaker Sweet d.
rected the sergeant-at-armst to arfai1n
the five Socialists before the bar of the
House. The Socialists of thnir own
volition walked into the we'll and faced
the Speaker.
Speaker Sweet then addressed them,
saying:
''You are seeking seats in this body.
You have been elected on q platform
that is absolutely inimical to the best
interests Of the State of New York and
of the United States. That platform is
the doctrine of the Socialist party and
provides that every person elected
thereupon subscribes to the rules and
regulations, principles and tactics, Of
that party. 1t is not truly q political
nm rtv huf Ia mavnhor,h;r r~~ou
tion admitting within its ranks aliens.
enemy aliens and minors.
"The constitution Of that party in
Section 5 provides this: In ali INV
political actions while q member of the
Socialist party I agree to be guided
by the constitution and platform Of
that party and Section IS, Subdivision
F, Of the state constitution of the So
cialist party provides that member
when elected to q, public ofics must
abide by and carry out such instruc-
tions as he may have received from
the dues paying party organization, or
as prescribed by the state or national
Martens Socialist
ut may be interesting to note that
Ludwig G. A. K. Martens, the self
styled Soviet ambassador, an alien, who
entered this country % German In
1915, became member Of the Socialist
party upon his entry into this country
and took part in its deliberations.
1t is therefore quite evident that
You, elected to public ONCE, in spite
OF your oath Of ONCE are bound 70 act
subject to instructions received from
an executive committee which naav ha,
made UP In whole or In part Of aliens
or alien enemies, owing alleelanca 70
governments or orNnnixat36nn vvknae