The New York herald., 1920-01-10
union DENOUNCES
ASSEMBLY, ACTION
ON SOCIALISTS
Central Federated Body Calls
1t Flaming Torch Thrown
by Reckless Hands"

The action Of the State Legislature in
men because of membership in that party
was termed a Flaming torch thrown by
reckless hands into the present hysterical
fire against all so-called radical bodies
in a resolution unanimously adopted last
night by the delegates OF the Central Fed
The resolution expressed fear that labor
organizations would be ruined by the
same flames.
'The unseating of the five Assembly
men is so contrary 10 all precedents and
ideals OF our Republic that Il cannot, it
will not and must not stand the resolu-
tioR further declared.
1t was adopted after a dozen speakers
representing various unions had de-
nounced the action of the legislature
some Of whom asserted that the Repub-
licans and Democrats ought to be given q
vote of thanks for the strength that their
action has given the Socialist party.
A committee representative of that party
and headed by Edward f. Cassidy was
present at the meeting to set forth their
cause and ask for the support of the Cen
present Legislature the most reactionary
in the history of the State and was espe-
cially hot in an attack on Senator Thad-
deus c. Sweet.
After his remarks a resolution was in
troduced by William Kohn, vice chairman
of the Central Federated Union, as fol-
lows
Whereas. in view of the action taken
by the Legislature of the State of New
York in suspending the five Socialist party
Assemblymen for membership in the
| Socialist party, be it resolved by the Cen
trail Federated Union of Greater New York
and vicinity. representing more than 200,-
600 trade unionists affiliated with the
American Federation OF Labor that this
faction of the Legislature be condemned
vehemently and without any reservation.
And be it further resolved that it is the
sense of this body that such action taken
is a flaming torch thrown by reckless
hands into the present hysterical fire
against all so-called radical bodes-which
is spreadng-and the structures of labor
built by generations of effort may be
caught next in its flames.
The action taken is naked evidence
that independent political movements have
next to no chance of gaining foothold.
regardless of the existing party in power;
| for a political party recognized by law
has in :his case been outlayed by a ma
| jority in the Assembly at one session. The
unseating of the five Assemblymen is sc
contrary to all precedents and ideals OF
cur Republic that it cannot it will not
and must not stand.
"It is one more terrible lesson that the
working people must be eternally vigilant
| to hold fast to their liberties, that they
have nothing to expect from the dominant
parties in power. and only by uniting in
one great industrial and political move
ment and by taking over the government
can they secure for themselves true rep
resentative and industrial democracy.
And be it further resolved that the
organization of labor be called on to
give particular attention TO this resolu-
tlon and urged to take action in the mat
ter"
During the debate Mr.. Kohn explained
that his resolution was intended to apply
in meaning as much to the American Labor
party as to the Socialist party. An OBJ
lection was made to the phrase taking
over OF the government" by Daniel
Jacobs, one of the delegates. on the ground
that it savored too much of sedition. But
Mr. Kohn called attention to the fact
that the resolution referred TO a political
movement and the objection was with