The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1920-04-01
NelU York Assembly
ExpeLs 5 Socialists
Theodore Roosevelt t Seeks in
Vain to Prevent UnSeat-
ing Of Members.
"DIsLoYAL AND UNFIT"
Action Taken After Contin-
uous 25.Hour Debate and
All Night Session.

Albany, N, Y, April 1.-Q. N.
S0-Amid scenes that were
tensely dramatic, the state as
sembly today expelled perma-
nently the five socialist members
from New York City.
They were found by the as
sembly to be disIoya to, the state
and to the nation and as such
unfit to sit in the assembly
chamber. Party lines were cast
aside IN the voting and generally
the members voted as their in
diVldual opinions dictated.
Each of the five men were voted
on Individually. Louis Waldman
who was described during the eight
weeks investigation as being a
young Trotzky," was the first to be
voted upon. He was expelled by a
vote of lis to 2S. August Claessens
came second and the assembly ousted
him by 116 to 2S.
Charles Solomon was third and
was expelled by the same vote-116
to 2S.
Definite charges of being disloyal
had been made against these three
and overt acts cited. One of the
charges against Solomon was that he
had been seen to spit on the Ameri-
can flag.
NO definite charges were pending
against Samuel Dewitt and Samuel
Orr, the remaining socialists, other
- than that membership in the social
list party made them unfit to aid in
writing the laws of New York state.
Because of this fact the majority
in favor of their expulsion was
slightly less, but both were ousted
by votes of 104 to 40.
The vote was finally reached after
nearly twenty-four hours OF contin-
uous debate, which continued with
out letup throughout the night. No
recesses for meals or rest were taken,
and when the vote was finally
reached the members were looking
haggard and tired in their seats
heavy eyed from want of sleep and
apparently wanting nothing so much
rs to get the matter ended.
Louis Waldman was the only one
of the convicted socialists present
when the assembly voted the, expul-
sion. Whatever the assembly decides
TO do in recommendation of the ma
jority report to OUTLAW" the socialist
party at the polls will be done in
legislation now being drafted and
ready Cor introduction either late to-
day or tomorrow, according to
Speaker Sweet. W ssGst, =,
Owing to the fact that the men
We're expelled after midnight on
March 81, there can be no special
elections to fill their seats in the
assembly unless an extraordinary
session of the legislature is to be
convened
OPPOSED BY ROOSEVELT.
Theodore Roosevelt, repubIi-
can, voted against expulsion,
having argued with the assem-
bly, during the night that it had
no right to exclude the party.
Will Become Candidates.
The assembly did not vote directly
IN the majority report, which had
declared the socialist party as n
party to be traitorous organization
and which would have prohibited the
olacinA of socialist candidates on
he ballots next November
The ousted socialists announced
( hey will Immediately become can
idates in their respective districts.
they expressed little doubt but tnat
heir constituencies would return
them to the assembly, as the voters
lid Victor Berger to congress in the
Fifth Wisconsin district, as a meas
nre of protest.
Legal Experts Agreed.
Legal experts were agreed that
little action could be had from the
courts, as the right of the legislature
IL,
had been firmly established. Final
decision in the matter will be left to
the socialist counsel, Morris Hillquit
OF New York. who is at Saranac
Lake, and Seymour Stedman, of Chi
cago, who is now in Chicago.
Seldom has the capital wit
messed such oratcral heights
and flights of rhetoric such as
began yesterday, went through
the long hours of the night and
continued far into the new day.
Certainly not since the famous
night of the Sulzer impeachment
and some members conceded that
even that historical sessions was
outdone.
Everyone from Speaker Sweet
himself down TO the youngest
first year man making his
maiden effort, had their full say.
There was no interference from
the chair. The deep, steady boom
OF the old-tmer mingled with
the tremulous, high pitched
waVer of the yearling. Over
forty members participated in
the debate.
WOMEN EVENLY DIVIDED.
The women members OF the
house were evenly divided, the re-
publican member, Miss Margaret
l. Smith. Of New York, voting TO
\ eKpel the entire delegation, while
her democratic colleague, Miss Elk
absth Van r. Gillette. OF Schenec-
tady, consistently favored their re-
tention.