New-York tribune., 1920-01-16
Calls Reds to
Testify Against
Five Socialists
Newton Brings Subp@nas
for Fifty Witnesses From
This City Who Appeared
Before Lusk' Committee

Fifty subpoenas for witnesses Ut the
trial Of the five suspended Socialist
Assemblymen which is to begin before
the Judiciary Committee at Albany
next Tuesday morning were brought to
New York last night by Attorney Cen
eral Charles D. Newton. A dozen
agents from Mr.. Newton's office will
begin serving the subpoenas to-day.
They call for the appearance as wit
nesses for the Assembly many Social
lists and radicals, some of whom have
appeared before the Lusk Legislative
Committee.
Much evidence taken by the Lusk
Committee, it was learned yesterday,
is to be used by Mr.. Newton and his
associate counsel as basis for charges
that the five Socialists, by reason of
membership in their party, were
pledged to program which seeks to
overthrow the government.
All Names Withheld
1t was pointed out that the Lusk
committee for eight months has been
gathering evidence along the lines of
the charges made against the Social
lists in the suspension resolution
adopted by the Assembly. These
charges are that the Socialist party in
Chicago last August declared its ad-
herence to the revolutionary forces of
Soviet Russia" that it indorsed the
principles Of the communist interna-
tional convention at Moscow. (which is
pledged to the forcible and violent
overthrow of all organized govern
ment," and that each of the five So
cialists, if admitted to the Assembly,
would be obliged to help carry out this
program.
Officials at Mr.. Newton's office would
not say yesterday who are to be called
as witnesses, but it was made known
that number Of prominent radicals
are to be called upon to testify against
their will, as was done in the Lusk
hearings at the City Hall.
AS to the possibility Of Mr.. Hughes
and other members Of the Bar Associa.
ton committee appearing at the hear
ing before the Judiciary Committee
Attorney General Newton said:
"That will be a matter for the Ju-
they represent If they represent only
the Bar Association, it might establish
precedent which would enable outside
bodies to appear Independently at sub
sequent hearings"
Seeks Associate Counsel
The Attorney General said he came
to New York to consult with an attor-
ney who probably would appear as as.
sociate counsel for the prosecution
The Socialists will have fair hearing
he said. He declared the trial will be
somewhat along the lines Of the Lusk
committee hearings" as the charges
against the Socialist Asscmblymen arc
that they pledged support to the prin-
ciples Of Bolshevism and the Com
of the government by force.
Charles f. Hughes, chairman of the
committee appointed by the Bar Asso-
citation Of New York to 60 to Albany
ITO safeguard the principles Of repre-.
sentative government" and to protest
against the suspension of the Social
lists, declined to make any statement
as to the committees plans. 1t was
said at Mr.. Hughcs's Office that nc
statement would be issued until after
the committee arrives at Albany.
The suggestions from Albany that
Mr.. Hughes and the four other mem.
bers Of his committee would have te
be accredited as counsel for the So.
cialists before they would be hearc
were trc9ted with silence. The other
members Of the Morgnn J
O'Brien, Joseph M. Proskauer, Louis
Marshall and Ogden l.. Mills-woult
not give any intimaton as to their ut
titudo. The letter sent by Morris Hill