Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1920-01-08

Charles II. Belts, the new assemblymen
from Wayne, had the distinction of intro
ducing the first bill of the season in the
lower chamber, a measure designed at
the repeal of the States daylight savings
law. a companion bill was introduced in
the upper chamber by j. Samuel Fowler
of Chautauqua.
Albany. y. Y. Jan. THE socialists n
the Assembly-fve in number-were denied
their seats by resolution of that boay
to-day. The action was based on their
questioned loyalty. Until the judiciary
committee of the Assembly decides
whether they are eligible TO take the,r
seats they will he denied all rights and
privileges of members.
| The men ousted from the chamber were
August Claessens Of New York the party
leader; Samuel A. Dewitt and Samuel
| Orr of The Bronx, Charles Solomon #
Kings and Louis Waldman of Now York
/ The preamble of the resolution DEM
ing them admission to tie floor sets forth
that their allegiance to their party dis
Qualities them from serving the state. It
declares that the August convention #
the Socialist party in Chicago declared
adherence and solidarity with the revOlu-
tionary party of soviet Russia and pledged
International socialist revolution; that hy
such adherence and declaration the
Socialist party has ndorsed the principles
| of the communist international now being
Iheld at Moscow, which is pledged to the
[ forcible and violent overthrow of all
existing organized governments: that the
cons ,itution of the Socialist party Of
America requires each member to sub
scribe to the principle that in all his
political actions while a member Of the
Socialist party he will be guided by the
constitution and platform of the party;
and that a member may be expelled or
suspended from his party for failing or
refusing when elected to public Of
flee to carry out such instructions as
he may have received from the parry
organization"
! The preamble also referred to resoiu-
tions adopted at the Socialist national
convention al st. Louis in April, 1917. o.
posing participation in the war with Ger
many
The action Of the assembly came with
dramatic uneXpectedncss. Routine reso-
lutions We're the order OF business
Suddenly, Speaker Thaddeus c. Sweet
directed the sergeant-at arms Harry W.
Haines, to bring the socialist members
before the bar of the H,use. When the
live men were lIIltu iP DcAOle llIn lio
speaker said:
You are taking seats IN this body
you have been elected on a platform that
is absolutely inimical to the best interests
of the State of New York and of the Uni
ted States. That platform is the doctrine
of the Socialist party. 1t is not truly
political party, but is a membership or
ganzation admitting within its ranks
aliens. enemy aliens, and minors"
Quoting from the section of the consti-
tuition of the Socialist party that requires
all members to be guided in all their pu-
litical actions by the constitution and
platform of the party Speaker Sweet said
1T is interesting to note that Ludwig
c A. r. Martens, the self-styled soviet
ambassador, became a member of the
Socialist party upon mis- entry into tn
country and took part in its delibera-
tions. 1t is therefore that you, in spite
OF your oath of office, are bound to act
subject to instructions received from
an executive committee which may be
made in whole or In part OF aliens or
alien enemies, holding allegiance to
governments or organizations whose
interests may he diametrically opposed
to the best interests Of the United
States
| Concluding, the speaker said
TT is every citizens right to his day
in court; if this House should adopt
resolution declaring your seat vacant
pending a hearing before a tribunal Of
this house you Will be given an op-
portunity to prove your right to a seat
in this body"
AS soon as the speaker had finished
speaking Majority Leader Simon L. Adj
Ter of Monroe offered the resolution
declaring vacant the seats of the
socialist members. Charles Solomon,
the Kings Socialist, attempted to g I
recognition but the speaker ruled that
resolution was not debatable, and the
roll call began.
OF the 11O republicans and 35 demo-
Gratis, all but three were present and
responded. The vote was 14O to six
Speaker Sweet then notified the
Socialists that they must leave tht
enclosure None of the socialists NOV
ed.
Upon instructions from the Speaker
sergeant at t-arms Haines approached
the little group. After brief CONVEX.
sation in whispers August Claessehs
smilingly accompanied the officer tc
the door Waldman went with Hainei
on the second trip, and the three re.
naming men on the third.
1t is logical to suppose that the person
to whom your property would be va.ua
-. 4