Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-01-21
N. Y. SOCIALISTS
COUNSEL DEFENDS
SOVIET OF RUSSIA
Stedman at Trial Says Sys-
tenn Not Crime or Basis for
Civil Suit in U. S.
" the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
ALBANY. n. Y. January 21.-A de-
Tense of soviet Russia was made to-
day on the floor of the New York
assembly chamber by Seymour Sted-
man of Chicago, an attorney for the
defense in the trial of the five sus-
pended socialist aAafpnh lyInenl before
the assembly Judiciary COMMITTEES on
charges OF disIoyaIty.
Stedman, who represented Eugene
" Debs6xN& Victor IL Rerger IN tneII
the assemblymen be dismissed be-
cause they did not include cause lot
dismissal. His argument had to deai
with assertions that the deIendants
were pledged to carry out the 'siii OF
a secret organization that coulo oe
controlled by alien enemies
Endorsed by Convention.
Asserting in connection with the
charge that the socialist party at its
convention in Chicago last summer
had expressed solidarity with soviet
Russia, and that the assembly had
condemned the suspended members
because they were members OF party
which expressed suoh approval, Sted-
man declared that expression of be-
lief in the soviet system was not an
offense in England, Germany, Italy or
Norway, where it had become an is
sue. and that in this country it was
not a crime for which man could be
tried and sent to the penitentiary nor
did it even afford the basis for a civil
libel suit.
I'VE are not at war with Russia" he
said. 1T is true that some of our
troops are over there and some of the
troops of our associates. 1t was rather
unfortunate for some of our -asso-
GATES troops, for the Russians shot
;doac into their regimen tS'
Claims Allied Recognition.
Stedman, who said educational in
stitutions were being developed. in
Russia despite the fighting that was
going on there, asserted feeling
toward that country was changing,
and cited dispatches to the effect that
the allied governments were prepar-
ing to resume trade relations. This
he claimed was commercial recognl-
ton of the Russian political economic
structure.
Arguing his motion to- dismiss the
charges. Stedman declared that you
specify no act that would justify the
exclusion of these men,"
Can you say that If we plead gull
ty TO the first cause (adherence to the
Chicago platform) it justifies our eX-
clusion?" he asked.
Socialism Pleas OverruIed.
The second day of the trial opened
with announcement by Louis M. Mar
ton for dismissal of the proceedings
as "unwarfanted," made yesterday,
had been denied.
Questioned by Morris Hillquit, who
made the motion. MIR. Martin said the
decision! had been made by the chair
after conference with the committee.
Gilbert E.,.Roe. assistant counsel for
the defenSG then moved that the
quintet be reseated during the investi
cation. t,se t,s4
When both sides had closed their
argument Chairman Martin an
PENDANTS pending trial had been de-
nied-the fourth overruled since the
opening of the investigation.
Arguments aa to RcseatrnE.
In arguing for the reseating of the
socialists, Mr.. Roe said:
1.-The power exercised in this house
on the 7th of this month was a revo-
lutionary power, an unconstitutionai
power. 1t has no precedent in any
parliament or statute book. 1t was
the exercise of a power that would
destroy representative government in
your state" q
Smoot. La Toilette and Newberry
cases in the United States Senate
showed it never even had been suggest
ed that the members under .investiga-
tion should have been suspended.
TT is a fundamental principle" Mr..
Roe added. that men are presumed
innocent until proved guilty"
John B. Stanchfield. associate coun-
sci for the committee. followed Mr..
Roe. He asserted that with an in
vestisation in progress into the 10y
atty of members it would be beneath
the dignity of the lower house to let
the five socialists retain their seats
pending the trial. He declared com
nittee counsel would prove that the
charges against the defendants were
true-that they were members of
party whose doctrines threatened
1.-The utter and complete humiliation
of the power of the state"
Tilt rs to "Indictment."
A tilt occurred before the session
adjourned until 2 o'clock, when Chair
man Martin objected to the use of the
word indictment" in referring to the
charges against the assemblymen.
"This is hardly an Indictment" said
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