The New York herald., 1920-01-11

Prefacing their remarks with pledges of
allegiance to the United States. the five
suspended Socialist Assemblymen yester-
day afternoon addressed more than three
thousand OF their constituents from plat
forms erected on three corners at Fifth
avenue and 10th street. 1t was their
first public appearance since their ex-
pulsion and their speeches were In the
nature of report to their comrades
on what they termed The Assembly S
transgression Of the rights guaranteed by
the Constitution and OF the fundamental
principles OF democracy.
The Assemblymen worked in relays.
moving from one platform TO another as
they closed their addresses. At least two
Of the five were speaking at the same
time throughout the three hours of the
meeting. American flags were draped on
each rostrum.
Alderman Abraham Beckorman, OF the
Seventeenth Assembly District, was chair
man of the meeting. He opened 1t with
an address in which he deplored the tact
that the Board of Aldermen had not seen
fit to expel him, asserting he was envlous
of the five Assemblymen. II feel humiii-
ated and sighted" he said. Il have as
much right to be expelled as the Assembly
mcn. Why should hey overlook me?
Mr.. Claessens Speaks.
August Claessens. the first OF the
Assemblymen to speak, received ai'
ovation as he ascended the platform pare
headed. Before beginning his address ne
,n,S his audience that the police had
especially requested that all addresses De
in English. He then proceeded TO telI
his listeners Of the circumstances OF theif
expulsion from the Assembly.
Mr.. Claessens took up the Assembly
charges in the resolution of expulsion one
hv one and answered them. Ee aonit.eo
that he as a Socialist and the Socia'is'
narty in general believed In revolution
but asserted 1t was not the hilu oi
revolution Speaker sweet u NV
sembly, supposed.
ANY Socialist is IN favor OF revolu'
ton" he declared, but it is to be so
ciaIist revolution. We have said IL aealn
and again. We have, in fact, said II SO
manv times that everybody over SIX weeNs
az are knows it. Mr.. Sweet need only
refer to his encyclopedias or to any text
hook to obtain a definition OF socials'
revolution.
'1t does not mean bombs and firearms.
II does not mean a march to the City Haii
ernmen. or to the Capitol TO usurp con-
trol OF the national one. There is more
fear OF the Republicans and Democrats
doing that than we Socialists. il Is revo-
lr,jon by peaceful means--it is what one
would call an industrial revolution.
"It means a transformation from pri-
.vatoly owned system of industry 10 pup-
licly owned system of industry. HOW u
will come about, want to tell you that
that is something no man knows. we
hone to bring it about in a peaceful way
through education and the ballot.
How Party Is Governed.
Nr. Claessens then took up the Assem-
biv,s declaration that the Socialist party
was .inimicaI TO the best interests OF
Tho Unified States and to the people OF
tho state OF New York" He admitted
Socialist legislators we're directed by the
marty Executive Committee as TO the ac-
ton TO be taken and asked IL 1t were not
true that. Republican and Democratic
legislators were instructed likewise. He
went into details on alleged irregularities
In the Fourth and Seventeenth Assembly
districts. charging that the Democrats and
Republicans tried hard TO steal the cleo
ton from Socialist candidates. Mr.. Ciaes-
sens asserted that II any political party
was inimical II was the Democratic and
Republican parties.
There Is no such thing as democracy
in this country" he added. There Is az
Assemblynan now sitting IN Albany VINO
has stolen his seat. II a citizen has not
the rirnt to cast ballot and have II
counted, then there is no democracy. That
- a state OF anaichy. We can indict the
Republican and Democratic parties as
a r,.i, criminals / have no apology 70