New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1920-09-20
Sweet Ready
ToPush Fight
On Socialists
Speaker, ON Arrival i'm AL
bany, Confers With New
tom Regarding PLAN TO Re-
new Custer Proceedings
Conference Due To-day
Asseznblynnan Belts, Who
Voted for Expulsion, Fla.
vors Seating Reelected S
From @ sto9 Correspondent

ALBANY, Sept. 19.-Speaker Thad-
deus C. Sweet arrived here this after
noon determined that the Ave Socialist
Assemblymen, whose custer he en-
eineered last winter. should again be
expelled from the lower branch Of the
Legislature when it convenes in special
session tomorrow night.
Speaker Sweet Immediately after his
arrival went into q conference with
Attorney General Charles D. Newton.
who drafted the resolution on which
che Socialists were ousted. Neither,
however, would discuss the situation.
There will be nothing to announce
with respect to the disposition which
shall be made OF the Socialist As
semblymen," said Speaker Sweet. until
there has been a conference OF mem
bers Of the Assembly here tomorrow
afternoon"
The conference, which had been set
Cor to-day, could not be held because
less than dozen Assemblymen had ar
rived. Nearly all WHO did come were
staneh supporters Of Speaker Sweet
during the trial Of the Socialists and
later voted for their expulsion.
Outside Of members Of Sweets i'm
mediate circle. however. little senti-
ment in favor Of again expelling the
Socialists was shown.
Belts Opposes Another Custer
Assemblyman Charles H. Belts, Of
Wayne County, editor of The Lyons
Republican, is one Of the members who
voted for the expulsion of the Social
lists last winter, but who now believes
that they should be seated.
"The proper procedure would be to
ignore them-to let them take their
seats without q word being said" de-
clared Mr.. Belts. "They thrive on pub
licity. They have changed their con-
stitution, eliminating those portions of
it which the Assembly held were vio-
lative Of the State constitution and the
Constitution of the United States,
and therefore made them unfit to
sit as members Of an American legis-
in their constitution the Socialists have
pleaded guilty to the charges which
were levelled at them. So they have
purged themselves at least in letter."
The clauses in the Socialist constitu-
tion which were recently eliminated
by a referendum vote of the dues-pay-
ing members of the party provided
that Socialist legislators must not vote
for naval or military appropriations,
must obey the party's mandates with
respect to their legislative acts. and
must file designations with their party
leaders on being elected to Office. In
addition, the Socialists have adopted a
rule that no alien shall sit as a men,
Der Of any of its councils.
Barnes Supports Sweets Plan
The course which Mr.. Belts and
those of his kind would pursue is not
acceptable to MIR. Sweet nor to Will
liam Barnes, the Albany boss, who
played such conspicuous part in last
winters proceedings. Both want the
Socialists thrown out. In this they
have the support of number of up
state Republicans and few Tammany
members, like Assemblyman Louis Gu
villier and Martin G.. McCue.
Both McCue and Mr.. Cuvillier will
arrive tomorrow, each with an custer
resolution in his pocket, which they
have announced will be introduced in
the event that Speaker Sweet does not
attempt to expel the Socialists. If at
to-morrow's conference it should be
decided to grant the Socialists the
seats to which they have been re-
elected at the special elections held
Thursday, Messrs. Cuvillier and Nc
Cue will stage an custer Of their own.