New-York tribune., 1920-02-05
Girls Attack
On Socialist
Stays in Record
Continued from page /

Continued from pare
expect to finish It's case this week, fail,
TO call Speaker Sweet to the stand
there is possibility that the defense
Will call him. lts special purpose in
seeking as witness the leader in the
movement to eject the Socialists Is to
ma out why Mr. Sweet did not act on
resolution offered February 2b, 1918
oy Assemblyman Albert Link, of Brook
iiyh, winch was aimed at Socialist mem
bers of the Legislature as having given
aid and comfort to the enemy.
The day started with charges beine
made by Seymour Stedman and other
counsel for the Socialists that religious
bias and prejudice werc being injected
into the case.
This charge was made when Peter
W. Collins, director general Of the
knlghts of Columbus reconstruction
and employment bureau, was recalled
to the stand. Collins no sooner had
begun his testimony under the direc-
ton of Martin Conboy. Of counsel for
the prosecution, than Stedman, vigor-
the testimony.
"lt is an attempt to bring prejudice
against the defendants," said Stedman
1T is an attempt to judge them from
the standpoint of faith
Conboy denied that the prosecution
intended to go into the question of
religious belief, but intended to show
that the Socialist movement was op-
posed to all religious belief.
Have you got Prcsbyterians, Theoso-
phists or Episcopalians :" retorted Sted-
man. There is no use camouhaging
What you >are attempting is this: To
appeal to misguided Catholics to make
it religious issue against the Social
lists +"
"To He'll with the Flag
Another clash between counsel oc-
Cured in the afternoon, when John
b. Stanchfield, chief counsel for the
prosecution, said that "The New York
Call' of February 10, 1912, contained
in lurid headlines:
TO He'll with the Flagl"
That is false!' shouted S. John
Block, of counsel to the five ousted As
semblymen. and head of the publishing
firm which controls "The New York
Cali; II challenge you to prove it."
produce the paper" replied Stanch-
field.
I've have telegraphed for it," said
Mr. Block.
Walter H. Hart, lawyer, living at
1862 Union Street. Brooklyn, and candi-
date on the Democratic ticket last fall
against Assemblyman Solomon, spent
the better part of the afternoon on the
stand.
He testified that he had heard Solo
mon talk against conscription and in
favor Of Bolshevism, and, declared he
heard many Socialists say that revo-
luton in this country should be
brought about by force.
When Mr.. Collins was recalled to the
stand Mr. Conboy asked:
Mr.. Collins, in addition to the meth
ods that you referred to in your tes-
tlmony yesterday, what other methods
have Socialists, to your knowledge, ad
vocated to bring about in the United
States the Socialist international rev
olution ?"
Stedman Makes Protest
"a pronounced disrespect for the
constitution of the United States; the
frequent and oft-repeated declaration
that 1t was mere scrap Of obsolete
paper, that it had no binding force on
the American people and consequently
no binding force upon the Socialists;
g. oAoA SoPCSC Lux IellklOn ana the len
commandments" replied Mr. Collins.
Mr.. Stedman jumped to his feet pro
testing:
Mr. Chairman, I want to object to
the introduction in this case of re-
llgIon bias and prejudice at this time.
POLITICALLY and otherwise the introduce
tlon of differences in religion leads to
nothing but bitterness and unreason-
ing anger and conduct born of preju-
dice These persos, whether they be-
lieved in one creed or another, had a
right to; these men had right to be-
lleye In theosophy, Catholicism, Prot
estantism, any one of the denomina-
tlons, or Mohammedanism.
In my judgment it is no element in
this case. We are not on trial here
Tor any system Of theology at all. The
purpose of this is very obvious. It ia
to appeal to the most unreasoning state
OF mind which any man can possess.
that of pure faith.
IT IS an attempt to bring prejudice
against these defendants outside Of tho
merits of their qualifications, outside
the economic theories. In other words.
1t Is an attempt to judge them purely
from the standpoint Of faith. We have
had enough in this country Of religious
differences as means and method of
influencing political possibilities.
Conboy In Disclaimer
ut is not intended, Mr.. Chairman.
answered Mr.. Conboy, "to go into any
question Of religious differences. 1t is
intended, however, to support the
charges that are indicated in the state
ment of the chairman, appearing on
page 8 of the printed record:
That these men are engaged in q
conspiracy to subvert the due admins
tration of law; to destroy the right to
hold and own property; to weaken the
family tie; to destroy the influence OF
the Church; to overturn the whole
fabric of constitutional form Of gov
ernment.
eve do not intend to go into any
question of religious belief, but we dc
intend to show beyond peradventure
of a doubt that the Socialist movement
is opposed to all religion and regards
religion as the antithesis of Social
ISM
"That may be in counsel's mind,
said Mr.. Stedman. "1f it is they have
shown wonderful ingenuity in select
ing persons Of one particular religion
most antagonistic to the Socialists a: