New-York tribune., 1920-01-15
Bar Will Aid
Socialists in
Public's Behalf
Committee Led by Hughes
to Appear at Trial in AL
bany in Interests of s'Rep-
resentative Government
Not to Act as Counsel
Guthrie Warned Lawyers
Against s'Hasty Action;
Poindexter Backs Sweet

Members OF the committee appointed
bv the Bar Association 'to safeguard
and protect the principles of represent
alive government" at the trial of the
Ave Socialist Assemblymen at Albany
next Tuesday decided yesterday not
to associate themselves as counsel for
the Socialists, but to appear as repre-
sentatives of the public"
The decision was reached at the COM
mittee's first meeting, which was held
at the Lawyers Club, lis Broadway.
Charles E. Hughes, the chairman, out
lined his plan of action, to Morgan J..
. OBrien, Joseph NJ. Proskauer and
Louis Marshall, the only other mem
bers of the committee who were pres
ent. Ogden L. Mills, the fifth member,
was out of the city.
MIR. Hughes. who on Tuesday night
led the fight in inducing the Bar As
sociation to go on record in opposition
70 the ousting of the Socialist As
semblymen, was authorized to do the
talking for the committee. Mr. Hughes.
however, declined to say anything
other than that plans were being dis
eussed.
To Represent the People
Neither Mr.. Hughes nor his asso-
ciates, it was learned, would consent
to appear before the Judiciary Com
mittee at Albany in any restricted ca
pacity. 1ntimations had come from
Albany that if the Bar Association sent
any committee it's members would have
to appear as accredited counsel for
the Socialists before they would be
given q hearing. This suggestion Mr..
Hughes's committee decided to ignore.
:, "The committee is going to Albany
In an independent capacity" said an
official of the Bar Association. "The
only body it will represent will be the
people Of the United States. It's sole
fight will be to preserve representative
government"
Mr.. O'Brien made this brief COM
ment: "Our committee met to prepare
plans to present our views to the Ju-
dietary Committee, which, I presume,
will meet next Tuesday in Albaiy."
1t was made clear by other officials
that members of the committee have no
intention Of associating themselves
with Morris Hilluuit as counsel for the
Socialists.
The 1T members of the Bar Associa-
ton who voted against the Hughes res
olution calling for the appointment of
the committee yesterday pointed to the
remarks made by William D. Guthrie
as expressing their views.
s. Mr.. Guthrie took an emphatic stand
that the most influential organization
OF lawyers in the country would "make
very grave mistake" in acting before
It had been advised as to the evidence
against the five Socialists
Mr.. Guthrie's Speech
Mr. Guthrie's speech, which was de-
aivsied in an executive session, became
: available yesterday t. many of the
members who were unable to be pres
ent
I'VE lawyers ought not to lay our
selves open to just reproach for hasty
and i'll advised action" said Mr. Guthrie.
III l understand the situation cor
6 rectly, committee of the Legislature
during the last eight months has been
Investigating the activities, if not the
conspiracies, Of the Socialists, Bolshe-
vlsts and anarchists in our midst. The
evidel ce SO far published indicates a
danger and menace to our institutions;
SO grave, indeed, that the national gov
ernment has had to arrest hundreds of
agitators.
The Attorney General Of the United
States asserts that there has been q
countrywide conspiracy to overthrow
our national and state governments,
and this conspiracy is probably no.
where more active or vicious or dan
garous than in the City and State Of
New York. Reports submitted to the
Union League Club of New York dur
ing the year 1919, which l hold in my
! hand and which were approved by the
! club, show the extent and reality OF
the menace and danger.
Indeed, it was in response to
resolution Of that club adopted last
March that the Legislature appointed
the so-called Lusk committee, which has
been at work for seven or eight months.
The Lusk committee is about to report
The Assembly may know facts from
that committee and from the Attorney
General of the state unknown to us,
and there may be proofs supporting
their conclusion and judgment that
these five men should not be permitted
to sit with loyal and patriotic repre-
sentatives and legislate for the people
Of the state pending full hearing and