The evening world., 1920-02-20
NO ALIEN LEADERS
IN SOCIALIST PARTY,
SECRETARY SHOWS
BranSfetter Denies Organiza-
ton Has Paid AgitatorS at
Work in Labor Unions.
By Joseph s. lord an.
Especial STAFF Correspondent OF The
EVENING Worldly

ALBANY. Fob. 2O.-Bon- -mots, in
stead Of bombs, were flung to-day in
the Assembly Chambcr at tho hearing
before the judiciary Committee OF the
Ave suspended Socialists The So
ciaiists seemed especially blessed with
good nature. Counsel Seymour Sted-
man fairly beamed with the appre-
citation Of a good breakfast, and wit
ness Otto BranBtetter, Secretary Of
the National Socialist Party, was ap-
parently well satisfied with the evil
denoe he had put over for the Social
istE at yesterdays session.
Mr.. Stsdman cot the first laugh Of
the morning when Judge Sutherland
asked the witness what party he was
referring to and the lawyer inter-
rupted with
why tho Socialist Party, the only
coming party"
And only yesterday It was asserted
that It was a going party, going in
more ways than one
The Socialist Party, according to
Secretary Branstetter. Is a rather
loosely organized party 80 far as the
national offices are concerned. II is
more compact, however, he said, than
rs customary in political parties such
as the Democratic and Republican
though not nearly so much so as
labor organizations.
John Spargo, the witness declared
from memory, was the only alien who
ever sat on the board Of tho National
Executive COMMITTEE He was an
Engllshman and wrote a work on
sabotage. Spargo has since retired
from the fold.
There never was a time. the wit
moss said, when the membership %
the National Socialist Party was not
90 per cent. American He admitted
that the organization hourished best
in the industrial States, as compared
with the agricultural States; but
Oklahoma, which is an agricultural
State. boasts the greatest compare
tive strength Of the Socialists.
Branstettor denied the statement OF
Peter w. Collins. a knights OF CO.
lumbus worker, that the party had
paid ngitators in the trade union
movement to advocate strikes which
could not be won to arouse discomfort
in the labor movement. He added
most Socialist workers were trade
union members but ne declared any
one voting for strike in order that
II might be lost would be expelled
from the party. In answer 10 ques-
ton he expressed the opinion that
strikes are generally justified and
necessary"
Asked whether the Socialist party
indorHed all the books and statemen, 3
published by It, the witness read a
resolution adopted by the National
Executive Committee IN 1913, as fol
lows:
Resolved, That the placing Of the
namo Of any paper, publication or
| book on lists or catalogues sent out
by the national office does not neces-
sarlly imply endorsement OF such
paper
Under croas-examination by Judg'
Sutherland, Branstetter said that th'
Ipaid-up membership Of the Socialis
Party had decreased to 10000 sine
this country went into war. 1t wal
at the peak in 1912 when there wer'
l2s, ,000 In last September the mem
lbership was down TO $4,000.
THE great shrlnkage in membor
ship" said Judge sutherland, 'followe'
the repeal of the anti-war and anti
sabotage resolutions by the st. Loui
convention in April, 1917. did II not?
The witness said that this was no
so entirely, but there were $4,000 sus
pensions, eXpulsions and Withdrawals
! He thought that the inability TO carr
on the organizations propaganda hn
great deal to do with the falling oI
of rnembCrBhip.