Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1920-01-20
HEARINGS GET
UNDER WAY IN
n. Y. ASSEMBLY
Radicals Fail to Gust Enemie:
from Committee Taking
Testimony in Case.
LAWYERS AID REFUSED

ALBANY, n. Y, jan zO.-Ind
hearing by the judiciary committee o
the New York assembly to deter
mine the qualifications for seats o
the five suspended socialist members
officially opened at 1880 a. m. today
The New York City Bar associa
ton committee, headed by Charles
Evans Hughes, appointed by resolu
tion of the organization to aid in
the defense of the socialists, will n0
be given formal rights of participa1
ton in the trial the committee de
cided.
The vote was seven to four, two mem
bers of the committee not being recorded
The bar association committee then.
left the committee room. Their departure
is considered final withdrawal
When the committee convened Chair
man Martin announced that the hearing
would be conducted along the lines o.
state supreme court procedure. He asked
further that there be no Demonstration
Charles z. Hughes made a brief state
ment urging immediate establishment
of the status of himself and his hve
associates and representative Of the elec1
tors of New York.
HUGHES ASKS
FOR RECOGNITION.
Il desire at the threshold Of thesd
proceedings to impress upon the com
mittee the Importance Of determining ad
once the standing Of the public's repre-
sentatives," he said
~ -. ~ ~
suspend application for official recogniI
tion until appearance Of counsel has
been officially announced" Hughes
acquiesced and Attorney General Newton,
read the names of the attorneys repre1
sent'ng the committee and the socialists
Newton, just before the hearing beganl
intimated unofficially that he believed
the hearing would be completed this
week-possibly within three days-"un-
less unforeseen technicalities arise"
Prior to the hearing an effort was
made in the assembly to reseat tha
ousted men until completion of thei1
trial. The effort was lost by a ruling
Of Speaker Sweet that the debate go
over one week. On a test vote the as
sembly sustained him, 81 to 1, the issue
being J. Fairfax MacLaughlin's resolu-
ton to exclude Attorney General New
ton from participation with the Judiciary
committee in the hearings.
SOCIALISTS BARRED
ON OPENING DAY.
The suspended socialists were barred
from the seats to which they had been
elected, when the assembly met Jan. Z,
by a sweeping majority vote of the
chamber. Speaker Sweet, in calling up
a suspension resolution, declared his
belief that the assembly should pass
upon their qualifications to sit in that
body. In a later statement, Sweet said
evidence would be presented purporting
to cast a shadow on their loyalty.
The controversy arising from the as
sembly's action has been bitter. The
socialist party and others contend the
right of the people to elect their own
representatives has been assailed. De-
tenders of the action of the assembly
stand on the chambers constitutional
right to pass upon the qualifications OF
Its own members and say the suspended
men will be given a fair hearing be-
fore the judiciary committee
Counsel for the suspended socialists
include Norris Hillquist, International
secretary of the socialist party; Sey-
mour Stedman, Chicago, who defended
Debs and Berger; Gilbert Roe, Senator
LaFollette's former law partner and 9th
ers
Assisting Attorney General Newton for
the prosecution are Martin W. Littieton
of New York, John B. Stanchfeld and
other prominent attorneys.
"0ust our judges before you oust Us
was the c.y with which the five social
ist assemblymen and their counsel
started into the fight.
SOCIALISTS FIGHT
To REMOVE ENEMY.
The declaration of Louis CuviIlier, New
York City democrat, old-time member OF
the assembly, and also a member Of the
judiciary committee that these men. If
guilty to the charges, ''ought to be shot.
is basis Of the socialist claim that their
judges are biased The socialists and
their battery of lawyers have started
a fight to remove Cuvillier, at least, from
the judiciary committee.
Cuvillier's statement, made heatedly
from the floor, is only one-indication
of the temper Of the assembly mem
bers.
This is the hardest fight I have ever
seen on the assembly floor" said an as
semblyman of long standing this morn
ing This is going to be a long and
bitter affair."
'The length and the bitterness OF ia
only depend On how long our money hold
out" explained one of the socialist pan
leaders from New York City.
The dozen socialists are registered
the Ten Eyck hotel with the ph
charge to Gerber" written after
names. Gerber is treasurer of the q
ist party in New York. They are s
ing in their expenditures, as, up
present time, they have been able.
leet only 5000 to make the Alba
The assemblymen who have
seated slept two to a room.
"Our funds are very low" So ress
agent of the socialist contiu this
morning. And we think SY going
co drag the thing out as Ion possible
to wear out our finances as as the
interest of the pIblic."
The press seats were crowded with cor
Continued on Page Eleven.)
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