The New York herald., 1920-01-09
Unseated Legislators Tell OF
Trouble They Intended to
Start at Albany.

!
| NO event in recent times has caused az
much talk in Socialist circles in this city
and as little open comment from other po-
litical sources. as the action of the AS
sembly Wednesday in denying the priv-
leges of that body to the five Socialist
members. A flood of condemnatory state
ments were issued yesterday by the Social
ist leaders here, including Victor Berger,
whose seat will be contested again in Con-
gress' and thffive unseated Assemblymen
themselves. fhe action of the Assembly
was characterized by the Socialists gener-
ally as political boomerang.
! Local Republican and Democratic leaders
apparently considered it more discreet not
to comment on the matter. There was a
! divergence OF opinion among city officials.
! Mayor Hylan regretted the ''hasty action
! of the Assembly" Controller Craig de-
clared he admired the nerve of Speaker
Sweet and the Assembly in taking this
action and wished more power TO them.'
+. H. La Guardia, President of the Board
of Aldermen was inclined to believe that
the action of the Assembly was radical
! in itself.
| Senator j. Henry Walters, majority
leader in the Senate, arrived here last
! night and declined to amplify his comment
made in Albany.
! "All care to say" he said," is that the
Socialist members will have speedy trial
and the whole question will be thoroughly
thrashed out"
Mayor HyIan Regrets Action.
Mayor Hylan issued a statement soon
after reaching his office in City Hall, He
said
IT regret that such hasty action was
taken in excluding the Socialist members
of the LEGISLATURE These members were
Nv ha M
should be extended every possible consid-
eration that the duly elected members OF
the other political parties are given.
''If after charges were preferred an
Investigation made and fair hearing
held it was then found that they We're
guilty of any act or in any way actively
connected with any organization whose
purpose is to destroy tho government,
then the action OF the Legislature would
bo upheld by the State and the nation"
Indications were that the Board OF Al
derman would not follow the example set
by the Assembly and attempt TO unseat
the four Socialist members of the Board.
/ +. II. la Guarda, president of the
Board. said that he would oppose any
such attempt. Referring TO the action of
the Assembly, Major La Guardia said
"If we are not careful we are going to
build up a real anti-American government
in this country. We all agree that any
aliens who counsel violence and the over
throw OF our government should he de-
ported. The statute covering this offence
| has been on the books since 1907, ana
there was no need while enforcing the
law TO turn on the spotlight and make
martyrs of criminals. ! suppose the AS
sembIy has tho facts before its members,
| but, at first blush, If today we hold up
the seating OF Representatives by reason
Of their platform. may not perhaps to-
I r.rttf. alg- -ft,ka
majority hold up the seating of opposing
party members by reason or their plat
form9 I say. as / have said hundred
times, the remedy against Bolshevism will
not be found In speeches, not I'm oppres-
sion. not I'm suppression OF speech. but IL
is in the hands OF every man who holds
| public office. whether municipal, State or
national. Let us so conduct ourselves
that there will be no room for criticism
Lot the municipal, state and national gov
| ernrnent he fair. just impartial, efficient
and economical"
J Talk Of boomerang.
4 There was general rejoicing in local
| Socialist circles over tho Assembly's ac-
ton. Conferences lasting all day be-
tween the .unsoated Assemblymcn and
their advisers were held In the Rand
lSchool of Social Science at No. z East
Fifteenth street. The expulsion was char
would do moro TO further the ends of
Socialist and radical movement through
out the country than five years OF agita :
tion and propaganda could hope to accom-
plish
Victor Berger, when seen at the McAipin
Hotel just before leaving for Washington,
said
4 our capitslis.ic politicians are out
doing tho Tsar and his government OF
brutality, short-sghtedncss and ter
rorism. Our politicians arc ignorant, OF
course. but they know what results tho
Tsar got, I hope. and they will get the
same. the methods thoy use are moro
contemplate than the Tsars."
Judge Jacob Panken. Socialist. said
III they expel tho Socialist mem-
bers. tho Legislature cannot do any
ltning else and be consistent than 10
make il crime TO be Socialist"
meeting of labor organizations Will
be held In the Rand School Monday
night TO discuss the expulsion OF the
rive Asscmblymcn. Among tho bodies
TO be represented arc the Labor party.
the Committee OF Forty Eight. central
Federated Union. United Hebrew
Trades. International Ladies Garment
N WORKERS. tho American Clothing Workers
OF America and tho International Furri-
ers
4 -Four of the five unscated Assemblvmen.
lSoloman and Louis Waldman spcnt tho
greater part OF the day In conference at
the Rand School OF Social Science no q
East Fifteenth street. :. John Bloch.
chairman OF the special committee ap-
pointed Wednesday night by tho state
Executive Committee Of tho Socialist|
party. was closeted with the men for
several hours, discussing what legal action
may be taken in defending tho Assembly.
men.
Following the conference Mr.. Bloch said
he did not know what form the legal ac-
ton would take but that he would issue
statement today exposing an false
much that is contained In the legislative
resolution"
The four Assemblymen. on their own
pehalf, issued a statement In which thew
charged that the Assembly was Influenced
NJ its action by the Lusk Committee. as.
serting the committee feared the opposi.
hrn nf the Socialist ieelsiatorrn
Ine A6Semblymou Contsnd N ,l. 49,.