Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1920-04-02
EXPULSION OF THE SOCIALISTS.

D. q WIZ
one the New York assembly has ex-
peIled the five Socialist members
who have been on trial for several
weeks on charges of unfitness be-
cause of sympathy with revolution
ary doctrines, as indicated by their
own acts and u]tterances and by their
membership in an organization winch
was known to them to be engaged IN
spreading scdition and in advocating
The use of force TO bring about Sucn
governmental changes as they &C.
sired.
The suspension of these five men,
and their trial on tho charges which
were made against them, have been
the subject of much controversy
Action was begun under the admitted
principle that d legislative body is
the judge If the qualifications Of its
own members. Tho men involved
had been convicted of no crime IN
The courts of the land, n 1t was
not necessary that they should have
been convicted. The assembly mas
large powers and its decision is final.
AS has been pointed out, it is impor-
tant tina such powers be exercised
with wisdom.
The action was not taken for the
purpos of gaining partisan control
of a branch of the legislature, Ihe
Republicans, have such a large ma
iority in the assembly that no COM
bination that might possibly have
been made against them would have
stood the remotest chance of sue
cess. And on the final vote a ma
jority of one among the Democrats
was recorded in favor .of the cxpul-
sion Of three of the Socialists, and on
the vote on the other two IA Demo-
Gratis voted for expulsion.
At the beginning of the trial a sol
emn protest was made against the
proceeding by a number of men con-
spicuous in public life, among them
prominent and influential Republi-
cans headed by Hon. Charles E
Hughes. late candidate of the Re
publican party for president. The
ground on which the protest was
based was that discrimination in the
conduct of public affairs against in
dividuals because of their political
affiliations was inconsistent with the
spirit of democracy and a mcnac tc
the very existence of orderly govern
ment.
It seems clear that when the gray.
ity Of the issues involved was sc
clearly recognized by so many peo-
pie, and when the dangers ahead
were so impressively pointed out by
eminent men, and when there was
prospect of neither personal profit
nor political advantage in the pro.
ceedings instituted, an unusually
T, strong and convincing case must have
beer .made against the accused men
otherwise their expulsion would not
have been agreed upon by such an
overwhelming vote, and a vote ir
which party lines. entirely disap.
peared.
A political party may be described
as a voluntary association of citizens
having for its object the achievement
of certain purposes in relation tt
public affairs by methods in con.
formity with the provisions of law
Such associations, whether made the
subject of official recognition and
registration, or existing informally,
are legitimate, and their members
are, entitled to whatever influence
and representation they can obtain
through the use of the elective
franchise. Whether their doctrines
are sound or ,lnsound does not af-
feet their right to the free express.
sion of their opinions and their right
to the realization of their desires
provided they are numerous enough
to give effective expressions to theil
wishes through the regular Iesa,
channels. -
There can be no question Of the
right of any group of people to seek
TO- bring about any political change
which they may desire. provided
they comply with existing law and
!. rely. on the use of the ballot. Thes
S4nay seek to substitute for our. form
OF government a limited monarchy
s military desnot,zm . -. 49,
rae OF the soviet xv,,enp
sEpfopose h sale Of the Omitted state.
Ito Japan or the establishment OF, the
pope at Washinstony with itempors
spiritual sovereignty over all. the
people: Whatever the purpose, SC
long as the methods by which it i.
mi Tn hn onn-n1sl.