The New York herald., 1920-01-29


THE Socialist party is purely demo-
cratic organization in which the sourse
and seat of all power lies in the dues
paying membership. AS an eletced or ap-
pointed official of the party ii shall be
my duty to ascertain and abide by the
wish of the majority of my local or po-
litical subdivision. To the end that my
official acts may at all times be under
the direction and control of party MEM
bership I hereby sign and place in the
hands OF Local - to which I may be
slected ---- or appointed, such res-
ignation to become effective when the
local shall SO vote. sign this resignation
voluntarily as a condition of receiving
such nomination or appointment, and
pledge my honor as Socialist to abide
oy IL"
Continuing his testimony, Mayor Lunn
told he committee he had refused when
nominated in 1918 and again in 1915 to
sign other designations
II was defeated in 1913," he testified.
and I felt was defeated in large meas
ure by people who knew that under the
Socialist party an elected official was
supposed to be under the control OF the
local rather than responsive direct to the
whole population. as he should be-"
Repudiates Socialist Edict.
Before he was nominated again in 1915
Mayor Lunn declared he issued a state
ment repudiatingf that section of the
Socialist constitution requiring the resigna-
ton. that this statement "caused a great
furore" and that members Of the State
Committee went to him in Schenectady
'endeavoring to heal up the differences"
Mayor Lunn said that before his final
nomination he repeated his statement and
that despite bitter opposition he was nom
mated and elected.
I'm spite Of the fact that had repudi-
cd <l,of nr<to 80 xI.A
tion." Mayor Lunn continued. ''as soon as
came to make UP my appointments there
was evidently the determination to influ-
ence me far more than was willing to be
influenced. l retained as superintendent
OF water a very efficient engineer. who
was a Republican. This was very antag-
onistic to the Socialist local. I appointed
Socialist who was enrolled but not a
member of the dues paying organization.
To make long story short, this was
violently opposed and they threatened dis
cipline. and 1 don't know whether they
were ordered to discipline me from New
York, but they made charges against me
for violating the constitution, violating
that part which I had repudiated before
nomination.
II was called to New York, trying to
harmonic things. The State Commit
tee was willing to pass over the ap-
pointment of the engineer to the Water
charge an enrolled Socialist who was
not a. dues paying member for the rea-
son that the local claimed that he had
voted for others than the Socialist nom
inees in certain particulars. that he had
not voted for the Socialist candidate
for Assembly and they wanted him dis
charged. refused to discharge hiri,
and the discipline was attempted in the
way OF throwing me out Of the organi-
zation but they could not get tho neces-
sary two-thirds vote, so the New York
organization, in order to discipline me,
took away the charter from local
Schenectady and really fired the whole
schenectady contingent out and reor-
Sanized with those that would abide by
tho rules as regards control"
Testimony In Unshaken.
Mr.. Stedman on cross-examination
tried with little success to- shake Mayor
Lunn's testimony.
While you were Socialist you had
the party support for an effective adj
minstration?" Mr.. Stedman asked.
III I was willing to admit that the
local have the final say" Mayor Lunn
answered. "They claimed the right of
mandate"
Mayor Lunn. under further examination
by Mr.. Stanchfield. revealed that lie had
made an unsuccessful fight in the Socialist
convention OF 1914 to have the resignation
section of the constitution Changed"
"At that convention did you speak upon
rhe subject and take any attitude on the
constitutional provision for the control Of
elected officials?' Mr. Stanchfield asked.
II did. endesvoring to get It changed"
Mr.. Lunn replied. land was defeated"
Mr.. Stanchfieh drew from Mayor Lunn
a statement that the object of a resolution
IN the 1914 Socialist convention in Chicago
was Opposition to war under all condi-
lions" This resolution was passed, he
said. despite his opposition. only nine votes
being cast against it. among them the vote
Of Victor l.. Berger. of Milwaukee. who
y has been twice ousted from Congress.
Tries to Bar Woman's Letter.
Mr.. Stedman. acting chief counsel for
the Socialist Assemblymen, opened the
morning session with demands that GER
tain evidence introduced at yesterday s
session be ruled out until attorneys for
the State showed connection between II
and the five men under inquiry. He
asked to strike out the letter written to
Ludwig c. a. X. Martens by Rebecca
Buhay with the seal of the Socialist
local of the Eighth Assembly District
'I am satisfied the evidence will show
the organization which issued that state
nlent through its officer was not affili-
ated with the Socialist party and had
in fact been excluded for the very atti-
tude which prompted the writing OF the
letter." Mr.. Stedman declared.
julius Berger. executive secretary OF the
New York county Socialist local. testified
as to circulation of the mnnifestocs in
Brooklyn. He said 10000 copies were cir
culated In New York county and 10000 In
Brooklyn lie took up the question of
The number of dues paying members or
the party in the five Assembly districts
electing Socialists TO the Assembly and
showed the Socialist vote was twenty to
thirty times as large as the actual number
of dues paying members.
Mr.. Stedman showed by cross-examina-
ton OF Mr.. Berger that the Eighth As
scmbly District Socialist local had been
expelled from the party as left wing"
organization. and that In fact, Assembly
man .Wsldmsn had opposition at the
primaries last year from Communist
labor candidate. The State attempted TO
csntrovcrt the contention of counsel Tor
the Socialists that al radical acts were
tllargeable TO the "ieft wing" of the so
ciallst party b. the introduction of Mr.
lfillquits letter TO the New York Call
He wrote:-
'"rhe split IN the ranks Of American
Socialism raises the question:-What shall