Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-09-20
NEW FIGHT TO0PEN
ON five SOCIALISTS

ALBANY, n. u. september ~
The Eve socialist assemblymen ap-
peared before Secretary of State
Hugo at noon and took the oath OF
Office.
ALBANY, N. Y, September 20 (by
the Associated Press).-Interest in
the housing problem throughout the
state, which the legislature has been
called to consider in special session
tonight, was subordinated at the CAPT.
tai today to general discussion Of
what action, if any, the assembly
would take regarding the five ex-
PEELED socialists reelected at special
elections last week to fill their own
vacancies. The socialists-Louis VALID
ran and August Claessens Of New
York, Samuel A. Dewitt and Samuel
Orr of the Bronx and Charles Solomon
of kings-were found guilty OF
charges of disloyalty last April, after
trial that occupied the attention Of
the assembly almost continuously
from the opening of the 1920 session.
Speaker Sweet said today that there
would be no formal conference rela-
tive to the socialists preceding to-
nights session Of the Legislature. 1t
was his intention. he said, to talk
with individual members as they came
in during the day, and in this way
map out a definite course of action for
tonight.
AS to his own views he declared
they We're unchanged-that he be-
lieved the question was purely pa
triotic one.
voted to unSeat the socialists, have
let it be known that they have not
changed their views. Notwithstanding
the reelection of the quintet Some
of them, it is said. are prepared to
offer resolutions tonight to deny again
the socialists their seats. just as Con-
gress did in the case of Victor L. Ber-
ger, socialist, elected from Wiscon-
sip and reelected after he had been
prohibited from taking his seat.
Legislature Held Continuous.
These assemblymen hold that the
Legislature is continuing BODY
throughout the legislative year. and
the term of the present assembly.
which expelled the socialists. does
sist that Notwithstanding the special
elections the socialists are not en-
titled to take their seats now any
more than they were the day after
they were expelled. 1t Would be
different proposition, they point out.
had the socialist party elected other
men to fill the vacancies.
Attorney General Newton said to-
day that the seating or unSeating or
the socialists was a matter entirely
for the assembly to decide. In ref
erence to the stand of some assembly
men. the socialists are as guilty now
as they were the day they were ex-
PEELED, the attorney general said:
"These men were expelled from the
assembly because they We're members
of a party which, during the trial.
was found to be disloyal and opposed
to our form of government. Since the
trial, understand the socialists have
eliminated or amended the un-Ameri-
can clauses of their constitution"
The executive committee of the So
cialist state organization will have
a meeting at it's headquarters in this
city tonight to discuss plans for
possible course of action in the event
of the assembly again refusing to
seat the socialist members.
Called by Housing Crisis.
Called into extraordinary session
by Gov. Smith to enact legislation
designed to remedy the housing sit
uation in the state, which is consid-
cred acute by many municipalities,
the legislature will be convened to-
night.