The Washington times., 1920-01-11
BANSOC|ALIST !.
SCHOOL. TALK
New York Call Editor Prohibited
From Speaking In
Brooklyn.

Socialist newspaper, was denied the
privilege OF speaking this afternoon
In public school No. "a of Brooklyn
by Eugene c. Gibney, director OF
community centers OF the board of
education.
His Reasons.
Erwin. with Frederick Roy Martin.
a assistant manager OF the Associated
Press, and Bruce Bliven, one or the
editors of the New York Globe, was
to have appeared before the Brooklyn
civic forum in a debate on "The
Press and Public Opinion"
In refusing Arvin the right to
speak, Gibney gave as his reason
that "the New York Call is involved
in a lawsuit against the Government
of the United States regarding the
action or the Postmaster General In
denying the privilege of second ciass>
mail TO that paper"
In a statement, Erwin characterizes
the act OF the school official as being
due to "the wave OF stupid hysteria
that has swept over the country"
Denies CrInainaI Aets-
Erwin denied that the Call Is guilty
OF any criminal act He styled the
litigation OF the paper against the
Postoffice Department as a suit simi-
lar to many instituted by other COM
mercial organizations to test the le-
gality OF the departments action.
"The Call" he said. "has brought
an action in the supreme Court of
the District of Columbia against the
Postmaster General. who. by the use
of autocratic power. without any
4
Call OF it's second class mailing
rights"
Erwin absolved Gilney OF blame and
referred to him as "a subaltern- OF
the schools superintendent who Is
compelled to do as he is directed"
There is no such thing as Democ-
racy in the United Sla.es." August
Claessens, one of the five socialist as
semblymen suspended from the Now
York State legislature, told an open
air meeting here yesterday.
Claessens with the four other So
cialists who were suspended. spoke In
protest of the legislatures action.
The meeting started with a few hun
dred people, but before the speaking
was well under way treets were
choked In all directions. The three
small speakers stands were decorated
with American fiags.
Gathering Ii Orderly.
The gathering was orderly and the
big squad of police reserves had little
to do. When a captain of police
warned the speakers that they must
use only English, Claessens replied:
1--WE will hse English. 1t would be
a disgrace TO speak Russian here. The
Russians would bury their>language
AL tod n
such conditions as we now. suffer
here"
Cleassens told the crowd, which was
composed largely of voters who elect
I'd him, of the suspension of the five
socialists, saying that they were not
allowed to present their side OF the
case
But the Republicans and Demo
Gratis are signing their own death
warrants" he shouted.
Comparing the legislatures action
with that OF the House of Represen-
tatives in expelling Victor Berger,
Claessens pointed out Berger was un-
der indictment for violation Of the
formally found him not a fit person
to sit with the House.
'T'm A ResoIutionist,- Claessens Says.
'T'm a revolutionist," Claessens con-
tinued, explaining he favored the "so-
cialist international revolution" I'VE
do not favor bloodshed, but revolu-
ton of ideas. Violence only will be
used when constitutional methods
fail"
Disapproval of the act Of the New
York Legislature in depriving the Ave
elected Socialist representative of
their seats was voiced here tonight
by Gov. Alfred E. Smith. His state
ment follows:
Although i am unalterably op-
posed to the fundamental pr nciples
of the Socialist party. II is incon-
ceivable that a minority party, duly
constituted and legally organized
should be deprived of its right to ex-
preston so long as 1t has honestly,
by lawful methods of education and
propaganda, succeeded in securing
representation, unless the chosen rep
resentatives are unfit as individuals.
1T is true the assembly Is of ar
bitrary power to determine the quail
fications of its membership; but
where arbitrary power exists 1t
should be exercised with care and
discr ation, because from II there is no
appeal.
"wrong,- Declares Gov. Smith.
IF the majority party at present
in control of the assembly possesses
Information that leads them to be-
lieve that these men are hostile to
our form of government and would
overthrow IL by processes subversive
OF law and order, these charges In
due form should have been presented
to the legislature, and these men tried
by orderly process.
Meanwhile, presumably innocent
men until proven guilty, they should
have been allowed to retain their
seats.
"Our faith in American democracy
Is confirmed not on'yr by its results
hut by it's methods and organ of free
expression. They are the safeguards
against revolution. To discard thc
methods of representative govern
ment leads to the misdeeds of the
very extremists we denounce and
enemies of orderly free governments"
222 NURSES. DECORATED.
No better proof OF the bravery and