The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1920-03-30
5 SOCIALISTS
DISBARRED BY
N.Y.ASSEMBLY
Report of Judiciary Commit
tee Finds Defendants Do
Not Obey Constitution -
Several Dissent.
WOULD BAR ANY ALIEN

| ALBANY, n. Y, March 30-Charges
OF unfitness against the five Socialist
members of the New York State as
sembly - Louis Waldman. August
| Claessens. Charles Solomon, Samuel
/ A. Dewitt and Samuel Orr-have been
sustained by majority of the Assem-
bly, Judiciary committee in a 10000
word report submitted to the legisla-
lure today. It says their seats should
be declared vacant
Enactment of law to prevent any
organization which admits aliens to
its membership from occupying the
position of political party on the Of
hclal ballot of the state. is advocated
| Don't Obey Constitution.
| Ihe Socialist assemblymen, the find
lngs state, ARE not Obediant to the
constitution and laws of the United
States and the state of New York, nor
Cesirous of the welfare of the coun-
try nor in hearty accord and sympathy
with It's government and Institutions
| The report mentions the fact that
the party's constitution provides that
| any socialist elected to an office who
shall in any way vote to appropriate
moneys for military or naval purposes.
or war, shall be expelled from the
party.
Opposed All War Measures.
The report reviews evidence heard
during the recent "a days trial, pur-
porting to show that the Socialist
party opposed prosecution of the war,
opposed all legislation for industrial
and military conscription, pledged its
members 10 work for the repeal of the
conscription law, advised resistance
to conscription of life and labor and
urged the reputation of war debts
/ Referring to the statement that
some 1000 socialists had been ar
rested for their activities the report
says:
'It was impossible to give express
sion to or act upon the true doctrines
of the Socialist party during the war
as they were running afoul of the
criminal law.
Would Render the Country Helpless
ut is but one inference from the
position of the Socialists in relation
TO military and naval appropriations
and for war" the report continues
They would render the country and
government helpless against all enc
mics so that it may be helpless against
them, the enemies of established or
der.
'The Socialist party of America is
an organization or group of men COM
bined together for the purpose of him
dering and obstructing the govern
ment of the United States and the
dues-paying members of this group,
including the five assemblymen, by
their membership, activities and con-
tribution of funds, were and are dis
loyal to this government.
Party of Perpetual Traitors
"The Socialist party of America, as
now constituted with its present pro-
gram, Is not loyal American organi-
zation or political party. disgraced oc-
casionally by the ira itorious act or de-
claration of a member. but is dis
loyal organization composed exclus-
lively of perpetual traitors.
Therefore, the act of member
of that party in subscribing to the
constitutional oath of office to sup
port the constitution of the United
States and the constitution of the
state of New York should be utterly
!! disregarded as patiently sham and a
mere cloak for treachery."
Two Republicans Dissent.
Two Republicans, William w Pellet
of New York, and Theodore Stitt of
Brooklyn, signed a report expressing
the belief that the Socialists were en-
titled TO retain their seats.
ITO exclude duly member because
OF his membership in a particular
political party or because of his polit-
iCal or economic views" they say mot
only would be contrary to the spirit
of the constitution, but would be a
most dangerous attack upon the right
of representative government and
free political action"
Not Charged With offense.
None of the Assemblymen, they say,
was charged with breach of the GRIM
inal anarchy statute of the state or
the espionage act and it may be safe
iy assumed that their speeches were
not considered by the authorities
charged with enforcing these laws as
a violation thereof
Two Democratic members of the
committee. Maurice Bloch and Will
Hliam S. Evans of New York hold that
the members of the Assembly cannot
unseat the five Socialists without
violating their own oath of office.
Evans contends that unoer the con-
SllJuliOH vi lue Slutt lue Is
, forbidden from imposing upon any
member any test of loyalty and can
, not exclude any of these five Social
list Assemblymen because they are
disloyal or believe that force and viol-
ence are necessary in establishing a
Socialist state"
Are Only Radical Minority.
Radical minorities" says Evans,
must not be driven from the legisla-
, ture. 1t is better to have them in the
, legislature than in secret meetings in
cellars"
, Liberty involves the right to think
: wrong" says Assemblyman Bloch in
| his report. "As experienced and
/ practical men of affairs political, the
members of this assembly know that
they cannot be held personally re-
sponsible for every declaration made