The New York herald., 1920-01-22
STATE AND SOCIALISTS
PRESENT THEIR CASES
ESPECIAL DESPATCH TO THE HERALD. ]

ESPECIAL DESPATCH TO THE HERALD
ALBANY, n. V, Wednesday.-When tn,
trial was resumed at two o'clock in thu
afternoon the Assembly chamber wa!
crowded to the doors. 1t was expected thu
legal arguments would be ended early il
the afternoon and that the presentation o.
evidence would begin.
Wives Of State officials occupied chair.
grouped about the Assembly circle, among
them being Mrs. Francis NJ. Hugo. wife o.
the Secretary of State, and Mrs. William
Gorham Rice. wife of the chairman of th'
Civil Service Commission.
Seymour Stedman, OF Socialist counsel
attacked the charges against the Social
lists and accepted the challenge of thu
States attorneys to prove the truth.
In opening Mr.. Stedman declared Social
list counsel could not pretend to meet the
exquisite anarchistc doctrine that yot
have the privilege Of excluding undesirable
members with or without reason"
Mr.. Stedman's first interruption came
early in his argument from Mr.. Martin
while he was painting the picture of wha
he said were the obstacles Soviet Russia
had surmounted. He questioned the
charge that Russia today stands for wild
and disordered anarchy"
Mr.. Martin interrupted Mr.. Stedman
with THAT really is outside of the ques-
ton Mr.. Stedman demurred and con-
tinued his argument.
I'm your first count" he continued
you are charging that the system in
Russia is so bad that member of a
party whose convention approves of 1t
becomes thereby disqualified to sit in
your midst.
Mr. Stedman's next declaration was
that America is not at war with Russia.
although United States troops are there
and troops of the associate Powers.
Socialist Counsel Called to Order.
You are not discussing your COM
plant: what is the matter with your
Mr.. Martin broke in.
II am stating this complaint does not
charge facts which If proved would JUS
tify excluding these men, Mr. Stedman
retorted. IAN opinion as to whether a
Soviet is good or bad is not q disquali-
fication for membership in this body"
That is matter for us to decide"
Mr.. Martin replied.
Mr.. Stedmen contended that the action
of the National Socialist party at its last
convention in indorsing the Soviet gov
crnment in Russia did not imply approval
Of the programme of the Moscow Inter
nationals.
"You assume that it is part of the pro-
aramme of the Soviets to overthrow the
government of the United States" he de-
clared. THAT is far afield and with due
respect n rather ludicrous assumption"
He asserted that support OF the Socialist
platform by member of the party Is
no different than support of platforms
., = l.... s.,ts - ~
the Socialist party had as much right to
bind it's members elected to office on it's
platform to observance of it principles as
had other party. lie also contended that
assumption that executive councils of the
Socialist party might at some future time
be dominated by enemies OF the govern
ment was ''mayhap prosecution"
1T shows" he exclaimed. that our wal
hatred and anger is not so dissipated that
we have at tho close of the war been
turning 1t away from the Imperial Ger
man and the Austrian governments; that
we turn the hate away from over there
and turn 1T on ourselves"
Mr.. Stedman defended the Socialist at
titude toward the war. The Socialist
party has opposed wars for scores Of years
and voted against appropriations for arm
ing because we knew armament meant
war. and war. destruction, disease. in
sanity
Taking up the section OF the charges
containing criticism with reference to
patriotism" Mr.. Stedman gave his de-
finition of patriotism.
Real patriotism is not the love of a ma
chine" he said. ut is the love of the
position in the universe which you hope
your country to take a great leader of
human thought and achievement; and IL
docs not consist of witch hunting. neither
does IL consist in fear of that which will
disturb the settled convictions of the
vested interests.
THE gist of what the Socialist party
said in its platform is that the understood
motives Of war are economic, what Presi-
dent Wilson said i'm st. Louis couple OF
months ago, Who are they among you
who does not know that this war was
cormcrcial?'
Nx Stedman attempted explanations of
declarations yesterday by Morris Hillquit,