Omaha daily bee., 1920-01-08
New York State Legislature
Takes Drastic Action at
: Opening Meeting Of 1920.
Session of the Lower House.
ORDER FIVE MEMBERS 3
BEFORE BAR OF HOUSE
Preamble of Resolution Deny
ing Men Admission Says
Socialist Party Declares Ad-
herence to Soviet Principles.

Albany, n, Y, Jan. Five so-
the New York state legislature were
denied their seats at the lower
branch's opening meeting OF the
1920 session today A resolution
questioning whether they could be
loyal to their oaths of Office whes
bound to act subject to instructions
OF the socialist party was quIcl:ly
passed, l40 to 6. after Speaker
Sweet. with dramatic suddenness.
ordered the geant-at-arms 70
bring the socialist members before
the bar of The house. The socialists
m t now prove their fitness to their
seats before tribunal selected by
this assembly,
The session was dragging as th~l
clerk was calling for routine resoiu-
tons when Speaker Sweet inter-
rupted him. The socialists. August
Claessens and Louis Weldman OF
York county, Samuel A. Dewitt and
Samuel Or OF Bronx county and
Charles Solomon of Kings county
were ushered before the speaker
desk in the. pit Of the house.
| Inimical Platform.
"You are seeking seats in this
lbody-you who have been elected
on a platform that is absolutely M
linical to the best interests ot TIRE
state of New York and OF the United
/ States" the speaker said.
That platform is the doctrine OF
Al. ~. 49,
a political party, but is member
ship organization admitting witainl
Its ranks aliens, enemy aliens anu
minors
| Quoting from the scctioIof the
lconstitutiun OF the socialist party
that requires all members to be
! guided in all their political actions
By the constitution and platform or
the party, the speaker continued:
1T is interesting to note thar
Ludwig c. A. K Martens, SELF
stvled soviet ambassador. became a
member of the socialist party upon
his entry into this country and took
part in its deliberations. 1t Is there
fore quite evident that you, in spite
of your oath of office, are bound to.
act subject to instructions received
from an executive committee, whien.
NAV be made up in whole or in part.
OF aliens or alien enemies. holding
allegiance to governments or organ
izations whose interests may be ops
Iposed to the best interests of the
United States.
Declare Seats Vacant
As soon as the speaker and fn-i
ished, Majority Leader Simon i.
Adler offered the resolution declars
ing vacant the seats of the socialist
members.
Two Bronx democrats. William s.
Evans and ]. Fairfax Mclaughlin.
voted i'll the negative as did four OF
the socialists. &
I\The preamble OF the resolution
denying the socialists admission 10
the heor sets forth that the August
convention OF the socialist party in
Chicago declared adherence and soils
darity with the revolutionary party
of soviet Russia and pledged its
members to the furtherance of the
international socialist revolution;
that by such adherence and declara-
ton the socialist party has indorsed
the principles of the communist in-
ternationale/ at Moscow, (Which is
pledged to the forcible and violent
overthrow of all existing organized
governments and that under the cou-
stitution of the socialist party Of
America a member may be expelled
or suspended from his party "foz.
failing or refusing. when elected to
public Office toS carry out such in
structions as he may have received
from the marty nrua MIA tinn y !.