Just about this time the committee reports began to come in, the first of which, that of the Credential Committee, brought the question of Bolshevism to the floor of the caucus.  The report read as follows: 

“We recommend that all delegates to the American Legion selected and now functioning from the various States, districts, and territories, be seated and accredited with full vote, and that all organizations organized and having delegates here be allowed one vote with the exception of the Soldiers and Sailors Council, which delegation the Credential Committee recommends shall be excluded from the caucus.”

S.H.  Curtin, the representative of the Soldiers and Sailors Council of Seattle, pending the action of the Credential Committee, had been accorded a vote at the previous session on all questions that came up before it.  The fact that Colonel Wood, the Secretary, took this action was in line with the general spirit of fair play, which was the keynote of the caucus.  The Credential Committee’s report elicited shouts of approval.  Chairman Lindsley after bringing the house to order again said: 

“I understand that the delegate from the Soldiers and Sailors Council is here and asks to be heard.  Gentlemen, the members of the Committee, I assume, had full knowledge of facts which warranted that report, but there are men here who have not that knowledge.  Shall we hear him?”

This statement aroused mixed emotions but Mr. Curtin came to the platform.  Word having spread through the theater that he represented the “real Bolshevik outfit” in Seattle, a great many of the delegates began to hoot, jeer, and make cat calls.

“Give me a square deal, give me a hearing,” Curtin shouted.

“Give the man a hearing,” echoed Colonel Roosevelt, who sat with the New York delegation.  “Yes, give him a hearing.” shouted the majority of the delegates and when the chair had procured order, Curtin made his plea.

“I wish to say, by way of introduction, that though I come from the State of Washington, I am not a member of the Washington Delegation,” he said, “I say that out of deference to the members from that State for the reason that I wish to prejudice nobody here against the Washington Delegation.  I am not an I.W.W.  I never have been and I never intend to be I never have shown any Bolshevik tendency and I defy any man present to prove to the contrary.  If you’ve got proof that Sherman H. Curtin ever was an I.W.W. or made a Bolshevik statement, say so?” He paused here but none answered him to the contrary

“It is true that the organization which I represent has had in the past some I.W.W.’s, and it is true that there are some I.W.W.’s in it now,” he continued; “but I am in that organization for the purpose of throwing those I.W.W.’s out.  I got in there for the purpose of kicking them out and I want your help.”

Here he was interrupted by applause.