The 143rd New York State Legislature, consisting of the New York State Senate and the New York State Assembly, met from January 7 to September 1920, during the second year of Al Smith's governorship, in Albany.

Background Under the provisions of the New York Constitution of 1894, re-apportioned in 1917, 51 Senators and 150 assemblymen were elected in single-seat districts; senators for a two-year term, assemblymen for a one-year term. The senatorial districts consisted either of one or more entire counties; or a contiguous area within a single county. The counties which were divided into more than one senatorial district were New York (nine districts), Kings (eight), Bronx (three), Erie (three), Monroe (two), Queens (two) and Westchester (two). The Assembly districts were made up of contiguous area, all within the same county.

At this time there were two major political parties: the Republican Party and the Democratic Party. The Socialist Party also nominated tickets.

Elections The 1919 New York state election was held on November 4. No statewide elective offices were up for election. Two women were elected to the State Assembly: Elizabeth V. Gillette (Dem.), a physician, of Schenectady; and Marguerite L. Smith (Rep.), an athletics teacher, of Harlem.

Sessions The Legislature met for the regular session at the State Capitol in Albany on January 7, 1920. Thaddeus C. Sweet (R) was re-elected Speaker.

At the beginning of the session, the five Socialist assemblymen were suspended by Speaker Sweet, pending a trial before the Assembly Committee on the Judiciary to determine whether they were fit to take their seats. Charles Evans Hughes (Rep.) and Governor Al Smith (Dem.) condemned Speaker Sweet and the Republican majority for taking this course of action.SWEET DEFENDS ASSEMBLY'S ACTION in NYT on January 11, 1920

On March 30, a majority of 7 members of the 13-member Judiciary Committee recommended the expulsion the five Socialists. Minority reports recommended the seating of all or part of the Socialist assemblymen.EXPEL THE FIVE SOCIALIST ASSEMBLYMEN, URGES MAJORITY REPORT, CHARGING TREASON; ROOSEVELT TO OPPOSE OUSTER MOTION in NYT on March 31, 1920

In the early morning of April 1, the five Socialist assemblymen were expelled.DEMOCRATIC FILIBUSTERS DELAY VOTE ON EXPULSION OF SOCIALISTS IN STORMY DEBATE IN ASSEMBLY in NYT on April 1, 1920

The Legislature adjourned at 2 a.m. on Sunday morning, April 25, after a session of 37 hours.LEGISLATURE ENDS AFTER 37–HOUR SESSION; PASSES BEER AND ANTI-SOCIALIST BILLS; FAVORS TEACHERS' AND EX-SOLDIERS BONUS in NYT on April 25, 1920 During this last session, Marguerite L. Smith occupied for about half an hour the Speaker's chair.ACTING SPEAKER SMITH in NYT on April 26, 1920; the editorialist of the New York Times envisioned a woman being elected Speaker of the New York Assembly in some near future, but to date, almost hundred years later, no woman has ever been elected to the office.

On August 12, Gov. Al Smith called a special session of the Legislature for September 20, and ordered special elections to be held on September 16 to fill the vacancies caused by the expulsion of the Socialist members. The session was called to consider the housing situation in New York City.GOVERNOR CALLS SPECIAL SESSION ON HOUSING CRISIS in NYT on August 13, 1920

On September 16, all five Socialists were re-elected to the Assembly.

The Legislature met for a special session at the State Capitol in Albany on September 20, 1920.MOVE TO EXPEL SOCIALISTS AGAIN IS SIDETRACKED in NYT on September 21, 1920

On September 21, Claessens, Solomon and Waldman were again expelled, while DeWitt and Orr were permitted by a majority vote to take their seats. However, DeWitt and Orr resigned their seats in protest against the ouster of their three comrades.ASSEMBLY AGAIN EXPELS THREE SOCIALISTS; DECIDES TO OUST THEM BY VOTE OF 90 TO 45; DE WITT AND ORR SEATED, BUT RESIGN in NYT on September 22, 1920

State Senate Districts

Members The asterisk (*) denotes members of the previous Legislature who continued in office as members of this Legislature.

District Senator Party Notes1stGeorge L. Thompson* Republican2ndJohn L. Karle Republicanelected to fill vacancy, in place of Frank F. Adel3rdPeter J. McGarry* Democrat4thKenneth F. Sutherland* Democrat5thDaniel F. Farrell* Democrat6thLoring M. Black Jr.* Democrat7thCharles C. Lockwood* Republican8thAlvah W. Burlingame Jr.* Republican9thCharles E. Russell* Democrat10thJeremiah F. Twomey* Democrat11thDaniel J. Carroll* Democrat12thJimmy Walker* DemocratMinority Leader13thJohn J. Boylan* Democrat14thBernard Downing* Democrat15thAbraham Kaplan* Democrat16thJoseph D. Kelly Democratelected to fill vacancy, in place of James A. Foley17thJulius Miller* Democrat18thSalvatore A. Cotillo* Democrat19thEdward J. Dowling* Democrat20thWilliam C. Dodge* Democrat21stHenry G. Schackno* Democrat22ndPeter A. Abeles* Republican23rdJohn J. Dunnigan* Democrat24thJohn A. Lynch* Democrat25thGeorge T. Burling* Republican26thWalter W. Law Jr.* Republican27thCaleb H. Baumes* Republican28thJames E. Towner* Republican29thCharles W. Walton* Republican30thHenry M. Sage* Republican31stJohn J. Mackrell* Democrat32ndJames W. Yelverton* Republican33rdMortimer Y. Ferris* Republican34thN. Monroe Marshall* Republicanon November 2, 1920, elected New York State Treasurer35thBurt Z. Kasson* Republican36thFrederick M. Davenport* Republican37thFred B. Pitcher* Republican38thJ. Henry Walters* RepublicanPresident pro tempore39thAdon P. Brown* RepublicanChairman of Agriculture40thClayton R. Lusk* Republican41stSeymour Lowman* Republican42ndCharles J. Hewitt* Republican43rdWilliam A. Carson* Republican44thJohn Knight* Republican45thJames L. Whitley* Republican46thJohn B. Mullan* Republican47thGeorge F. Thompson* Republican 48thvacantRoss Graves resigned on December 27, 1919Parton Swift Republicanelected to fill vacancy on February 3, 1920Elect Republican State Senator in NYT on February 4, 1920 49thSamuel J. Ramsperger* Democrat50thLeonard W. H. Gibbs* Republican51stJ. Samuel Fowler* Republican

Employees Clerk: Ernest A. Fay Sergeant-at-Arms: Assistant Sergeant-at-Arms: Principal Doorkeeper: First Assistant Doorkeeper: Stenographer:

State Assembly Note: For brevity, the chairmanships omit the words "...the Committee on (the)..."

Assemblymen