McKane v. Adams — 22 N.Y. St. Rep. 112

Majority

p. 112

John Y. McKane, App’lt, v. John P. Adams, as President of the Democratic General Committee of Kings County, Resp’t.

(Supreme Court, General Term, Second Department,

Filed February 11, 1889.)

Headnote

Jurisdiction—Voluntary associations—Political organization.

Where, in an action to compel the general committee of a voluntary-political association to admit a person who had been elected a delegate to-sit in such committee, Held, that the courts will not interfere with the actions of voluntary associations except where rights of property or valuable personal privileges are involved.

Appeal from a judgment sustaining a demurrer to the-complaint on the ground that it did not state facts sufficient to constitute a cause of action.

A. H. Dailey, for app’lt; James and Thomas H. Troy, for resp’t.

—We think the courts have no jurisdiction of the controversy which is the subject of this action, and that-the demurrer to the complaint was properly sustained.

The complaint alleges that the Kings county Democratic-organization is an unincorporated political organization, with a constitution which provides for town and ward associations and for a general county committee. That such county committee (which is the substantial defendant in this action, sued in the person of its president) is a voluntary unincorporated political association, formed of delegates or members elected by the ward or town associations; that plaintiff was formerly a member of such committee-from the town of Gravesend; that in. December, 1887, the-association of that town, for some political fault, was disbanded by the general committee; that thereafter the committee proceeded to reorganize the town association and held a primary election, at which the plaintiff was elected a delegate to the committee; that the plaintiff is, and has-been, a Democrat, and qualified to sit in the committee, bufe

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that the committee, by a majority vote, rejected, and has-since excluded him.

The whole constitution of the Kings County Democracy organization is annexed to the complaint. The relief sought is that it be adjudged that plaintiff was duly elected a member of said committee, and that the plaintiff have judgment for the possession of said office.

This action is without a precedent. The plaintiff states his former membership in the committee and his expulsion therefrom. But for what purpose we do not know, as no complaint of the legality of such expulsion is made. He-bases his present right solely on the primary election. Ho therefore stands in the same position as one who had never before been a member of the committee. The action is therefore not to restore a party to a membership in a voluntary association, but to compel a voluntary association to admit a new member, unless the Democratic party or organization is to be considered the real association, and the committee officers of such association and not a separate, association. From the demand for judgment and the setting forth the constitution of the Democratic organization, this latter would seem the true theory of the complaint. But this constitution also provides for conventions and nominations, and the election of delegates to such conventions. If the courts are to determine the right to sit in the-general committee, it is equally their duty to determine-the rights to sit in conventions. This is a function of supervising political organizations that courts should be loath to assume, unless it is so clearly within its power that it is its. duty to exercise the power when invoked.

I am clear that the reverse of this contention is the law. I have found no case where the courts have assumed to interfere with the action of voluntary associations, except where rights of property or valuable personal privileges,, such as seats in exchanges, membership in clubs, or benefits were involved. No such right is concerned here.

In the case of Daily v. Packard (special term, 1882) the-right to sit in the Republican General Committee was the subject of the action. It was there said: “The sole privilege to which the plaintiff seeks restoration is that of association with his fellow members in political action. He is-, excluded from no right, franchise or special privilege. The general committee has no powers or authority except such as are voluntarily yielded it by the voters of the party it assumes to represent. This voluntary allegiance is a thing: incapable of transfer by order of the court.' The committee? has no franchise. There may be any number of such committees, and any persons may constitute themselves a com

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mittee. The defendants have the right to associate themselves for political purposes with whom they will for political purposes, and any number of them may, at any time, decline to act longer with persons objectionable to them. The ■court cannot compel the defendants to attend a meeting with the plaintiff, nor restrain the defendants from meeting by themselves, or with others for political objects.” We think the rule thus enunciated is correct.

The plaintiff’s counsel insists that such a rule places political organizations above the law. This is an error. Such •organizations are not above the law, but in the main they lie outside of the law. If the committee contracts debts, their payment may be enforced. If a convention is turbulent, the police must preserve the peace and repress violence.' But political action cannot be the subject of contract or legal obligations. What motives shall dictate the course ■of the citizen in casting his own vote or recommending a candidate for the votes of others he alone is to judge, and he cannot limit his own freedom in this regard by any con"tract or association. The law only interferes to punish the "use of such influences as the common morality of all persons ■and parties condemns, such as bribery, intimidation and the like.

It is stated in the complaint that the committee has a fund of $4,000. We do not think this fact affects the case. The plaintiff is not yet a member of the committee, and has, therefore, acquired no right in the fund, and, as already ■stated, what the plaintiff seeks is not the protection of any property right, but the right of political action.

The judgment appealed from should be affirmed, with costs.

Dykman and Pratt, JJ., concur.