The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1917-08-23

George Fischer, representative OF the
sixth ward Of the Common Council is to
be tried by a jury of his fellow alder
men on charges of alleged seditious
talking made against him by Jamec j.
McCanany of Milwaukee, deputy
United States marshal. By vote Of
ten to four the council decided that the
matter should be formally presented to
the council and if McCanany can be in
Kenosha at the first meeting of the
council in September, the matter will
be taken up and disposed Of at that
time.
Tragedy stalked on the floor of the
council while the members were con-
sidering the status Of their fellow mem
her. Alderman Sullivan, the author of
the resolution providing for the trial
of Fischer, made a strong plea for 10y
atty to the federal government on the
part Of all officials and the alderman
under fire came back with the state
ment that he was as loyal as any other
member of the council and that he
would absolutely refuse to present his
resignation. The motion as passed by
the council did not ask the alderman
10 resign. It implied impeachment pro-
ceedings.
The matter first came before the
council when pet tion was presented
which had for its object blackening II
at least throwing suspicion on the
character of Alderman Charles Boylan
who had brought the original charge
against Fischer. 1t was signed by
many men who nave been prominent
in Socialist circles. 1t was in no way
material to the question at issue and
TIE council promptly voted to put it in
the waste basket and all consideration
of it was removed from the record of
the council. Alderman Boylan declared
that he was ready to answer at any
time any suggestion Of faint against
his personal character or his loyalty
but that he would not answer petit
tion such as had been presented. The
action to waste baskeC rne petition was
unanimous Even Alderman Fischer
hurried to state to the council that he
had known nothing of the petition and
had no part in the circulation of it.
With the Boylan petition in the
waste basket the clerk presented the
letter Of the United States deputy mar
shall. The letter follows:
Milwaukee, Wis, Aug, Ii, 1917.
To the Mayor and City Council.
Care of City Clerk.
Kenosha, Wis.
I confederation reaches me
that your honorable body of city coun-
cilmen want to learn all the facts con-
corning the alleged seditious talking of
George Fischer, Jr., member of the
council.
The facts are as follows: During
the examination of the alien enemies,
in your city, / became aware that some
one with an influence over them, had
been talking to them against the con-
scription act, against the president for
sending our troops to Europe, and
against the federal government in gen
eral, particularly wherein Germany was
concerned.
was unable to ascertain who to
hold responsible until certain elderly
alien came up FOR examination. Reply
ing when | asked him would he want
his son to fight fol this country, he
added that his boy had already gone to
France, but that ne had never reached
there by reason of the transport having
been sunk by German submarine
Pressed as to who his informant was,
he answered that his name was Alder
man Fischer.
Immediately ordered that Fischer
be brought in, whicr was very prompt.
ly doneJ by Chief of Police O'Hare.
Fischer was inclined to take the matter
lightly but was very quickly shown
that the charges against him were of a
serious nature, punishable by both a
Heavy fine and long term Of imprison.
nent. He then made clean breast of
t, admitting thai both he and his faith
y had been talking too much and made
solemn promise that he for one, from
hen on, could be depended upon to
ave nothing to say against this gov