New-York tribune., 1918-07-15
Oklahoma Printers Demand
Exclusion of Editor on
Patriotic Grounds
Make General Appeal
Declare His Presence in Gath
ering Would Discredit Labor
and Insult America
Especial Dispatch to The Tr;bunc)

'opec1Hl Dispatch to The Trbunc)
SCRANTON, Penn. July 14.-For-
mer Congress Representative Victor l..
berger, who has been elected bv the
Newswriters' Union of Milwaukee as
a delegate to the annual convention
Of the international Typographical
Union, to be held in this city in Au-
gust, will find strong opposition to his
taking seat in the convention.
Circulars have been sent to every
branch of the printers union through
out the United States by the Oklahoma
City Typographical Union, No. 2s3, of
Oklahoma City. Okla, charging Perger
with conduct "thet has been un-Amer-
lcan and unbecoAing q union man"
lt is also alleged that his presence on
the convention floor would be "seri-
Gus reflection on the greatest labor or
ganlzatlon in the world. and upon
membership whose Amcricanism and
patriotism are second to none"
The union printers of Oklahoma Citv
nave adopted set of resolutions de-
nounclng Berger, which will be pre-
sented Immediately after the conven-
ton assemblies in order to prevent
Berger from getting a seat in the cor
Ventlon. Should the matter be referred
TO the committee On credentials and the
committee recommend that the Mil
Waukee delegate be seated, one Of the
oltterest fights in the history of the
printers union is likely 10 take nlace
on the floor.
Adopt Resolutions
Copies of the resolutions adopted bv
the Oklahoma Typographical Union
against seating Berger as a delegate
nave been received by the Scranton
Typographical Union. Some of them
are:
...' "Whereas. Victor L. Berger has. in
ne Mliwaukee Leader, publication
OF which he is editor, bitterly assailed
the policy Of our government. thereby
causing dlssension and distrust among
a people that should-and otherwise
wouid-be united were it not for dis
loyaists of his stripe and that he con-
tinued policy of dsloyalty until his
publication was barred from the mails;
that he then appealed to the daily press
OF the country through private corre-
spondencee requesting that an effort be
made to have The Milwaukee Leader
reinstated to the use of the mails, eau
tloning other editors to use mild and
sympathetic language, thus admittine
that he mad abused the privileges
granted him by making caustic and un-
Just criticism Of the governments con-
duct of the war; and,
Whereas. Victor L. Berger opposed,
by pubic utterances and through the
columns of The Milwaukee Leader the
first Liberty Loan. as we'll as the
plans promulgated by the government
TO raise revenue for the protection of
thousands Of members of the [,
l.. u, and millions of other patriotic
citizens and soldiers and sailors who
had offered their all, even their lives
if the sacrifice demanded to assist in
establishing freedom of the world and
the continuance of democracy at home;
and,
Whereas, Victor L. Berger. opposed
the selective service law before its en-
forcement had been given trial, and
which, since its operation. has given
universal satisfaction and has been
conclusively proven to have been the
only means of hurriedly securing an
efflclent army; and,
"Whereas, Victor L. Berger. continu-
ing in his reprehensible antipathy tow
ard our government in every conceiv-
able manner resorted to by disloyalists
and traitors, mas finally been ar
rested by the Federal authorities for
the violation of the espionage act; and.
Discredit to the Union
"Whereas. Believing that such con-
duct on the part of Victor L. Berger
is against the safety and best interests
of our 1000 members of the Interna-
tional Typographical Union who arc
lighting Loyalty for our country. let
alone the many thousands in the sec
end line of defence; therefore. be il
Resolved, That the conduct of Vic
tor l.. Berger is unbecoming an Ameri-
can citizen and union man and that
such conduct could only be condoned
IN Germany; CD that to permit Victor
tor l.. Berger seat as a delegate in
the international Typographical Union
Convention would cast a serious
reflection on the greatest labor organi-
Zatlon in the world, and upon mem
bershlp whose Americanism and natri-
otlsm are second to none; go that Ty-
biographical Union No. 2S3 does hereby
most vigorously protest the seating
Of Victor L. Berger as delegate TO
the sixty fourth annual convention of
the international Typographical I'm