New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1918-04-06
BERGER BRANDED AS
A7RA|70R 7Ou. A.
Likened to Lenine and Trotzky by
Senator BOrah

penalty was demanded for traitors
| ana German propagandists, and Vic
| tor Berger, late socialist candidate in
| Wisconsin for United States SENATOR
was branded a traitor, the senate late
yesterday failed to agree on a. time
| for final voting on the bill to punish
seditious and reasonable utterances
regarding the war and the govern
| ment.
senator Borah declared that Victor
Berger had advocated for America
| just what Lenine and TrotzlIy did to
Russ1a-a surrender to Germany.
That is treason" said the senator.
i cannot think of q more despicable
and contemplate creature under the
protection of the American flag. Mr..
berger enjoyed all the privileges of
representative republic. He was al
lowed to run for office, and was given
all the rights of a free citizen to &C
quire a place in the government q
government he stood ready to sur
render, to the Hohenzollern dynasty"
81 am glad he ran and was de-
feated," said Senator France Of Mary
land. II know that thousands Of the
men who voted for him were not dis
loyal, but they voted for him because
they hold a theory of government
which they think, if adopted, might
mitigate some Of the unnecessary
evils we have allowed to exist in this
government
IT trust" shot back Senator Borah,
that upon reflection the senator
from Maryland out of respect to the
senate of the United States will
strike out part of his language"
What part would the senator wish
to see stricken OUT" asked Senator
France
when the senator says he is glad
that man ran for the senate upon
the platform on which Mr.. Berger
ran and received 100000 votes" re-
piled Senator Borah, IT think 1t is
not creditable to this body"
France Explains.
Senator France then explained that
he meant Mr.. Berger's defeat at the
polls was a better way of dealing
with him than simply forcing him to
withdraw from the race, without a
test of sentiment regarding his can
didacy.
Senator Hardwick then engaged in
a long colloquy with Senator Borah,
followed by a speech tinged with con-
siderable bitterness. Senator Hard
wick, a consistent opponent of the
war and all war measures, declared
nobody could tell him when to talk
peace and when not to.
Senator Lodge took up the Berger
platform.
Mr.. Berger advocated withdraw
ing American troops from France,
and I think in the present situation
that is an absolutely disloya1 propo-
sition.''
'It is not only disloyal," Senator
Borah added, but in my opinion 1t
ought to be brought within the pur
view of treason in this country
Senator Lodge then addressed him
self to the activities of German
agents, spies, and propagandists in
the country and to the Berger candi-
dacy.
"Whoever cherishes the hope of
splitting the Teutonic allies asunder
cherishes the merest delusion,' he
said. Under the circumstances the
Berger candidacy was unfortunate"
Senator Lewis interrupted to ask
whether Senator Lodge thought the
senate would seat man with tho
views held by Mr.. Berger, and elected
on such a platform as his.
''Shoot Them Says Lodge.
81 think it very unlikely that the
senate would grant him a seat said
Senator Lodge. The worst offend
ers in this country are those who have
been engaged in dynamiting factories,
putting bombs on ships starting fires,
poisoning food, and such things. They
have been treated Altogether too
gently, too delicately by the courts.
They get some short term in prison.
punishment for which they care moth
ing. The only way to put an end to
their activities is to try them by
court-cartial and shoot them. Other
nations do it. Germany does not
hesitate to do it,
Senator Chamberlain here said he
was glad Senator Lodge favored turn
ing such offenders over to q military
tribunal.
IF the military code isn't broad
enough to take care of this, IT ought
to be amended" said Senator Cham
berlain, 'to include men, yes, and
women if you please. who are guilty |
of these crimes
Senator Lodge resumed. I'm |
.doubtedly these crimes increase in
number and violence because of the |
tender way we treat the criminals. |
And I am of the opinion that if we |
do not enact laws to handle this situ> |
alton adequately, it will be handled |
by popular Justice or injustice, |
through mob courts and lynch tri- |
bunals." |
Senator Borah then read to the |
senate the account of the hanging of |
the German miner Prayer at Collins |
willie, Ill.
This is an example of what [ |
have just mentioned" said Senator |
Lodge.
Senator Shields of Tennessee said:
"Of course I would rather not have