Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-11-11
BERGER IS OUSTED
FROM HOUSE SEAT.
Socialist Declared Ineligible Be-
cause of His Reasonable
Activities.
RESULT OF VOTE is 800 TO !
On Issue of Americanism, Both
Parties Present United
Front.
TDy Univcrsal Scrvico1

By Universal Scrvicc.1
w AStilNGTON Nov. l0-Victor L.
berger. Socialist Congressman-e elect
from Wisconsin. was excluded from
mem mbcrship in the House OF Represen-
iatves tonight by vote OF 800 10 !.
D!sioyalty TO the United states and
giving aid and comfort to the enemy
In time OF war we're the grounds on
wh!ch this verdict was rendered Berg
cr was specifically charged with hav-
ing violated the espionage act by con-
spring to in,errcrc with the oocra-
ton ot the selective service act and
otner preparations for war. He is now
under sentence OF twenty Years in
prison, imposed by the Federal court
at Chicago
The one NEGATIVE vote was cast by
Nepresentatlvc Edward Vost, Re-
publican. Of Wisconsin, who raised the
oniE Eo!~ in defense OF Berger dur
:ng the live and half hours of i'm
passioned condemnation and denuncia-
ton Of The milwaukee, Socialist. Re
presentative Rodenberg. Republican.
recommending that the house defer
action until Berger's appeal is decided,
was absent.
Berger Makes Boastful Speech.
II there was any doubt in the minds
OF the other members. IL was swept
away by Bcrgcrs own speech. lie
hoasttullv rcahirmed his adherence 10
the PRINCIPLES OF International social
/ .s.i!' dNJ ucunllely declared he TOOK
back nothing that he had said in his
speeches and newspaper articles
for more than an hour Berger be-
Titled the government, ridiculcd the
and the Republican and Democratic
parties. and assailed the Federal court,
| ip which he was convicted.
| ~ hen Berger had concluded Rcpre-
| sentative Rucker. Democrat Of Mis-.
souri,, immediately moved to strike his
remarks from the Record. The motion
was supported by several other mem
5ers on both sides. bu, motion by
/ Representative Mondell, OF Wyoming,
Republican floor leader, TO lay the
! Rucker motion on the table prevailed
| by a vote OF lI3 10 122.
Refuse to Make Berger n Martyr.
I Mr.. MondeM said he ''had no desire
20 make the gentleman from Wiscon-
sin 4 martyr by striking his remarks
from the Record"
Mr.. Rucker declared he did not think
the Congressional Record should be
used TO spread this fou! TRADE against
the government over the country"
representative Cooper. Republican. of
OHIO. said Bergers remarks were
''sed!t!ous and un-Amcrican, and an at
tack on the government OF the United
States He added, we should not quih-
bic one moment about striking those
remarks from the Record"
The temper OF the House was shown
unmistakably during the opening re-
marks by Representative Da!linger
iE' nUDilT3n. OF massachusetts. chairman
OF tn" committee which reported out
tnc resolution to exclude Berger HIS
danunciation OF the Socialist leader.
who. he declared. was the "one man
who refused The opportunity 10 make
the Socialist party an American party"
Mas checred repeatedly.
AT the time i, was the duty Of every
America TO he loyal" said Mr.. Dali
niger. Berger was the moving spirit
to undermine the American cause. Had
he taken up arms against America. 1t
would not have been half as effective
Berger I. Defiant.
II take back nothing that said in
my ny speeches So ,hss and artiriss' Berger
circumstances would say and write
II all over again. only I would make
it = great. deal stronger"
Two csnionage act was chara cteri,cd
by R"rger as IN Infamous measure
nasscd 1T m" order Of American au-
-ocracv and declared that It had heen
citizens whose onirions differed from
those Of the administration.
Monnhnn Scores berger.
Victor, l.. Berger Is living example
change his spots nor the Ethiopian his
skin" said Representative Monahan.
Republican. OF Wisconsin. at would
be no more unpatriotic and un-Ameri-
can TO put the cX- Kaiser in the White
House. IIindcnburG in charge Of our
armies and Won TirpitZ in command
VI our HdNicS at an hour Wnen we were
at war with Germany than /: would he
10 vote to give Victor l.. Berger a seat
in the House"
Representative I.uhrinG Republican.
Of Indiana. declared that he was con-
WINGED that Berger mot only was guilty
of violating the espionage law and en-
tered into 4 conspiracy for that pur-
pose hut he is also guilty of treason"
Among the other members who de-
nounCcd Berger were Representatives
eagle, Democrat. Texas: Rose. Repub-
| lican. PENNSYLVANIA: Welty. Democrat.
Ohio: Cole. Republican. Ohio: Randall
Republican. Wisconsin,: @ o d Oglc
Democrat New York. and Small. Dem
ocrat, North Carolina