Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1919-01-03

OF BERGER IS
FINISHED TODAY
Defendant Breathes Sigh Of
Relief as He Steps
From Stand.

Chicago, Jan. 3.-After being on-tAe
witness stand for three days, the ex-
animation of Victor l.. Berger Of Mil
waukec, who, with fouD other Social
list chiefs, is on trial charged with
conspiracy to interfere with the gov
crnnient's prosecution OF tho war, was
concluded today.
Berger breathed a sigh Of relief as
he stepped from the witness stand.
Seldom has a defendant been SUBJ
jected to a more severe cross exam
ination than that administered to
Berger by Assistant District Attorney
Fleming.
Government agents worked a year
investigating Berger's records and rs
a esult a a Of documentary evil
ment counsel for use in the cross-ex-
animation of the defendant.
Berger was confronted with prac-
tically every public u%tterance, alleged
by the government to be seditious,
which he had made in recent years,
and with hundreds of published anti
war articles. He was asked to explain
a number Of statements which appar.
entity he had forgotten ever having
made. "
The eros examination uncovered a
number of surprises. While under the
ordeal, Berger looked appealingly at
his attorneys for protection but they
were unable to stem the tide of guess
tons by government counsel which, in
nearly every instance, brought in
eliminating admission.
Berger at the opening of court
complained Of a headache and asked
to be excused from reading docu-
ments.
SIS it not true hat the majority
socialists OF Germany stood by the
kaiser in the warp" asked Mr.. Elem
ing.
They stood by their country, not
by the kaiser, replied the witness.
Government counsel then read from
newspaper reports showing that. the
majority socialists Of Germany sup
ported the kaiser throughout the war.
Mr.. Fleming read from a speech by
Berger which he declared that in the
event of a war with Japan the social.
lists of this nation would stand by
their country to the last ditch.
I'm other words, the socialists
would stand by this country in a wal
with Japan. but not in a war with
Germany" said the government coun.
sci.
"Eo I mean that the socialists
would stand by this, country in a wal
with n nation if four country were
attacked" replied Berger.
D you think Germany attacked
this country when it e submarine:
to u eastern coast and raided oul
shipping?" asked Mr.. Fleming.
"No. I don't" said the witness.
"She vas not attacked in the same
sense as Belgium"
do you think Belgium was attack.
ed by Germany"
YES" said the witness, II did no
approve Germany's actions"
Asked whether he had supported
President Wilson's policies in the war
| Berger said:
"Hc changed his mind so often il
was impossible to follow him. FRS,
he was too proud to fight. Then he
was reelected president because hi
kept US out of war. Four month.
later.he plunged us into war. Their
he gave us dozens of different reason,
why we were attwar."
The assistant district attorney reac
from a report showing that there were
more than one thousand desertion.
from the army among the men regis
tered by the Milwaukee local draf,
boards. Berger said he never had
heard of any Milwaukee Socialist.
deserving.
Berger admitted that the Socialist.
co-operated with pacif1sts and Other
organizations opposed to the war. HI
said that in all his anti-war activitie.
he eve thought of the possible eff
feet on the, governments conduct Of
the war. ..