New-York tribune., 1919-06-09
Prosecution of Socialists
Will Bring Direct Ac-
ton, Congressman-Elect
Tells Crowd at Garden
Objects to Being
Martyr, He Admits
But Adds He Will Carry
Red Flag to Prison Gate;
Stedman Attacks Wilson

Under the eyes Of more than 200 de-
tectives and agents of the Department
Of Justice and protected by $50 uni
formed policemen, the Socialist party
Of New York conducted a mass meet
ing yesterday afternoon in Madison
Square Garden. There was no disorder.
The principal speaker was Wiscon-
sins unseated Congressional Repre-
sentative, Victor Berger, out on bail
pending the result Of his appeal from
the sentence by Federal Judge X. NJ
lands of twenty years Imprisonment
for violations of the espionage act.
Another speaker was Seymour Sted-
man, of Chicago, chief counsel for the
defence in the trials Of five Socialist
party leaders in Chicago Others were
Municipal Court Judge Jacob Panken.
Charles W. Erwin, editor of "The New
York Call" and Albert Rhys Williams,
suthor of several sympathetic pam
phlets about Bolshevism that have been
pabNshed by the Rand School.
Patriotism and Profits
Berger was cheered and applauded
when he said:
ITO our ruling class, capitalism and
.Amerieanism mean the same thing, and
patriotism and profits mean the same
thing. That is the reason why the
greatest profteers are invariably the
greatest patriotecrs.
You know that during the war most
pf these gentlemen in the forenoon
were dollar year patriots, in which
capacity they handed out contracts to
their firms. In the afternoon, in their
capacity as business men, they filled
these contracts. So much for the pa
triots.
The Socialist understood at the out
oreak OF the war what everybody un-
4erstands now-namely, that this war
IN the main was a Struggle between
tne ruling class of England and the
iuiing class of Germany for the con-
troi OF the worlds trade-and the rul-
ing class of our country, being closely
Allied by ties of blood and business
with the ruling class of England. nat
fraiiy sided with England from the
very hrst day the world war COM
menced in 1914.
Hypocrisy and Humbug
Ali the rest was hypocrisy and hum
pug And one Of the biggest humbugs
snd most contemplate lies is the
phrase that this war was fought to
make the world safe for democracv.'
At this point Mr.. Berger was again
interrupted by cheers.
Nobody thought of that nhrase in
1si4' at the beginning of the world
var and nobody thinks of it now when
Is ended. 1t was simply used tc
Heste enthusiasm two and three years
sso among gullible Americans"
heierring to the trial and conviction
himself and four other leaders OF
we socialist party, Mr.. Berger said:
Ine five men found guilty by jur,
enicago were to be sent to prison
"a account Of an alleged conspiracy te
.a'erlere with the armed forces of the
onised States--at least the indictment
said so.
We were found guilty because the
apitaiist class fears Socialism ant
pus the Socialist party out Of bust
nets.'s
No Germans on Jury
af' Berger expressed resentment be-
sse there was not single man O.
nan descent on the jury" that con
uesed him. He also said: "The jury
ssserd'ng to The Chicago Examiner,
n.a been looked over by the American
aveetiye League, Il branch of the so
snsd secret seryice-and every mem
~ Of the jury had the 0. X. of tha
ilss seryice--a fine jury, worthy o.
endge Landis."
1nsre were more cheers for Mr.. Ber
- when he said:
Vnr enemies do not realize the dan
~ ol their position. BY their tactic,
ars trying To outlaw an intcrna
-vnsi idea and Ia national party O
million voters. BY their tactics
w make pei aceable solution i'm
sonstructiye, conservative and il. "a.
isN Socialists are indicted or jailed
cpen and aboye-board agitation Ii
sesaden, or IL at least seriously in
NI1ered with.
4ns fesult7 Well, what woult
sss s.'sw'ss be weII-meaning, health,
~ epen political opposition the,
49,. y IN other countriex~--by this op
~ VIII become ilI-natured, secre
and yenomoux.
nat wiz be the further result
- ~. septfAlist elsss will find that In
g ofdesly mass action there vii
e'vidual snd direct action AZ 1
q tssistanss. Inat@ad Of social