The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1919-01-03
Testi6es That He F oug 1t
American Federation OF
Labor Thirty Years, and
Alleges That This Organi-
zation Always Sold Out to
Capitalists.

CHICAGO Jan. On CroSs-"IaNl!na-
ton to-day ConErcsSuan-cicct victor Il.
Berger. of milwaukee,. At the trial or f:E>
Socialist leaders charged with violation
q: ;he espionage law. vas coatrontca
with an article printed over his sigma
,ure in the Socialist democratic EtcraId.
- milwaukee,. July 81. 1908. in which
h advised workingmsn 10 use rillcs II
necessary to obtain their rights.
On direct examination. Berger mao re-
ooatcdiy declared that he was Conscrv-
a,iy. and constructive Socialist and that
ha never advised the use.ot violence
Tho ar,,cls in question was read 10 IN"
iuro, by Assistant District Attorney
Fleming. II contained among other
things tho following:
"E:rsry workingnan ought TO have
good rifle with plenty OF ammunition
ut home so as To be ready when the time
comes 10 take up the battle for MI
rights. | deny that any change can ever
b., brought about by peaceful means. X
,.anno. b. done oy the ballot alone
Wnrk:nrmen must bc prepared TO back
10 their ballots with bullets
Questioned about the sentiments cN
pressed. thu witness said nc meant 'n't'
# q majority Of ballots did not get 'ne
desired results THAI force might BE- nee
esSary.
Act.r Berger had testified that he was
,,r,u,Srl - ;hl. cnu;,try's going TO war
,r,rh Nnx,co. Assistant District Attorney
Fleming produced Il telegram which s"r-
.-..r had SEN: ln the editor o. 4 Ne" y "rR
Socialist paper IL March. 1915 insisting
,ha, ;h.. tinted states send an army into
Mexico - punish Villa.
,.nr1nsrl Tor IN" government rad 10
~. Jury an ..,llluc ai written by Berger
>, M. milwaukee,, Leader declaring that
.,ar,tal;S!n wLS only On" cause ~ ehe
var ard ina, III" principal cauS" was
ra,IrnaliS.u and class hatred.
Berger adutlttc6 thai IN t"lh ~ IaFor-
ID = general Str!k" 10 pc"H"ut thiS coun-
.rv from entering the war. II" SAID no
vas cnnnset to the principles OF the /.
W. W. despite :ha fact that he contrib
,,,.d $40 ~ n. defense fund ~ the lead
.rs y; tho organization when they were
IN rial in Chicago FOR violation OF the
osoionaSa law. He said the |. W. w.
had stood ;hc test as Il class organiza-
.,n, and was superior - the American
Federation OF Labor.
"1 have fought Samuel G"mprrs for
40 years. said Berger. The American
Federation O.: Labor has always sold out
-. capital"
BERGER admitted that he was opposed
"a var, "vr,t after this country entered
-. Al the St. Louis convention OF inc
Socialist party !:.rg"r said there were
only fiy. delegates who favored the war.
T;n admitted having voted for the anti
war proclamation OF the party ana ot
having used his paper 10 urge us aoop-
,i5,l bv ths. membership ot the party X
4 referendum vote.
He admitted that Charles F.. RuSSHll l.
John Spargr. Wiltshire Gaylord. \. Vi
Sjmona$ and other leaders severed Their
cnn,2c,ion with the Socialist party az
.er the adoption az tho anil-~ar pr"C'"-
nation a 81. LOUIS III 1871.
Attorney Fleming read an editorial oF
Berger IN the Milwaukee" Leader. IN
which hc demanded that "r"ry member
ut the party stand sruar"iy on IN" anti
war platform Of tho Socialists or E"'
on, OF th. party whether hs b" mayor or
ronstnbIr. TIL" witness SAID h" had
Navor foan. Of Milwaukee,. III mind
when H.. wrot. IN" article. and ADDED
thar tho Socialist mayor Of milwaukee,
had b"on wnbhiinc about on IN" qu'S'
ton OF tho war Berger said that finally
Mayor Hu:tn took n definite stand on tn'
war b. approving TIL. -. Louis conE"n'
finn.
.D!d y"u hsii"v" ;ha' American rishit
had hrcn violated 10y ;h" sinking "t th'
Lusi,aniH"" asked tbs '"d"ra! attorney
NO, did no.. replied Berger. II
was an English v"SS"t and $h.' was car
wing war muuj;iunS. thi;k x was
heaStlv thing . d.. hit NOT sufficient
reason for this country |" Ct INTO th'