Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1919-12-12
FRIDAY. DEC. ~, 1919
The Eyes of the Nation Are on Milwa ukee's
Congressional Contest.

The special election in the Fifth Congressional dist
riot is in many respects the most important held in
Milwaukee County
The whole nation will watch for the result, and by
that result Milwaukee will be judged
Rarely has serious duty devoved upon the vot.
ing citizenshipthe duty the best interests OF
city, state and country.
Victor L. Berger elected the representative of
the Fifth district in 1918 by Socialist votes that
gave him majority over his two opponents.
Election statistics prove that several thousand Re-
pubcans and Democrats must have given him the bene
fit of their ballots.
They did that not because they had been converted
to Socialism, or because Berger Socialist.
They did it largely in spirit of protest against the
wartime restrictions placed free speech and pubica
ton protest against policies Of coercion and suppress
sion and because they thought him victim OF per-
secution third indictment. the very of the
election contributed much to this temper.
That was over year ago. The is and
situation has arisen fully serious to the in
terests of the nation.
In facing that situation and the bearing that this
election upon it, the non-Socalst supporter of
Bergern 1918 cannot let past considerations move him.
He must, if he values the reputation of his city and
welfare of his country, place Americas imminent
need above the of any individual
This country is seriously disturbed by the economic
and social unrest that is the fruit of the
The spirit loosely described Bolshevik is abroad in
the land Radical agitation abounds Strikes exist and
threaten every The temper Of certain elements
the population like nder ready to catch the slight
est spark.
great danger from violent extremists and
revolutionary agtators great need for sane,
ligEitened and constructive leadership
That there legitimate of the prevailing I'M
rest that farreaching must be made thought
full citizen will deny he must also recognize that it
is through orderly alone through the applied JUS
tice patriotism and sense of the mass of the
people, that right and permanent results be accom-
pished.
To get such action, to organize the great stable
iorty of citizenship against small but threatening
minority need of the hour and to that end few
things are more important than the election of sound
liberal representative to the seats of government
Not what Victor L. Berger could do if elected, but
what his election would inspire is the thing that calls
for his defeat
Urge, if you will that he is pacific Socialist SIM
cere in his convictions yet his election would be
thing more and other than victory for Socialism.
Reflect him, and every BosheVist, every l. w. W..
every anarchist every apostle of violence and revolutions
every enemy Of the American government would sit up
and take courage.
The great problems of the reconstruction perod-the
realization Of larger democracy of larger industrial and
social Justice not be solved by extreme doctrines
and violent measures
These have ever prejudiced the average common
citizen, the mass of the people, without whose
sympathy and support reform is possible.
The professional agators of discomfort and disorder
defeat their ends they work Infinite mis-
chief To give aid and comfort to this minority mat
ter how indirectly to invite danger to the nation and
set back the clock of progress.
vote Berger will, in its effect, be vote OF en-
couragement for the extremists and revoutionists-
Wisconsin, News.