Bisbee daily review., 1919-01-03
District Attorney Fleming Reads Extracts From Art icle Advocating Use of Rifle
cRv Review 1easea Wlrel

CHICAGO, Jan. 2.-On cross-ex- animation today Congressman-elect Victor l.. Berger of, Milwaukee, at the trial of five socialist leaders charged with violation of the espion- age law, was contributed with an article printed over his signature in the Socialist Democrat Herald of Milwaukee, July 31, 1909, in which he advised working men 10 use rifles fl necessary to obtain their rights.
 On direct examination Berger had repeatedly declared that he was conservative and constructive social ist, and that he never advised the use of violence. The artiale in question was read to the jury by Assistant District Attorney Fleming after Der ger had been questioned in regard to his relations with Johan Most. the anarchist leader.
 Reaffairms Peace Claim.
 Berger admitted having presided at a Milwaukee meeting at which Most spoke two years after the Haymarket anarchist riot in Chicago in 1886 Berger declared that although he con- sented to preside at the meeting hes never approved of Most's teachings and always opposed the use of vio- dence in every form.
 Assistant District Attorney Fleming then read the article from the Mil waukee paper which contained, among other things, the following:
 Every workingman ought to have good rifle with plenty of ammuni- tion at home so as to be ready when the time comes to take up the battle for his rights. 1 deny that any change can ever be brought about by peace able means. It cannot be done by the ballot alone. Workingmen must be prepared to back up their ballots with bullets"
 Questioned in regard to the radical sentiments expressed, the witness said that he meant that if a majority of ballots did not get the desired results that force might be necessary.
 Contradictory Evidence.
 After Berger had testified that he was opposed to this country's going to war with Mexico, Assistant District Attorney Fleming produced a tele- gram which Berger had sent to the editor of New York socialist paper in March. 1916, insisting that the United States send an army into Mex ico to punish Villa.
 Counsel for the government read to | the jury an editorial written by Der | ger in the Milwaukee Leader in which l the defendant declared that capitalism was only one cause of the war and | that the principal cause was national | ism and class hatred.
 Berger admitted that in 1916 he | favored a general strike to prevent | this country from entering the war He said he was opposed to the prin- ciples of the l. w. w. in spite of the fact that he contributed $10 to the defense fund of the leaders of the when they were on trial in Chicago for violation of the espionage law. He said the l. W. w had stood the test as a class organi- zation and was superior to the Amer lean Federation of Labor.
 Fights Samuel Gompers.
 q have fought Samuel Gompers for 30 years,' said Berger. "The Ameri- can Federation of Labor has always sold out to capital"
 Berger admitted he was opposed to he war even after this country entered it. At the St. Louis conven- ion os the socialist party Berger said here were only five delegates who avored the war. He admitted having 1Oted for the anti-war platform of the party and of having used his paper O urge its adoption by the member hip of the party at a referendum vote.