New-York tribune., 1919-12-08
1000 Veterans to Help De.
termine Whether Con-
gressional District Is
Loyal at Primary To-day
Legion Is Confident
Socialist Candidate Mus.
tered Entire Strength at
His Rally, Officials Assert

MILWAUKEE, Dec. What 1000
returned war veterans do in the special
primary to-day will largely determine
whether the 9Th Congressional District
of Wisconsin has renewed its allie
glance to the United States or is still
the political property of Victor Berger,
the Socialist, whose denomination two
days after he was ousted from the
House of Representatives, a month ago,
was the reply of his radical supporters
to the charge he was disloyal to the
United States.
The issue is clear, made so by the
House OF Representatives in unseating
Berger-Americanis versus Berger
ism. There are only two candidates,
Berger and Henry Bodenstab, Fusion
ist, former state Senator. although
there is bare chance of a third emerg-
ing from the primary, which, under the
Wisconsin law, must precede the final
election set for December 19. The war
veterans, according to the returns of
the election Berger won in November,
1918, hold the balance of power.
American Legion Confident
M. Bodenstab and his supporters
thought the ex-soldiers were safely
for him until the Berger rally last
Sunday night revealed hundreds of
men in uniform among his enthusi-
astic admirers. A color guard of 100
veterans, in overseas uniform, escorted
Berger to the platform on that
occasion.
Officials of the American Legion,
which has been active in the campaign
against Berger, however, express no
fear of the veterans. They declare
Berger mustered his entire strength
among them last Sunday night, and
that this amounts to only a few
will support Bodenstab but will join
in the fight after Berger's defeat to
give effect to the Legion's resolution,
adopted last month at the Mime
apolis convention, demanding that his
citizenship be revoked and he be de-
ported to his native land, Germany.
Carney Supports Bodenstab
The figures of the November election
in 1918 give special interest to the
soldier vote to-day. Berger, despite
his indictment for violation of the
espionage act, got 1895 votes, while
his opponents, Carney, Democrat, re-
ceived 1929, and Representative Stat
ford, Republican, 10,529. Stafford was
cut on account of his vote in the House
against the declaration of war.
Mr.. Bodenstab is counting only on
about one-half of the Stafford
strength, since the latter's support was
largely pacifst last time, and there
fore the fusionists must obtain the
votes of more than 5000 veterans.
Mr.. Bodenstab was made the fusion
ist candidate on November 16, after
series of conferences between the
Democrats and Republicans of this
formerly Republican district. Mr..
Carney settled the matter for the
Democrats by announcing he would
withdraw and support Mr.. Bodenstab
Governor Appeals for Patriotism
Fusionists are making great effort
to get out full primary vote for the
effect on December 10. There is always
the danger in the primary that the So
cialists will write in the name of an
other candidate, and Berger would have
the advantage of three-cornered fight
Election Day. While this danger is re.
mote, and while there is no indication
that the Socialists will resort to this
the fusonsts realize the danger OF
taking any chances.
Governor Philip has come out with
strong Endorsement Of Bodenstab b
In statement he says:
as the 9TH District of Wisconsin ir
ment? If it is, it cannot express thai
sympathy in the minds of the people
unless it refuses to reelect Berger
Berger is teacher of socialism, ano
as such is no better nor no worse thar
his party. 1t would not help matters
any if some other Socialist were elect
ed in his place."