The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1919-02-26
Berger and Four Other Socialists.
Agitators Given 20 Years siin
Federal Prison. @
JUDGE Lands IMPOSES
MAXIMUM PENALTY
Claim to Be Martyrs But Persist
in Attitude of Ennlity to tie
American Government,

Chicago, Feb. 2o.-A maxiInum
sentence Of 20 years in Leayenworth
prison was imposed by federal Dis
trict Judge Lands today ron Con-
gressman-elect Victor Z. Berger Of
Milwaukee. and four other Socialist
leaders, who in final pIeass likenedz
themselves to history,,s. greatest
martyrs The five men, consicted OF
conspiracy to obstruct5 the draft IN
violation of the espionage act, were;
granted 5000 bail by Federal
Judge Alschuler in circuit. court, "a nd s
declared they would carry their legal
fight to the United States supreme
court IS I:
Resioes Berger, publisher Of the
Milwaukee Leader, the others COM
victed are:
The Rev. l. st. John 1.nckers lee
turer and writer.
Adolph Gern1e-, national secretary
of' the Socialist party. ':
J. Louis Engaahl, editor Of the
American Socialist.
William F. Kruze,. head Of the
Young Peoples Socialist; League
Judge lands overruled motions
20 ra new trial, for a stay Of. execu-
ton and for bail, but granted the
fling of a petition for a writ OF err
rsr Counsel for the convicted men
then went before. Judge Alschuler
of the United States circuit court of
appeals rand asked for: bail; T.
Judge Alschuier5 grantees them
bail, increased from $fe 0e6:tto 322s...
000, with the understanding that
they refrain from resaimipg Their
former acts asrd sutterances during
pendency sof their case. 81, s, ( =:
William Bross: Lloyd appeared and
| cfcred to provide surety fof the Ee-.
Sut scheduled only fourth aof thN
$509.000 required The" men were
technically placeds;in the custody OF
the federal marshal and late IN. the
night their bonds had not been. per.
fected. -; ~. Z.
The new bond had been i fixed al.
$4,000 on each count, and each Of
the five was found guilty ON two
counts. The surety, too; was requiss
ed to be double the sum fxAd, Or;
100000. for an. = - =, 3. ,ss5S>..
Berger and his four asspezatss
took full advantage OF the custom
airy inquiry of the nudge hetAAr
they had ANYTHING TO sag before sen
tence was passed. The s4ifsaukea
congressnoan-elect finished j. reading
his 1000 word typewrit sstafemea
with tears streaming. downhiss face.
He professed no surprise at the vet-
dict, though declaring his conviction
was in violation, Of the constitution
and asserted he would retract moth
ing he had said or written. q - :. -
The war was an imperfalistIc and
commercial one Berger declared, and
"oter half the. white race isy in "a
chaotic state of revolution out OF
which must develop. an orderly So-
eialist reign within FIVE years.
The so-ealled league Of nations lis :
simply "a thin screen behind which
the capitalistie classes OF the; WIN
ming side are dividing the spoiis,'
said Berger, who also declared that
"Americanisna is now Synonymous
with capitalism =,
Irwin st. John Tucker, ip. his plea,
compared himself and the other de-
PENDANTS to Jesus Christ before Pom
tius Plate.
The wives Of the convicted. men
We're in court, bat expressed no
visible signs. of emotion when sem
tence was passed. The men them
selves, with the exception o. Engen-
dahl. who appeared shocked, receiY-
ed the sentence stoically.