New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-01-04
Berger Charges
Russian Mission 5
Failure 10 Root
Declares He Was Thorough
ly Hated by Foreign So
ciaiisis and Wilson Made
Error in Appointing Him

CHICAGO. Jan. 3. The alleged fail
ure of the Root mission to Russia to
bring about amicablc relations between
the United States and the revolutionary
governments of that country was as
cribed to President Wilson and Elihu
Root himself by Victor l.. Berger. So
calist congressman elect from Mil
waukce, III Judge Landis's court this
afternoon. The statement came near
the close Of Bcrgcr's testimony in the
espionage case against himself and four
other Socialist leaders He was still
en- the stand at ad .ournmcnt
Berger was asked by his attorney.
Henry Cochems, TO explain what he
meant in an editorial in "The Milwau-
kcc Leader criticising the personnel
of the Root mission and President vii
sons action in naming it.
Because Root was very much hated
IN Russia before he went there" was
the reply. at was Il mistake for the
President to have named him. Any
other selection would have been far
better"
The witness declared that Nh Roots
record while IN the office of Secretary
VOL known to the Socialists Of Russia
Says Root Was Discrcdited
Mr.. Root had been personally active
IN helping to return to Russia Social
lists who had escaped from that country
at the time of thc revolution Of 1905"
said Berger
"IIe had caused many refugees to be
sent back some of them to be cxecut-
ed and others to be eXied to Siberia.
SO. when he went to Russia, he had no
inhuence.'
In explanation of the charge that
Socialists in the United States were
called pro German, Berger said that in
France they had been called pro-
Boche, IN Italy pro-Austrian and in
Germany pro-English
at all depended upon which country
was fighting Them" he said.
Prosecutor Joseph B. Fleming
aroused the wrath of the witness on
re-cross examination by askinr if.
while the Majority Socialists of Ger
many, back in 1914, voted war credits.
the Socialists of this country at the
entry of the United States in the war
did not do their utmost to impede the
government in its war plans.
"Thosc Socialists over there in Cor
many were renogades,' Berger shout
Cd 1--WE stayed by the principles of
SOCIALISTS consistently"
Berger was confronted with practi-
cally every public uttcrance, alleged bv
the government to be seditious. which
ne had made in recent years, and with
hundreds of published anti-war articles.
He was asked to explain number of
statements which apparently he had
forgotten ever having made.
Mr.. Fleming read from a speech bv
Berger, IN which he declared that in
the event of war with Japan the So
cialists Of this nation would stand bv
their country to the last ditch.
tn other words, the Socialists would
stand by this country in war with
Japan but not in Il war with Ger
many? asked the government counsel
NO, mean that the Socialists would
stand by this country in war WITH
any nation il our country were at
tackled replied Berger
DO you think Germany attacked this
country when it sent submarines to ON.
eastern coast and raded our shin
ping?' asked Mr.. Fleming.
No. don't" said the witness. "Shc
was not attacked in the same sense AS
Belgium go
DO you think Belgium was attacked
by Germany"
Yes said the witness. 81 did no,
approve Germany's actions"
Asked whether he had supported