New-York tribune., 1920-02-20
app Appeared during tho French Revolu.

tion. A''sS'3'
THAT cannot be done by The ballot
or BY only. the ballot. Wv 1's'
:, me ballot may not count for much
IA pinch. And in order to be nre-
pared for all emergencies Socialists
snu wofkingmen should make it their
outy TO have rifles and the necessary
ROUNDS OF ammunition at their homen
sua ,H De prepared to back UP their bal
'ots with their bullets if necessary."
an ikc manner Hillquit interpreted
TINS berger document, and when under
.ne are OF Assemblyman Charles M.
harrington, Of Clinton, Hillouit CON
ceded It was "rathcr somewhat unfor-
tunately worded" and ''that some Of the
expressions are altogether too strong
Tor the meaning which they carry and
intended to carry"
Defends Debs
This defense Of Berger was later
followed by defense of Eugene v.
'Debs, who is now rounding out the
nrst year OF twenty-year term for
violation of the espionage act.
Hillquit said he believed Deb, mad
not done anything to warrant his con
viction, and said if he had his wav
Debs would be the Socialist candidate
for President this fall.
Arthur p. Sutherland, who was<
cross-examining Hillquit, after brino-
Ing out that the United States S1-
preme Court had reafirmed Debs's
conviction, asked:
Now, Mr.. Hillquit, let me under
stand you right. Do you mean to saw
thaV you doubt that Mr.. Debs said
tnlngs and did things for the saying
and doing Of which he was convicted;
is that it?''
:, HE was convicted only for saying
Things, not for doing things" replied
Hlilquit II don't for moment doubt
he said the things he is charged with
having said. do not for moment
believe that he said anything with the
intent to obstruct recruiting or enlist
any kind'
Nov. do you uphold and approve as
leader of the Socialist party the
for which he was convicted ?"
haven't got his complete speech
pefore me; I have not got every word
before me. / do not want to commit
the party in this general way to every
statement. I will say. as a whole, I
read his speech at the time and nv i'm
preston was that it was per
fectly innocent, honest expression of
opposition to war for very good and
patriotic motives; that it was not in
tended IN any way to obstruct recruit
ing or enliss:ng or obstruct the actual
military operations Of this countrv."
Have you any respect at all for tho
decision Of the tribunal to the con-
trary?" VII
Il have the respect to this effect:
That know that it is final and binding
and IN practice will go. l do not have
respect IN the sense of believing that
1t IS Just, impartial and we'll reasoned
out. think, on the contrary. the de-
c,slon OF the United States Supreme
NouI1 IN the Debs case is one of which
be proud in the future"
Hillquit Hesltates
"Mr. Hillquist, do you wish to be nm
derstood as saying now yourself that
you approve Of the words spoken bv
VT: Debs, for which he was convicted ?''
Are you trying to get ME a little
CONNECTION also, judge?"
mo. sir, l have no such intentions ;,
protested Sutherland. ~ ask Won
whether you approve of the language
and the sentiment expressed by Mr..
Debs, for which he was prosecuted and
convicted?" cav
At this moment Seymour Stedman. Of
counsel to the defense, jumped excit-
edly to his feet. Hillquit saw him. and
swinging round in his chair ex-
claimed:
Seymour, don't try to save mel"
"Oh. Mr.. Hillquit is we'll able to take
care of himself" said Chairman Louis
M. Martin. Stedman sat down.
Then Hillquit made this reply:
Il have stated very definitely, Judge.
am not in a position to indorse every
word, or every phrase contained in that
speech just because l do not have it
before me nov. If you draw my attcn-
tion to any particular part, will tell
you very definitely. AS rule / fully
indorsed his statements and sentiments
on the subject of the war, as expressed,
l suppose. in that speech and other
speeches."
Hillquit, after being on the stand for
three days, was excused little before
s o'clock
Then tho defense put on its second
witness, Otto Branstettcr, of Chicago,
national secretary Of the Socialist
party OF America. He testified he had
oeen Socialist for sixteen years: that
he was American born. and his anccst-
ors on both sides were born here for
four generations back.