The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1920-02-20
HILLQU|T WOULD
SUPPORT DEB5
EaR /! PRESIDENT
socialist 0ssts e. followers 3,
Not Opposed rs ned
ENTAILS VICTOR BERGER
Under Cross Exam nation HlllquIt
Takes Radical Stand at Albany
Socialists Trial

Albany, Feb. 1y.-Hard pressed by
the States counsel, Morris Hillquit
ended today his third day on the W.T.
ness stand as chief defender Of the
five suspendedNSocialist Assemblymen
on trial for d-sloyalty, by making
.hese startling statements
The convict on of Eugene V.
Debs in the Un ted States Supreme
Court tor treasonab statements
was a shame and a blot on the ma
tion and as practical repudiat on Of
that court the witness would name
Debs as the Soc. c.alist nominee for
p esident at the next election.
In the final class struggle, deem
ed inevitable. "a little shoot ng'
may be necessary to supplement
polit cal action in uphoiding the
majority.
Victor L. Berger was right N
contend.ng that the bullet may
back up the ba lot.
The Socialist party arrogates to
'tself the complete right OF deter
min ng whether a war n which the
naion engages is defensive and
just. II its Interpretation did not
sustain Congress the Socialist
party would always retain is right
of repud at.ng the action of Con-
gress.
You regard Mr. Deb5 as a patriot "
Martin Conboy asked after Mr.. Hillquit
had spent hours expounding his V ews
On Socialism.
II consider h m one of the most hu-
mane and noble characters. in the
United States"
You know he is serv ngi sentence
for violation of the Espionage law?"
And | consider that ghame and
blot upon our admin stration of JUS
dce"
The Supreme Court OF the United
5 ates has passed upon the conviction
Of Debs, has 1t not?'
1T has the witness said.
DO you recognize that decision as
a b nding declaration OF what the law
OF The land is on that subject?" Mr.
Conboy a ked.
we recognize the decs sion OF the
Supreme Court as final and binding,
and that is why nebs is n jail"
Mr.. Hillquit denied the court had
decided that Debs' utterances were a
vic alton of the law, hold ng that the
only question before the Supreme
Court was whether Debs speeches in
tended to obstruct recru ting we sub
mitted properly to judge
No Notwithstanding the judgment of
the court, do you declare that he re-
presents the att tude of the Soc al st
party on the subject Of loyalty to the
United States?" Arthur Sutherland
ask d.
"a think | said he represented the
noblest sentiments of tizenship," NJ
Hillquit said. I'VE do not at any me
to endow the judiciary with
an ar Of sane ty. We are not con-
V need by decision of the Supreme
Court. We submit to it; we have no
Alternative do not believe Debs sa d
anything W tn intent to obstruct re-
cruiting."
Have you any respect for the deci-
sion OF the tribunal to the contrary"
Il have respect to tn effect; I
know t il bind ng and in practice WI
go. do not have respect in believ-
Ing I is just. think the conviction
Is one Of which the country VII not
be p oud n the future"
do you wish to have it understood
that you approve of Debs' words?"
Are you trying to get me convicted,
too?"
Seymour Stedman, counsel for the
Soc alists, interrupted.
do not try to save me, Seymour,
please" Mr. Hillouit said, laughing.
Mr. Sutherland rebuked the W tness for
taking the matter lightly. Then the
witness continued:
u WI tell you We definitely, as a
rule fully indorre Debs' sentiments
and statements of the subject Of the
war as EXPRESSED in that speech. and
other speeches" BY that speech" Mr..
Hi lqu't referred to the one on which
Debs was convicted.