New-York tribune., 1920-02-20
Hillquit Would
Back Ballots
With Bullets
founsel for Five Ousted
Assemblymen Says Time
Nav Come When Masses
Will DO a Little Shooting
Condemns Supreme Court
Calls Conviction of Debs
Unjust, but Hesitates to
Approve His Utterances
Pror, a Sta6 Correspondent

Albany, Feb. 19.-Morris Hillquit
,,.der Of the Socialist party, unde.
|.,ross-examination to-day before the
Assembly Judiciary Committee, de-
.l,red that in the event the Socialists
ebtained a majority in this country
.h.y might be forced to supplement
heir political action by little shoot
ing"
This statement was made in explana-
.isn Of speech made by Victor Ber-
crr. the Socialist Congressman from
milwaukee, who is out on bail pending
.opeal from conviction of violation of
.he espionage act. In this speech. made
=. the Socialist National Convention Of
1908. Berger said:
81 have heard it pleaded many a time
r;sht in our own meetings, by speakers
that come to our meetings, that the
only salvation for the proletariat Of
America is direct action, that the bal
10. box is simply humbug. Now, don't
srow how this question is going to be
solved. I have no doubt that in the
last analysis we must shoot, and when
Il comes to shooting Wisconsin will be
there. We always make good.
Direct Action-Some Day
aWe are to have a political party.
And we want to keep out Of the party
everybody who is not in harmony with
our main principles and who is op-
uosed to the fundamental idea of the
marty, which means the ballot box. In
order to be able to shoot, even, some
day, We must have the powers Of the
politica government in our hands. at
east to a great extent. | want that
understood So everybody who is talk
;nr to you about direct action and so
on and about political action being
humbug, is your enemy to-day, because
he keeps you from getting the powers
Of political government"
Martin Conboy, Of counsel to the
prosecution, after reading this speech
Of Berger. received a lengthy interpre-
:stion Of it from Hillquit, who said:
"Now then, it is not at all impos-
sible that when you say in any country,
even in this country, the majority of
he people will be ready to introduce
substantial reform AID take away the
privileges from the profteering class
by Constitutional legal methods. those
sef-same proiitcering interests will
,ske oisenss and viii try 20 play some
,ricks upon the people, and in that
case it is possible as a matter Of
prophecy. not as q matter of program,
as far as VIC are concerned, that the
beople Of this country will be COM
PEELED to supplement- their political ac-
lion by little shooting; and Victor
Berger says that political action. and
hat is the political power which we
can acquire. c. the advantage which
he people viii acquire. will help them
% gain, o. maintain their victory;
and | nigh; have added would also
cut down Ve~y cons ideraoly any blood
shed attempted by unlawful or lawless
privileged mlnorities. That is the
Meaning OF this statement Of Victor
Berger
When Conbcy pressed the witness
% admit that other minds could place
different construction on it, Hillquit
nodestly replied:
Thinks He Is Best Judge
whatever inference others may
draw, thinl; they would do we'll in
this particular case to defer--if say
i mysaif-to my superior facilities for
forming judgnon. on that particular
|poiHt"
An article written year later by
5sieer and printed In the Social
press was 'len read 10 the witness.
II It the Milwaukee Socialist said:
In view OF the plutoc-atic lawmak-
lhg Of the present day, it is easy to
predict that the safety and hope of
'ls country will finally lie in one direc
non only, that Of violent and bloody
revolution.
Therefore, say, each of the 100000
oocialist voters and of the 100000
Sorkingmen who instinctively incline
our way, should. besides doing muc!
reading and still more thinking, also
nave good rife and the necessary
rounds of ammunition in his home and
p Ne prepared to back up his ballot with
a's bullets if necessary.
predict that large part Of the
capitalist class will be wiped out for
aueh smaller things than the settling
=" n Inc great social question.
|, mat before any settlement is posi-
Ole. most of the plutocratic class, to-
se'ner with the politicians, will have
disappear as completely as the
.sadal lords and their retinues dis