New-York tribune., 1920-01-05
Will Carry Wisconsin in
Fall and Then Be Elect
ed to Senate, He Says,
as Police Listen to Talk
Predicted Arrest Fails
Socialists at Manhattan
Lyceun Cheer Visitor;
Speech Called ssTame''

After receiving an ovation at the
hands of 1900 Socialists at Manhattan
Lyceum, So East Fourth Street. yes-
terday afternoon, Victor L. Berger. for
the second time within a year Con-
gresham elect from the 5th Wisconsin
District, boasted that if he were un-
seated again by Congress he would
carry Wisconsin next fall for Cover
nor, and would then be sent to the
United States Senate.
IF l am unseated again." he said,
"l'll run again-seven times, anyhow
Just as fast as my district will elect
me. Last time I got majority Of
5000 The next time it will be 10000
l am going to carry the flag of So
cialism into Congress or into Jail"
The police of the 18th District dis
appointed the meeting by failing to
arrest Mr.. Berger, as preceding speak
ers declared had beep ordered For
two houfs before Mr.. Berger appeared
the audience was kept in fever of ex-
cltement as one speaker after another
expressed the fear that the rights of
free speech were about to be violated.
Among these were Assemblyman Louis
Waldeman, of the 9th District; Alger-
non Lee, of the Rand School,; Alder
man Abraham Beckerman, of the 9th
District, and Oscar Ameringer, of
"The Milwaukee Leader" Berger's
campaign manager.
Speech Called Tame
Contrary to the announcement that
Berger was to be arrested the ment
he appeared on the platform, nothing
happened. The only police action Wis
ible was the occasional bobbing of
a policeman's head from behind part
of the scenery. He complained that
while the stage setting showed sum-
mer scene, his feet we're cold. The
entire audience, we'll overcoated and
with many women wearing furs, chat
tered proletarian assent.
Captain James McAuley of the
18th District was on hand with a
dozen policemen. He denied that any
order had been issued to prevent Ber-
gers speech.
IF Mr. Berger had begun to abuse
the government said Captain Nc
Auley, then I would have acted. But
he made the tamest speech Pve ever
heard him make"
Captain McAuley's guards elected
two men from the rear Of the hall in
the midst of a speech by Assembly
man Waldeman. One Of them con-
fessed that he had come to have "a
little fun by "ragging" the speakers.
Trouble Is Ayerted
The nervous state of the Socialist
audience, however, proved a tinder box
for the intruder's shout that there were
"a hundred million Americans ready
to fight" Socialists sympathizing with
Berger's views. A half dozen workers
who paced the censer aisle of the hall,
partly to keep warm and partly to main
tain order, rushed to the rear to avert
trouble. Cries Of Throw him out!"
mingled with pleas to maintain order.
When the chairman finally obtained
order, he said:
$50 far the meeting is orderly If
violence is provoked, we ask you to re-
main seated. I am told good portion
Of the Lusk committee is in this hall
Don't run, rise or YELL
The audience was quieted by the
speakers praise of the police, who, he
said, were only doing their duty and
not acting as individuals. Then Mr..
Berger, heralded by a cry for cheers,
entered the hall and strobe to the
stage.
II seem to be the most highly priced