New-York tribune., 1920-01-07
IL Am Going to Speak
Here,'' He Says; ssYou
Are Not" Replies Chief; ;
Escorts Him to Ferry
Radical Is Trailed
From His Hotel
Request for Taxi Refused
and Socialist Orator
Talks Of Damage Suit

Victor Berger, Socialist, whom the
voters of Milwaukee reelected to Con-
gress after the House of Representa-
tives had denied him seat, was in
tercepted by Jersey City policemen
last night within a block of the hall
IN which he was to have spoken in
that city, placed in an automobile
and driven to Weehawken, where he
was forcibly put aboard a ferryboat.
bound for New York.
Charles f. X. O'Brien, Director
Of Public Safety, announced several
days ago that Berger would not be
permitted to speak in Jersey City.
Last evening when Berger left the
Hotel McAlpin with Oscar Amer
niger, his campaign manager, he was
trailed by Chief of Police Richard
Battersby, of Jersey City, and three
detectives. They boarded tube
train with him, rode to Hoboken, and
there took the same trolley car to
Hutton Street and Central Avenue,
Jersey City, a block from the Social
ist Education Club, 256 Central
Avenue, where Berger's address
was scheduled.
Berger Advised to Leave
At this point Berger left the car by
the front platform. Chief Battersby
and the detectives ran out the rear
door and confronted him as he stepped
to the street
"Who are you?" Battersby asked him.
"I'm Victor Berger" the Socialist re-
piled.
II think you had better leave Jersey
City at once,' said the chief.
'But I am going to speak here"
Berger insisted.
"No. you're not" Battersby told him.
You're going to leave town at once
or l will escort you out"
"1f you do that" Berger retorted,
"Ill sue you for all there is in it,"
Ameringer's Protests Ignored
Mr.. Ameringer injected himself into
the discussion at this juncture with
voluble protests against the police ac-
tion, but Battersby paid no attention
to him.
well, let me send for taxi and III
CO." Berger finally consented.
NO. said the chief, 81 think you
had better come with me-"
Berger entered the chiefs car which
had been brought to the place by q
police chauffeur and with Battersbv
and the detectives was whisked over
Hudson Boulevard to Weehawken.
There the Milwaukeean was bundled
aboard the ferryboat that plies to West
Forty-second Street.
Crowd Gathers Quickly
Central Avenue had gathered in the
vicinity of the Socialist Educational
Club house. The majority of them
seemed to be Socialists who had come
in the expectation Of hearing Berger.
although a goodly number were Curl
Gus persons attracted by the prospect
Of trouble.
Berger had been halted and spirited
away so quietly that no one in the
throng knew what had happened until
long after he was on the way back to
New York.
Fifty uniformed policemen were
drawn in Gordon in front of the club
AVuse anu prevented any one from
entering it except those who could
show they were members of the or
ganization. Even these were not per-
mitted to enter the auditorium. where
the Berger meeting was to have taken
place. The doors we're guarded by
policemen. and the Socialists who were
let into the building had to content
themselves with gathering in groups
in other parts of the clubhouse. There
skoI Lor x,bO
arrived.
Spectators Miss Episode
Eventually the crowd outside began
Of what had happened, most Of them
being under the impression that Ber-
ger had failed to venture crossing the
river in the face Of Director O'Bricn's
announcement that he would be barred.
In his communication yesterday after
noon to Chief Battcrsby Mr.. O'Brien
quoted Bergcr's address in New York
last Sunday night, in which he re-
ferrcd to the Constitution as "a piece
Of paper" and declared. "Whether
90 to prison or to Congress, | will
carry the flag Of revolution with me-
at can readily be seen, therefore,"
the instructions to the chief continued,
"that with Mr.. Berger's record Of con-
viction on one Of the most serious of
fenses against the government, and his
continued preaching of revolution and
the destruction of American institu-
tons, that he is dangerous indi-
yidual. / take 1t that he is against law
and order, and that his appearance and
speaking here might lead to serious re-
sults. 1t is in the best interests Of
government that Mr.. Berger be not al
lowed TO deliver public address in
Jersey City tonight.
Government Campaign Cited
AT present the United States gov
crnment Ia conducting campaign
against those who have been plotting
against our government and rightly
has deportcd a number Of them. This
country must not be tainted with or
desecrated by the. principles which
Berger espouscs and, as far as Jersey
City is concerned, We will never be
80 affected
"ro permit Berger to speak here
would not only be an affront to the
10000 boys Of Jersey City who gladly