Collier's New Encyclopedia (1921)/Berger, Victor L.

BERGER, VICTOR L., an American socialist and editor, born at Nieder-Rebbuch, Austria, in 1860. He was educated in the schools and universities of Austria, but early in life removed to the United States, where he was employed at various trades. He later became a teacher in public schools, at the same time studying and lecturing on socialism. In 1892 to 1902 he was the editor of the Milwaukee “Daily Vorwärts,” a Socialist newspaper. After acting as editor on several other Socialist papers, he became editor-in-chief of the Milwaukee “Leader,” a Socialist daily. In 1896 he was a delegate to the People's Party Convention at St. Louis and endeavored to organize the support of Eugene V. Debs at that convention. He was a leader in the organization of the Social Democrat and the Socialist Democrat party of America and was a member of the executive board from its beginning. In 1904 he was Socialist Democratic candidate for mayor of Milwaukee and was also candidate for Congress in the same year. He was elected alderman of Milwaukee in 1910. In 1911 he was elected to the 62d Congress, the first Socialist to be elected a representative. He was re-elected to successive Congresses, including the 66th. He had in the meantime, however, been indicted, tried, and found guilty of sedition and disloyalty under the Espionage Act, in January, 1919. In February of the same year he was sentenced to twenty years in the Federal Prison. He appealed, however, and was released on bail. By a vote in the House of Representatives he was denied his seat. In spite of attempts to defeat him by a coalition of Democrats and Republicans, he was again elected representative in the special election, and was again denied a seat. Conviction reversed, January, 1921.