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.