Victor Berger

photo credit:

Harris & Ewing. "Victor L. Berger (1860-1929) 'American Socialist politician.'" hosted by Library of Congress' Prints and Photographs Division. [ID hec.16979]
Public Domain: PD-US "No known restrictions"

hominidmedia:

[ Victor Berger #1 ]

other:

Zeidler's sixty second PBS spot on Berger was funded by some combination of PBS-WI, UW-TV, WI Educational Communications Board, the State's Historical Society and Bar association. These videos were intended to teach about constitutional law. Zeidler was Milwaukee's last sewer socialist mayor from 1948-1960. Before that was Daniel Hoan (1916-40) and Emil Seidel (1910-12). Seidel achieved national fame as Debs' running mate in 1912.
Berger, representing Milwaukee, was elected as the first Socialist in the US Congress in 1910. During the run up to World War I his pacifism and Austrian heritage resulted in a a conviction under the Espionage Act which he appealed. During the appeal he was refused his seat in congress. He was re-elected and again refused his seat until the Supreme Court appeal overturned his Espionage conviction. Then he was re-elected and seated three more terms.
Zeidler's concern her is the constitutional qualifications for being a House member. They are age, citizenship, residence and popular mandate. His implication is that the U.S. House was acting unconstitutionally during the run up to World War One by refusing to seat Berger.

Zeidler, Frank P. "Victor Berger." Constitutional Minutes episode 103. Wisconsin: PBS-WI, 1987. hosted by American Archive of Public Broadcasting Boston: WGBH. [americanarchive.org]

Victor Berger archive hosted by [marxists.org]