Campaign poster for Victor Berger (ca. 1918)

For a Speedy, General and Lasting Peace, Tax the Profiteers...


Victor Berger (1860-1929) studied at universities in Budapest and Vienna, then emigrated in 1878 to the United States and settled in Milwaukee. After 1892 he devoted himself to Socialist politics and journalism, and with Eugene V. Debs was instrumental in the creation of the American Socialist party. In 1910, his leadership helped the Socialists win control of Milwaukee government, which they retained for many years. Berger was elected the first Socialist member of Congress (1911 to 1913), and was re-elected in 1918, when this poster was made. Although Congress excluded him on grounds of sedition, the U.S. Supreme Court reversed this decision in 1921 and he was allowed to take his seat when reelected in 1922. Again elected in 1924 and 1926, he was ultimately defeated in 1928.

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Related Topics: Wisconsin's Response to 20th-century change
Milwaukee Sewer Socialism
Creator: Unknown
Pub Data: Original poster in the visual materials collection of the Wisconsin Historical Society Archives.
Citation: "For a Speedy, General and Lasting Peace, Tax the Profiteers..." Campaign poster for Victor Berger (ca. 1918) in the visual materials collection of the Wisconsin Historical Society Archives. Online facsimile at:  http://wisconsinhistory.org/turningpoints/search.asp?id=836; Visited on: 4/20/2024