The Detroit times., 1910-06-06
BERGER REPLIES
TO TAFT's SPEECH
Socialist Leader Says President Does
Not Understand Doctrine and
That He Is Capitalist.

PHILADELPHIA, June 6.--victcr
l.. Berger, Socialist leader OF Mil
waukee, speaking at a mass meeting
In Labor Lyceum hall yesterday, re-
piled to President Tafts speech In
Jackson, Mich, on Saturday. The
the dedication OF the tablet at Under
the Oaks" commemorating the birth
Of the Republican Party, that Social
ism is the issue that must be solved.
He said the issue that Is being framed
| liz the question with respect to private
property. He continued
There are those who charge to
that institution the corporate abuses,
the greed and the corruption that
grow out OF those abuses, the unequal
distribution OF property, the poverty
of some and the undue wealth OF
others and therefore say, We will
have none Of II. and he must have
q new rule or distribution that, for
want OF better name, we shall call
Socialism.
ION the other hand, IT Is contended
that II Is not the institution OF pri-
yate property that should be abol-
ished, but only that the time has come
In which IL Is necessary to lay down
certain rules restricting and regulaS-
ing the use OF that private property
which shall not deprive the world CT
individual effort, but which shall still
keep the law and the opportunity TO
use private property under such con-
troll that these abuses may be wiped
out and the boon OF individual effort
shall be left to us.
Now, my friends, that presents "a
great and difficult problem that am
quite willing to admit we have not yet
solved, and the question which the
country will have 10 determine after
all is. which party Il is which has
heretofore shown sufficient skill and
effectiveness in dealing with great is
sues, which party can be trusted T.,
solve that problem, than which we
have had no greater In the history OF
the country"
President Taft does not understand
Socialism" said Mr. Berger. 1T Ia
not merely a theory az he says, but
II Is a new phase OF civilization, a new
epoch In civilization. II Is the phase
that will follow capitalism just as
capitalism followed feudalism. So
cialisf must come II civilization is TO
survive. Every new thing in civiliza-
ton is little higher than the one be.
fore and Ii has always been q menace
to the one before. To whom Is So
cialism now a menace? Why, to Rock
efeller, TO President Taft, to Cahrles
F. Murphy.
ITO say that the Republican party.
as now constituted. can solve the
problem. Is like asking a man sitting
on the limb of tree TO saw that limb
OF. The Republican cannot saw OF
capitalism without falling down. The
Republican party Is the political ex-
preston Of the trusts. and a trust IL
socialism for the few and hell for the
many All that we want to do Is 10 get
on the inside and make the trut a
blessing for everybody.
President Taft is intensely capt
talistic In his opinions. He was born
among wealthy people or course. be-
Ing a sensible man. he Is at last COM
PEELED to realize that socialism Is a
vital, living force and | attribute his
awakening TO this clear insight In a
large measure to the victory we won
In Milwaukee"
Berger predicted that onot only will
Wisconsin send two socialist congress
men TO Washington nexet fall and will
soon be a socialist state. but also that
socialism will win out In a dozen
large American cities within the next
Ave years. He branded the socialists
of New York and Philadelphia as I'm
possibilistg" because they do nothing
but indulge In hot air"