The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1910-11-18
Children Cry
 FOR FLETcHER'S GAS OR IA SOCIALIST CONGRESSMAN
 NOT RADICAL

Milwaukee, Nov. 1S-"My first bill in Congress? Why, a measure to pen sion old newspaper men," That was the laughing response of Victor L. Berger. Americas first So- cialist Congressman. as he walked into Milwaukee newspaper office the night of his election to talk with "the boys" That Berger, the Socialist czar | of Milwaukee, could be a welcome vis- ! itor in the stress of an election night | in a newspaper office, and above all | in the office of the newspaper which had fought most bitterly the election of Socialist. is something of trib- ute to the first bearer of the red flag of international brotherhood into the halls of Congress.
 How does it stand?' was his ques- tion of this night.
 Here, Victor,' answered the man aging editor, take these official re-
 turns. look them over, and give them
 back to pe."
 REPUTATION AS "SQUARE'' MAN. This is another tribute to the So- cialist, who though radical of the radicals, is given such credit for hon. esty and, square dealing that news paper manager would on election night confide to him these precious slips which meant the work of days in pre- pairing for election returns for a pub- lie hungry for news of the result. Berger is Victor to Milwaukee. None of his friends think of calling him
 Mister Berger, but he is Victor to the town, just as he calls his friends by their nicknames.
 That is Berger, the good fellow. Berger, the Socialist czar of Mil waukee, the man who fathered the party in the State in whose back yard the first Socialist meeting held in Wis conSin was conducted, who has watch ed over the Socialist growth like parent over a growing child, is an- other person. He is the brains of the party in Milwaukee-whether the oth- CT Socialists like the statement or not and the party does his bidding. With Berger absent the Socialists Berger back the Socialist party as quickly has strengthened out the tan gle.
 PARTY NOT UNITED FOR HIM.
 Berger as a Socialist is not altogeth- CT approved by his own party in Mil waukee. He is, in fact, disapproved by a large faction, but when the time comes for the referendum to choose party measures and men Berger's wish is followed. The Socialist party in Milwaukee as elsewhere, is essentially in theory-a party in which bossism is impossible. In Berger in Milwau- kee the Socialists are dominated by boss more supreme than Tweed in his palmiest days.
 That is Berger in Milwaukee. Der ger outside of Milwaukee is used among Socialists when talking to non- Socialists as an ideal. When these same Socialists talk confidentially they charge that Berger is not a true So cialist, that he is a politician who uses the political party to cloak. to foster. and advance an irrepressible personal ambition for political power.
 "Victor Berger would sell his soul for political power.'' is the way Chi cago noted Socialist has characterized the czar of Milwaukee.
 "I am the agent of the party. Boss ism is impossible. under the social democratic system," is Berger's an- swer.
 THINK HIM OPPORTUNIST.
 The barb that rankIes in the spirits of Socialists here and elsewhere is the Berger. the leader. He is a Socialist in theory with the most advanced. No revolution in American political affairs and in economic conditions is too radical for him to believe in. But as a political leader he is astute enough to realize that Socialism carried at once to it's normal outcome would be the wreck of the party.
 The result is that social democracy in Milwaukee is not apparent as So- cialism-it is more correctly social re- Gv-E11, civic reform. with only a hint here and there of Socialists measures Not one actual Socialistic step has been taken in Milwaukee of truly Socialis- tic nature. Every advanced position