The National tribune., 1910-12-29
THE SOCIALIST MEMBERS.

THE SOCIALIST MEMBERS.
In spite of the fact that the Repub-
icans owe their overthrow generally to
themselves by their absence from the
polls in such marked numbers, and that
this was not due to any increase Of
votes on the part Of the Democrats. yet
in many localities the Socialists have
made notable advances and increased
their vote astonishingly. The Socialists
claim that they polled 100000 votes,
which is an exaggeration- They claim
So members of the Legislatures and to
have carried 40 cities and towns Min
neapolis came within 1000 votes of fol-
lowing Milwaukee's example and elect
ing a Socialist Mayor. The most marked
advance, however. was in Milwaukee,
New York and on the Pacific Coast
Mr. Victor L. Berger. of Milwaukee, Is
the first Socialist to be elected to the
Congress of the United States The
Socialists swept Milwaukee County by
pluralities from 5000 to 1000. the lat
ter being attained by VIM. A Arnold.
candidate for Sheriff. They also elect
ed 13 members of the Legislature from
the County.
J. II. Maurer Reading, Pa, the first
Socialist member of the Pennsylvania
Legislature, does not seem to have
very comprehensive program. for he
makes the following public announce
ment: Il do not expect that l will be
able TO accomplish very much, but
mean to raise the devil This Will de-
pend wholly upon Mr. Maurer's abili-
ties. He is not the first man who has
been elected to a legislative body ex-
pecting to play the part of weasel in
a chicken coop. but who has found him.
self outmatched at the very entrance
by men of more capacity in his line of
effort than he. If our memory serves
us rightly, we have seen not a few men
start in to lick whole bunch. and end
up in the Emergency Hospital.
Representatives Berger seems to
be a man of much more intelligence
than his Pennsylvania colleague, and
says:
"I am not visionary. I do not ex-
pect to revolutionize the country single
handed. feel that | have been elected
to represent the working class, and
consider myself the first man elected to
Congress in America on platform ex-
pressing the views and hopes of that
class. We have had union men in Con-
gress, good men, too; but because they
have allied themselves with one of the
capitalist parties they have lost their
individualities, and, as / believe, their
usefulness.
II represent the Social-Democratic
Party, and therefore cannot join either
of the other parties. That does not
mean however. that 1 always shall be
in opposition and 'agin' the 'Guv' ment.'
I shall reserve the right to consider all
measures from the viewpoint of the
working class. and vote according as
that class shall be affected.
LAS member of Congress shall not
follow either the leadership or the rea-
soning of the old parties. I will try to
formulate and introduce legislation ex-
pressing the demands of the Social
Democratic platform. The old parties
have followed and are following the
ancient and, as l believe, the out-of-
date school of political economy, which
is based on the doctrine of laisseZ faire.
or, as it was put in Jefferson's day.
That Government governs best which
governs least"
A man who enters Congress in this
frame of mind is to be welcomed, and
his efforts watched with interest and
sympathy. There is abundant room in
Congress for all men who really think
on the problems of the day and offer
something worthy of consideration BY
thoughtful men. The vice of the day
is thoughtless vociferations and denuD-
Citations. and if Mr.. Berger will give to
the consideration of the public ques-
tions as much actual study as is given
to a problem in a school arithmetic he
will be a most gratifying addition to the
House of Representatives.