Montana news. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1904-191?, 1911-04-20
Investigating SIumS At National
Capitol. DisgracefuI Dwellings
For The Poor. Work
In Congress.

tary Affairs. The other is Henry
Goldfogle, who is TO head the Commit
tee on Elections.
The democrats have already shown
that they are not in "A hurry To enact
laws in behalf of the working class,
If they ever will pass any at all. Their
legislative program for the extra ses-
sion entirely ignores the just demands
of labor
II seems to lie the old old story
again. When the democrats were in
the minority they used to denouncr
the republican party for "crucifying
labor" and 's'tabbing labor under the
fifth rib" etc.
With tears in their voices they des-
cribed the miseries OF labor and in
bursts Of oratory they swore by all
the gods that none of these conditions
would exist a single day IL they should
come into power.
And now?
These democrats were elected by
the votes of labor. The A. F. of L.
spent thousands of dollars to help
them carry the country Yet they
even forget to mention labor in their
program.
Would there be any question about
the enactment OF remedial labor legis-
lation IL We had about thirty Bergers
in Congress? Even "A. F. of L.
policy" politicians know the answer.
Labor is not the only victim OF the
democratic party. The dear common
people" have also been handed a gold
brick. IL happened thus:
The democrats were about to carry
out a party pledge. And this pledge
was the enactment of a law which
would compel the publicity OF cam
paign contributions. SO Represent
ative Rucker. OF Missouri. reportd in
a bill which had been approved by
the democratic caucus.
Now this bill looked awfully radical
That is as II looked. But the repub-
licans are now playing the minority
game. This means the republicans
are To be even more radical than the
democrats.
So the old Cannon crowd got on
the floor and went the democrats one
better. They introduced an amend
ment extending publicity of campaign
contributions TO primary elections.
And when they did this they rubbed
a sore spot on the democratic donkey.
And the old mule kicked.
You see, down South, were Demo-
cracy with a capitol ID comes from,
a fight for n Congressional seat is over
as soon as the returns from the prim-
aries are in. And the man with
money or backed by men with money
generally wins in the primaries.
Needless TO say the democratic lead
ers did not want the publicity law to
apply to the primaries. And what
these eminent gentlemen dons want
does not occur in Congress nowadays.
They ordered the defeat of the amend
mcnt and II was defeated
Now the democrats may boast OF
this publicity law at the next cam
paign, but the thinking workingman
won't be fooled. Especially IL he
knows what is related above.
Congressman Berger is spending
his first days in studying the ropes.
He is up against a gang of expert
cnced parliamentarians who have
grown gray in the service Of the cap
italist class. lie wants 20 be prepared
when hc begins real fighting. And
those who know Berger have no fear
OF the result,
The Socialist Congressman is besieg
ed daily 10y hosts Of reporters. The
movement is now getting lot OF free
advertising, Not day passes but that
the newspapers publish his opinions
on the Issues of the day.
In a special Interview given to the