Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-06-14
QUIZZED By MEMBERS
Socialist Representative Declares
Trusts Inevitable.
FOR GOVERNMENT cor
CONTROL
Contends That Tariff Legislation
Has Not Been Protective
Of Labor.

Waukee. the socialist got f1attering re-
ception in the House today when he
arose to make his maiden speech APP
parently every member of the body now
in the city was on hand in the chamber
today at noon, and when Mr. Berger
arose the applause was loud and strong
Undoubtedly good many members were
actuated by motives OF curiosity, by a
desire to hear the doctrine Of the brother
hood of man enunciated in the national
legislature for the first time by one who
subscribe TO its idealist theories.
Mr. Berger was interrupted at various
points in his speech by members of the
House who pride themselves on their
knowledge of political economy, and the
fnterchanges that resulted were inter-
esting. Mr.. Berger acquitting himself very
we'll indeed. Just at the close Of Mr..
Berger's speech. Representative Stanley
of Kentucky, chairman of the special COM
mittee which is investigating the Steel
Trust, asked him if he had said he was
not opposed to trusts.
Regards Trusts Inevitable.
II am not opposed to trusts Mr. Ber-
ger replied, ANY more than l am op-
posed to the Atlantic ocean or the Mis-
sissippi river They are inevitable un
der our present system.
Then Mr.. Stanley asked the socialist
II he believed the government should fix
the price of trust-made products.
Il believe In that as temporary ex-
believe Judge Gary of the steel trust
favors that. This is the first time that
he and I have ever agreed on anything"
Mr.. Stanley suggested 1t was a short
step from the government control of cor
porations as advocated by Judge Gary to
the socialism advocated by Mr.. Berger.
And a natural step, too," Mr. Berger
replied.
Ex-Speaker Cannon interrupted at this
point to ask Mr.. Stanley If he believed In
the government ownership Of great cor
porattons.
II am sensible man. Mr.. Stanley re-
piled, dramatically. MY belief is no
closer to the view expressed BY Judge
Gary than it is to the view expressed by
Mr. Berger. 1 am not a republican. / am
not socialist. l am democrat
Tariff and Labor.
There is no such thing as protection to
labor through tariff legislation, accord
ing to Representative Berger.
Hldhe tHlS SldteIncHt, SalQ beT-
ger in the name Of many millions Of
enlightened workingmen In this country
and In all other civilized countries who
think for themselves. They refuse to be
swindled by the agents of the capitalist
class on the political field after they have
been robbed on the economic field
Wages Paid Ironworkers.
Mr.. Berger advised the representatives
who assert that the tariff has benefited
labor mot to make such a claim before
an audience of workingmen Of Pittsburg,
Chicago or Milwaukee, just where there
is strike on for living wages In an iron
industry"
Declaring that while manufacturers
have enjoyed a protective tariff, the
American workers in the last twenty
years have had to compete with i'm
Of living, Berger said:
I'm the steel mills OF Pittsburg Chi
cago and Milwaukee. where thirty years
ago the so-called princes of labor used to
white coolies get S1.75 for twelve hours
day. seven days in the week-having no
time to praise the Lord, and no reason,
either.
Predicts Outbreak Some Day.
Things cannot go on like this indefi-
nitely.' declared Mr.. Berger. Some day
there will be a volcanic eruption. A fear
full retrbution Will be enacted on the
capitaiistic class as a class and the inno-
cent will suffer with the guilty"
Referring to the various remedies that
have been proposed. such as the single
tax, free silver. etc. Mr.. Berger said none
of these would improve the condition of
the worker. He called attention to the big
strike now on at Vancouver. British Co
lumbIa, city which has been painted in
glowing colors by Representative Henry
George. jr.. because Of it's adoption of
the single tax.
There can be no social freedom" de-
clared Berger. nor a complete justice,
until there are no more hirelings in the
world; until all become both the employ
ers and the employed Of society.
THE measure now under discussion is
Of small immediate concern to the work
ing class. In itself 1t means no material
change in the conditions of the working
men and working women. But because ii
Is in line with social and political evolu-
ton: because it tends to destroy the old
tariff superstition: because it tends. to
break down the barriers between nations
and to bring into closer relations the
various peoples of the world. shall sup
port the BILL