The Washington times., 1911-06-14
PLEA FOR WORKMEN
IS MAIDEN SPEECH
OF VICTOR BERGER
Socialist Arraigns Trusts in
Debate on Wool
Revision.

Making a plea for the American work
man and arraigning the trusts, Repre-
sentative Victor Berger. the only So
cialist in Congress. made his maiden
speech in the House today during the
general debate on the bill to revise the
woolen schedule.
Mr.. Berger declared that 1t was
threadbare faIlacy to say that high
tariff is to protect labor. There is no
such thing as a protection Of labor In
your tariff bills" said the Socialist
member. Enlightened workingmen re
fuse to be swindled by the agents OF
the capitalist class on the political held
after they have been robbed on the
economic field.
You are constantly making laws for
the protection of life and property, for
manufacturing, banking, and commerce
laws for manufacturers, bankers. and
merchants But the workingman who
has no other property than his labor
power gets scant protection indeed;
The high tariff does not protect him.
History of Tariff.
Berger traced the history Of the tariff
showing that at all times it was a sub.
sidy to the manufacturers. 1T meant
said he, that the nation was paying
the manufacturer a bonus for investing
his money in manufacturing"
The high tariff is not wholly respon,
sible for the growth of trusts, accord
ing to the Socialistic Representative. Il
is responsible for the trusts only as 4
stimulates competition and subsidies
manufacturers, he said.
But the outcome of competition II
always the same" declared Berger
Competition always kills competition
in the end. We find trusts in high-tarif
America and in free-trade England. w,
find trusts in Germany and even in lit
tie Holland. AS a matter of fact, ev
cry flourishing industry winds up in {
trust"
Leaving the subject Of the tariff from
the manufacturers point Of view OF
! take care Of themselves, and are ex
ceedingly we'll represented In tn,
House." Berger denied that the tariff
was meant to protect the worktngman
That pretense was simply an after
thought, because the workingmen hav'
votes. Only American manufacturer
have dared to tell this falsehood to thef
workingmen."
Foresees Trouble.
Things cannot go on like this in
definitely" declared Berger. Some da.
there will be a volcanic eruption. !
| fearful retribution will be. enacted o.
the capitalistc class as a class, and tn
innocent will suffer with guilty"
| There can be no social freedom" de
| clared Berger, nor a complete justice
! until there are no more hirelings in tn
world until all become both the EN-
ployers and the employed Of society.
This social freedom, this complet
! justice, can be accomplished only b,
the collective ownership and democrati
| MANAGEMENT of the social means o
| production and distribution"
! Referring to the Underwood bill 70
! the revision of the woolen schedul
downward, then under discussion. Ber
| ger said
The measure now under discussion
| Of small immediate concern to tn
working class. In itself II means n
| material change in the conditions of tn
working men and working women. Blu
because II is in line with social and pc
litical evolution; because II tends {
destroy the old tariff superstition; be
cause il tends to break down the bar
| riers between nations and to brin
into closer relations the various pee
pies of the world, I shall support tn
| hill "