Montana news. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1904-191?, 1911-06-22

voice of the first Socialist in Congress
was heard -o-day
Taking the tariff as his text. Victor
l.. Berger, the Socialist Represent
ative of Wisconsin. delivered his maid
en- speech in the House this afternoon,
He spoke for nearly an hour, and
throughout his address he had the
close attention of the members of the
House and the spectators in the gaf-
leries.
That Berger made a hit with his
first speech is evident when IL is noted
that the capitalist newspapers admit
that fact. The Washington Star. own
ed by the president of the Associated
Press. said:
Representative Victor Berger got
a lattering reception in the House to-
day when he arose to make his maid
en- speech. Apparently evey member
of the body now in the city was on
hand in the chamber at noon, and
when Mr., Berger arose the APPLAUSE
was loud and strong. Undoubtedly a
good many members were actuated by
motives OF curiosity, by a desire to
hear the brotherhood of man enunici-
ated in the National Legislature for
the first time by one who subscribes
to its idealist theories.
Mr. Berger was interrupted at vaTi-
Gus points in his speech by members
OF the House who pride themselves
omy. and the interchanges that re-
suited were interesting, Mr. Berger
acquitting himself very well indeed
At the conclusion of his address.
Berger was showered with congratu-
Iations by many representatives OF
both old parties and Socialists of this
city.
Some OF the gentlemen here have
repeated the old threadbare fallacy
that the high tariff is to protect
labor" said Berger.
Now I want IL understood that
there is no such thing as protection to
labor in your tariff bills. 1 want
To say this in the name of the many
millions OF enlightened workingmen
i'm this country an din all other civil
lied countries who think for them
selves. They refuse to be swindled
by the agents of the capitalist class
on the political fled after they have
been robbed on the economic field.
Moreover. gentlemen. you are not
in the habit OF making laws for the
protection of labor.
you are continually making laws
for the protection of life and property.
for the protection of the lives those
who own the property and for the
protection of that property You are
continually making laws to protect the
manufacturing. banking and COM
merce-iaws for manufacturers. bank
ers and merchants.
but the working man who has no
other property than his labor power
gets scant protection indeed.
Z" If he wants to be protected he
must commit a crime. He must steal
or get drunk and disturb the peace
or become a vagrant. Then the law
gets a hold of him and gives him pro-
lection. Then he gets the protection
OF the Jail or penitentiary.
"As long as he is well and decent
the law does not protect him. The
high tariff does not protect him.
Berger traced the history of the tar
iff showing that at all times 1t was
subsidy to the manufacturers. ut
meant" said he, that the nation was
pa"ing the manufacturer bonus for
investing his money In manufactur-
ing"
The high tariff Is not wholly respon-
sible for the growth of trusts. accord
ing TO the Socialist Representative.
1t is responsible for the trusts only
as Il stimulates competition and sub
sidizes manufacturers. he said.
"But the outcome OF competition In
always the same" declared Berger.
Competition always kills competition