The labor argus. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1906-1915, 1911-06-22
On the Wool Schedule
Laws all Made for
Manufacturers, Mer-
chants and Bankers.
Workers Not Protected
By the Court
By National Socialist Press. }

OF the nrSL SpclallSt III congress was
heard today.
Taking the tariff as his text, Vic
tor l.. Berger, the Socialist Repre-
sentative of Wisconsin, delivered his
maiden speech in the House this af-
ternoon. lie spoke for nearly an
hour, and throughout his address he
had the close attention of the mem
bera of the House and the spectators
in the galleries.
That Berger made hit with his
first speech is evident when it is not
ed that the capitalist newspapers ad-
init that fact. The Washington Star,
owned by the president of the Assoc
lated Press, said:
Representative Victor Berger got
fattering reception in the House
today when he arose to make his
maiden speech. Apparently every
member of the body now in the city
was on hand in the chamber at noon,
and when Mr.. Berger arose the ap-
plause was loud and strong. I'm
doubtedly Il good many members
we're actuated by motives of curios-
iy by a desire to hear the brother
hood of man enunciated in the Ma
tona Legislature for the first time
BY one who SubscribeS to it's idealiSt
theories.
Mr.. Berger was Interrupted at
various points in his speech by MEM
bers of the House who pride them
selves on their knowledge of politic-
al economy, and the interchanges
that resulted were. interesting, Mr..
Berger acquitting himself very we'll
indeed
At the conclusion of his address.
Berger was showered with congratu-
lations by many representatives of
both old parties and Socialists of this
city
Some of the gentlemen here have
repeated the old thread-bare fallacy
that the high tariff is to protect la
bor,' said Berger.
Now. I want it understood that
there is no such thing as protection
TO labor in your tariff bills. l want
to say this in the name of the many
millions of enlightened workingmen
in this country and in all other civil
ICED countries who think for them
selves. They refuse to be Swindled
by the agents of the capitalists class
on the political field after they have
been robbed on the economic field" "
Moreover, gentlement, you are
not in the habit of making laws for
tn protection of labor.
You are continually making laws
for the protection of life and proper
N--for the protection of the lives of
those who own the property and for
the protection of that property. You
are continually making laws to pro-
teet manufacturing, banking and
commcrce-laws for manufacturers,
bankers and merchants.
But the workingman who has no
o'h"r property than his labor power
gets Srant protection indeed.
II he wants to be protected he
mus commit crime. He must
steal. nr get drunk and disturb the
petcc--or become vagrant. Then
me Ia" gets a hold of him and gives
MN protection. Then he gets the
protection of the Jail or peniteni-
tairy
" long as he is we'll and decent
IN" Ia" does not protect him. The
HiSh tariff does not protect him.
H'"G"r traced the history of the
'aFih showing that at all times it
Ne> q subsidy to the manufacturers.
T. meant said he, that the nation
N'S paying the manufacturer bonus
''l INVESTING his money in manufact-
nrlr.
~" tariff is not wholly RESPONSE
VI" Tor tn" growth of trusts, accord
"| 10 IL" Socialist Representative
" u l'Sponsible for the trusts only
stimulates competition and sub
>1'I'o manufacturers. he said.
bIt the outcome of competition is
i"'F~ the same" declared Berger
''Hi"tltion always kills competi,
.'" N "a" end. We find trusts in
'h7hy and even in little Holland
matter of fact, every f1ourishine
~ winds up in d trust
q. "rrt, said Berger. manufact
'tnt protection to conquer the
'i'" market. They demand it,
o. d. as matter of patriotism
men are always patriots
mere is profit in sight
i''' m" business man after h.
-7'n"d control of the home mar
'.'' reaches out for the profit:
""E Countries. changes from the
+-' 10 the cosmopoIite He sud
,. hnds that the high tariff is
ou his legs when he wants t,