The labor argus. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1906-1915, 1911-07-06
(Washington News letter.

the end of the first three months
served by the first Socialist in Con-
gresS.
Victor L. Berger, of Wisconsin,
took his seat in the House on April
A. Although called to Washington
to attend an extra session devoted
solely TO tariff legislation, Berger
has a record of activity in behalf of
the toiling masses which is unprece-
denied in the entire history of Con-
gresS.
And unlike any other member of
Congress, Berger is DESTROYS that his
voting and legislative record should
be published. When one wants to
find the record of Republican OF
Democrat. he has to look up the
voluminous files in the Congressional
Library. But Berger is a Socialist.
He has nothing to hide.
On April 4, Berger answered
present" on the rolI-call for the
election of IA Speaker. On the next
day he introduced joint resolution
calling upon the President to with
draw the troops from the Mexican
border. This resolution was burlso
in the Committee on Military Affairs,
although Berger backed up his meas
ure with petitions from nearly
ninety thousand American citizens.
|. When the bill providing for the
direct election of Senators came up
in the House on April 13, Berger vot-
ed with the Republicans for the
federal control of such elections and
then with the Democrats for the
passage of the resolution itself.
The next day the Socialist Rep
t.fix
to the Democratic campaign publicity
elections. This amendment was de-
feated by the Democrats who knew
that such publicity would hurt their
party in the Southern States where
a primary nomination is all there is
to an election.
On April 10, Berger introduced
his resolution providing for the call
ing of national convention to draft
new Constitution. This resolution
was referred to the Committee on
Judiciary. Since the Introduction or
this resolution, the Wisconsin Legis-
lature went on record in favor of
national constitutional convention.
The vote on Canadian reciprocity
was taken in the House on April FL
Berger voted for the reciprocity
agreement.
few days later the press pub
lished the sensational news of the
kidnapping of the Mcnamara bro
theirs by private detectives and
agents of the National Erectors AS
ISOLATION. Berger Immediately in
troduced resolution calling upon
Congress to investigate this outrage
upon American citizens. The resoIu-
tion was referred to the Committee
on Rules. and after considerable
agitation this committee ordered a
hearing of Berger's resolution.
The Socialist Representatives time
for the next few weeks was largely
consumed by the Mcnamara case
He had to prepare case for the
Committee on Rules. This meant
not only an investigation into the
facts but also the compilation of
legal precedents as to the relation OF
Congress to such matters and on the
subject of kidnapping itself.
Two hearings were held on the Nc
Namara case at which all the avail
able evidence was presented. The
Rules Committee declined to order
a special investigation on the ground
that no further evidence was neces-
sary to convince it's members that
McMasara's arrest and extradition
was illegal. 1t decided to print all
the evidence as House docume en- t
and present the same to Congress for
the use of the Judiciary Committee
The later committee in the meantime
had been given charge of a drastic
anti-kidnapping bill. introduced by
Berger.
Two-thousand copies of the Nc
Namara document has been distribute
ed to all parts of the United States,
by Berger's office. Berger's activity
in this case has undoubtedly helped
to draw national attention to the
Indiana outrage.
On April 27, Berger introduced
his now famous bill to abolish tn.
United States Senate, the Presidents
veto and the invalidating power of
the United States Supreme Court.
This bill was referred to the Com
mittee on Judiciary
The Farmers Free List bill was
supported by Berger when it cams
to vote on May s. He voted to
admit Arizona and New Mexico as
States in the Union. on May 90.
During that week he introduced
two labor measures. One on May
Il providing for the erection. of a
new postoff1ce building at Waukesha,
Wis, with an original clause con-
tanning special precautions for the