The Washington times., 1912-07-19
EXPOUNDS
SOCIALISM, SCORING
BOTH OLD PARTIES
Lone Member of Faith In
House Explains Tenets I
At Length.

Asserting that neither the Democratic
nor the Republican party is the friend
of the workingman, Congressman Vic
tor Berger, the only Socialist member
OF the House, addressed his colleagues
for an hour yesterday on the doctrines
OF Socialism. Mr.. Berger's speech was the
most extended exposition Of Socialism
he has attempted since becoming Il nem-
Der of Congress.
After scoring the old line parties, the
Wisconsin Socialist also took shot at
the Bull Moose"
Congressman Berger declared that
the Democratic and Republican parties
were 80 alike that there Is: practically
no issue between them. "of course they
have the traiff," he said, And Mr..
woodrow Wilson, being a profound man
"a man: of the type OF that other pro-
found gentleman, Grover Cleveland-has 8
declared that the tariff Is to be the is
sue."
"Love Votes of Workers"
Referring to the labor legislation
passed by the present House, the So
cialist member charged that the bills
were passed for effect and because the
Democracy discovered that it dearly
loved the votes of the workingman."
"Of course these bills have not pass<d
the Senate, nor the scrutiny of the Su-
preme Court" he continued, "but they
will do In this form as campaign food
on the eve of a Presidential election.
None OF these bills will add a single
sandwich to the daily fare Of millions
or working men and women"
Berger insisted that the candidates of
both the Republican and Democratic
parties were backed by the bosses. !"
legged to be behind each. He dismissed
President Taft with the following:
1T Is unnecessary to explain where
Mr.. Taft stands. 1t Is as natural for
l., man Of his type to be allied with men
Hammond as 1t is for duck to take to
water. Mr.. Taft knows the history Of
the Republican party as the favorite Or
ganization of the big capitalists. And
ne wants that party to remain the
Sidestep Big Issue.
Berger said 1t was remarkable that
the progressive platform" of the DEM
ocrats sidestepped the initiative and ref
erendum as Estate issues
Turning to the Supreme Court, Ber-
ger said:
mo matter how good and beneficial a
law may be, 1t will. as a rule, be de-
Slared unconstitutional by the Supreme
Court. Our Constitution was framed at
| a time entirely different from Ours, and
for entirely different conditions, and
good laws suited to the present condi-
ton are really unconstitutional.
In other words, grown-up nation
has to wear its baby cloak" said Ber-
ger. 1T does not At anywhere. and has
been torn and patched in the most
ridiculous way by decisions of the Su-
preme Court in order TO make II do
yet anybody who dares to suggest a
new suit Is considered. a traitor by the
interests
But we must have a new Consti.u-
ton or we shall have a boOdy revolu-
ton. Yet though political reforms are
necessary, they are of little account
when compared with the necessity of
changes in order to keep step with the
development of economic conditions
The economic changes are upon US.
The future belongs TO the working
class. Nothing can stop us. All we
have to do Is to organize our forces.
There is no other party that mas grown
like ours during the past four years
And, l want 1t UNDERSTOOD: The So
cialist party, while 1t Is revolutionary
in its final aim, Is none the less dis
tictly evolutionary and constructive in
Its method. We weIcome all kinds of
reforms that are real reforms-not po-
litical bats"