The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1914-02-17

a Qt' lSlbll 10 ltltSIain 10 AAbNs ifl-
rs to attend the investigation, the
appearance Of x-Congressman Victor
l.. Berger Of Milwaukee, leader m
the national Socialist party, and the
Introduction Of testimony that did not
help To strengthen the federation
case, featured the mornin session OF
the congressional inquiry into the
strike The matter of asking the
governor to come to the copper coun-
| try arose when counsel for the fedora
tion attempted to introduce testimon,
relative TO the conduct Of the state
troops during their presence in the
district,
EX-Congressman Berger appeared
before the committee Of his own voli-
tion, Chairman Taylor explaining that
the Milwaukee Socialist had asked L
be heard. The chairman added that his
request had been granted as "A matter
Of courtesy and that no one else was
responsible for his appearing before
the committee.
Chairman Taylor asked Berger of
his knowledge Of matters leading To the
strike. He replied he was not a miner,
nor a member of any union here, am
that he could not give any Information
| from personal knowledge Of conditions
| In the mines. He stated that his OBJ
! ject was TO present the connection OF
the Socialist party with the local la
borers. He said the accusation that
the strike was fostered by the Social
list party was made in the press, from
the pulpit and i'm public speaking. lie
said that he was a member of the ed
ucative committee of the national So
| cialist party, and as the strike be-
came of nation wide Importance he be-
came interested in ii. He said he
made a personal investigation Of loc Al
conditions in conjunction with Charles
Z. Russell Of New York, and Seymour
stedman Of Chicago. and that they had
| prepared a report Of their conclusions.
! Copies of this report he said, were
sent To trades unions, sick benefit So
cieties and Socialist locals throughout
the country. The object he added, was
to obtain all the publicity possible for
a congressional Investigation into the
strike, and to petition Congress asking
for the inquiry. From this it appeared
that the Socialists claimed the cred
Cor the present INVESTIGATION.
Leading up TO the introduction f.
his report he had admitted that any
of his co-workers did not interview
any of the mine owners or managers
as they obtained what Information they
desired from records in the court
house as TO dividends and capitaliza-
tion, and statements of living coudi-
tions from the strikers. He said that
the report was made merely from the
Socialist point of view and admitted
to the committee that it was prcjudic-
ed. lie said he desired TO admit the
report for what it was worth from the
Socialist side.
Howell Questions Berger.
Il want to state" he said, that the
Socialist party absolutely had nothing
to do with calling the strike or foment-
ing it, When the strikers got hard up
they appealed to us for help early in
September. The national Socialist
party to February /, 1914, contributed
$246S95S. and considerable guam
tty Of children's clothing
He said the object was TO get pub
licity, financial aid and the Socialist
party's influence i'm the strike, and
added they would do the same for any
other strike of national Importance.
regardless of nationality or To rank and
file.
Congressman Howell asked him If
the Socialists contributed To relief Ia
calamities. and if they were not calam-
ity Socialists, to which the reply was
humorous:
Berger said.
Il would say that YOU were a calam-
ity Socialist"
Congressman Howell asked if the in
vcstigation conducted by Berger con-
sidered the hazards attending the in
vestment of money in mining proper
ties, or if it was only confined 20 the
properties which were successful, Ber-
ger admitted that they took the records
of only one company, the Calumet &
Hecla. Congressman Howell again in
terposed with the question that II one
mine earned a million dollars and five
others returned nothing would he also
present reports of those. lie replied
that it was impossible. that he couli
| obtain no records Of them. lie referred
to the dividends paid by the Calumet
& Hecla on the capitalization.