The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-12-09
FIRST SOCIALIST MAYOR
GROCERY CLERK TO RULE OVER
HAVERHILL, MASS, NEXT YEAR.
Young RefOrmer Who VIII EndeavOr
TO Carry Out the Peculiar Prin-
cipIes of His Party.

HAVERHILL, Mass, Oct. San avowed
disciple of Social Democracy will, on Jan. 2,
be ~inauguTated mayor of this city, being,
so far as known, the first Socialist to be
ELECTED to an administrative office in this
country. BY the municipal election Monday
John c. Chase, aged twenty-eight years, a
clerk in a cooperative grocery store, was
elected mayor as the candidate of the Social
Democracy by a plurality of $50 votes in
a field of six candidates. With him IN the
victorious ticket were three Socialist candi-
dates for aldermen and three for council
men. Chase declares that his only purpose
in the mayors office will be to carry out
the principles of the local party platform,
which are as follows:
article 1.-The acquisition by the munich
pality of the public utilities, such as street
always, gas and electric light plants and
all other utilities requiring a franchise, the
same to be operated by the operatives, CO.
opcratively subject by direct vote to the
whole people,; the employees to elect their
own superior officers, but no employe to be
discharged for political reasons.
Art. 2. We demand the abolition of the
contract labor system on all public works.
Art. 3. We demand that eight hours con-
stitute a days work, with a minimum wage
Of 81 per diem.
Art. A. We demand that all salaries and
wage paid by the municipality be in pro-
portion to the services rendered.
Art. 5. We demand that the city. when
necessary. furnish proper food, clothing and
shoes to all children who are kept at home
on account of lack of proper food, clothing
and shoes.
Art. 6. We demand that the full powers
of the municipality be exercised for the re-
lief of the unemployed, not by charity, but
by the establishment of public works for
art. Z. we demand the abolition of grade
crossings and every other menace to human
health and life.
ssA-A O VxT1 $1,000 ALrA +lo ,,-11- e
taxation be distributed in exact proportion
to the holdings of each citizen.
Art. 8. We demand the abolition of all
secret sessions of the City Council. and that
a public record be kept of the vote of each
member on all questions.
Art. 10. We demand the adoption of the
principles of the initiative and referendum
and proportional representation.
art. IL. We demand that all officers be
subject to recall by the respective constit-
Art. -. We demand the adjustment of
secret balloting in the City Council.
Mr.. Chase said. referring to the platform:
been elected to TAX some steps to bring
each of these matters before the people. Our
campaign is not a revolutionary one. but one
of education. We shall force nothing down
the threats of the people, but will seek to
educate them until they ask for these things
that we recommend. That is as far as /
can outline our policy. There will be no gen.
eral turning-over in the city hall and we
shall try to do nothing but conduct the
business OF the city in the most careful and
honest manner. l do not expect opposition
from the other parties in the City Council.
hut think we will have a harmonious admin
istration."
Mr.. Chase, who will soon become the ex-
ecutive lead of the city with a salary of
5000. is peculiarly a man of the people. He
Is only a clerk in the cooperative store.
although he is the president of the Haver-
hill Co-oDerative Society. which controls this
and another store in the city. He had been
previously employed for five years in shoe
factories in various positions. Mr.. Chase is
a native of New Hampshire. He began work
in a wooden mill when only eight years
old, coming out of the mill for a few months
schooling each winter. Later the lad was
employed in a shoe shop. completing his edu-
cation by a course of private lessons in the
evening. He became interested in trades
unionism and since coming to Haverhill, in
1890, has been prominent in labor circles in
the city. He has frequently been the party's
candidate for office and was the unanimous
choice for the mayoralty.