The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-12-08
HAVERHILL'S VOTE.
Platform on Which the Socialist
Mayor Was Elected.

HaverhiI1, Mass. Dec. San avow-
ed disciple of social Democracy will, on
January 2. be inaugurated mayor of
this city, being so far as known, the
first socialist to be elected to an ad-
ministrative office in this country.
BY the municipal election Monday,
John c. Chase, aged % years, clerk in
a cooperative grocery store, was elect
ed mayor, as the candidate of the social
Democracy. by a plurality of $50 votes
in a field of six candidates. With him
on the victorious ticket were the social
ist candidates for aldermen and for
councilmen. Chase declares that his
only purpose in the mayors Office viii
be to carry out the principles Of the
local party platform which are as fol-
lows:
Article THE acquisition by the
municipality of the public utilities, such
as street railways, gas and electric light
plants and all other utilities requiring
{, franchise, the same to be operated by
the operatives, comparatively, subject
by direct vote to the whole people; the
employees to elect their own superior
officials, but no employee to be dis
charged for political reasons.
Article 2-We demand the abolition
of the contract labor system on all pub
lie works.
Article 8-we demand that eight
hours constitute a days work with
Article I've demand that all sal
aries and wages paid by the municipal
ity be in proportion to the services rem
dered
Article 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.
Article Eve demand that the full
powers of the municipality be exercised
for the relief of the unemployed, not
by charity but by the ablishment of
public works for their employment.
Article I've demand the abolition
of grade crossings and every other
menace to human health and life.
Article S-We demand that the bur
den of taxation be distributed in exact
proportion to the holdings of each citi-
zen.
Article 9-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 ques
lions.
Article 1O-We demand the adoption
of the principles of the initiative and
referendum and proportional represen-
tatiOn.
Article live demand the abolish
ment of secret balloting in the city
council.
Article 12-we demand that all Off
GERS be subject to recall by the respec-
tive constituencies.
Mr.. Chase said referring to the plat
form:
L snail Try with my comrades VINO
have been elected to take some steps to
bring each of these matters before the
people. Our campaign is not a reVolu-
tionary 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 I can outline our policy. There will
be no general turn over in the city hall
and we shall try to do nothing but con-
duct the business of the city in the
most careful and honest manner. I do
parties in the city council but think we
will have a harmonious administra-
ton.
Mr.. Chase, who will soon become the
executive head of the city with salary
of 1000, is peculiarly a man of the peo-
pie. He is only a clerk in the co-opera-
tive store, although he is the president
of the Haverhill Cooperative society,
which controls this and another store
in the city. He had been previously
employed for five years in shoe fac
tories in various positions Mr.. Chase
is a native of New Hampshire. He be-
gan work in a wooden mill when only
years of age, coming out of the mill for
a few months schooling each winter.
Later the lad was employed in a shoe
shop, completing his education by a
course of private lessons in the evening.
He became interested in trades union
ism and since coming to HaverhilI 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.