New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-09-01
KID MAYOR" In TOWN.
TELLS TALE OF reform
Chief ETecutiue of Miizcaukce to
Call on President


IDOL OF the Democratic party and was filed with
prominent Democrats from all parts Of the country
'here shpped into town early yesterday morning a
young Republican who has gained national prom
inence through mis- rapid rise a political power
in Milwaukee. He is sherburn \. Becker the chief
executive of that city, who has sometimes been
called the kid Mayor To-day he will go to
oyster Bay to call President Roosevelt
Mr. Becker. who is only twenty-nine years old,
began his political career -four years ago as of
the county supervisors. and at once started in "a
rerormer He started an investigation into the
anairs or the county government. which mas led TO
inc Indictment Of between forty and fifty men, Off
Cias, FORMER officials and others. He continued his
reforms az an alderman and last spring was elected
Mayor on the regular Republican ticket defeating
David , Rose, Democrat. who had previously
served four terms as Mayor
The young Mayor. who is Al anthJsis site automo-
h'iiSt came all the way from Milwa ukee in his
touring car His trip from Cleveland where he
went IN deliver lecture, was made on the spur
vi tne moment and Is simply pleasure jaunt
Hitths IN ms room at the Waldorf yesterday af-
ternoon, Mayor Becker appeared even more youth
Iu' IMAM ne Is or medium but athletic build clean
shaVen. with a strong chin and clear alert eyes
t'IS young man appeared every inch the fighter
that he is With frankness that might have
seemed the part Of self-esteem in some men but
Wlthal with much modestv that il uas e,Ider,
tha' ne spoke of himself only because he believed
the public was interested in the ideas he repre
se"'eo' Mayor Becker told of his career. He sad
Iva, was porn In Milwaukee and went to Harvard
~ o' he vas engaged when L entered and left
inEseif travelled extensively for some time see
Of two Our northern trip took us within six hun
fatbar ii ne OF Ihe pole Washington Becker. my
ana Tor a year was banker. occupying every
position up to that of paving teller In 1902 OF
f fb st me to run for COUNTY Supervisor
Vas seced bv ms oS s ma Democratic ward but
started graft investigation. which led to a grand
During my first year in Office saved $4,000 on the
man naar that had represented the LIST Ward in twelve
reform. and this year was nominated for Mayor de-
featins Mayor Rose. who had been reelected three
1900 and p 600. and Arnold. the Social Democrat
got 20, lLVo AGAINST me was the sporting element.
nc service corporations and in short. all the
March II. I going to carry out all the promises
IN my platform. which was commercially short. but
public improvements
There are no blue laws in force in Milwaukee.
The saloons are open all dag Sunday but there
are few arrests. Everybody does he pleases bur
closed by Mayor Rose before election. have nor
dared 10 reopen.
Mayor Becker said that since his election he had
not taken any part in politics. and preserving
the strictest neutrality in the fight between the
"Stalwart and Half Breed" factions of the Re
publican party in his state. These factions are
fighting just now TO who will get the nomination
for Governor OF the state and for District Attor-
ney Of Milwaukee. Mayor Becker will support and
speak for the nominee. whoever he may be.
Mayor Beckers friends are trying TO persuade
him be a candidate for the Republican nominal
ton for Mayor two years from this fall. THAT Is
too far in the future to look. he said 1T be
] will feel that I ought TO another term as
Mayor in order to complete the work I have be-
gun"
Mayor Becker instrumental in the passage
of resolution by the council for a municipal cleo
trio light plant TN Milwaukee which he thinks can
be the advantage of the city. but he not
favor the municipal ownership OF street railways.
There is SO much demand for Mayor Becker 4
has he sn has aT got eighty e e o
titled. The Young Man in Politics He left Nil
to keep lecture engagement in Cleveland on Tues.
br0ther-in- law and two newspaper men. in addition
10 the chauffeur. At Cleveland II was suggested
at 1880 yesterday morning Stops of a day each
were made at two places. but the actual running
Although Mayor Becker has received an invita-
ton to go the naval maneuvres of Oyster BAY
he expects TO start for home on Sunday morning.
Regarding this trip he said:
expect to make it in four days. Our first run
will be TO Syracuse. which will make the next
morning Then we will sleep for seven eight
hours and will then direct through to Mil
waukee; withou: any further stop for sleep l
Milwaukee are too strenuous
Mayor Becker sent a telegram to President Roose-
Welt Yesterday morning. saving he was here on an
II the message, Secretary Loeb, o
the President said Mayor Becker land did not
know whether any notice would be paid IL
not
Late Yesterday afternoon however. the following
message was received from Secretary Loeb:
The President will be glad TO You al II o'clock
to morrow morning Are You coming by train or
auto? If by train. take the leaving East 34th
street at $50 o'clock and arriving at Oyster Bay
at 1914 II by auto, come direct to the house dis
regarding sigma.
Mayor Reckers grandfather, Abraham Becker
was a prominent lawyer in This state years ago
When he died. in 1859 the building in which
his law office was in South Worcester near
0neonta, otsego County. was closed Mayor
Becker stopped or I'm South Worcester for dav
and said he broke into the old building through
window and found his grsndfsther's books and
office furniture covered with mould and dust
but otherwise Just as they had been left The
grandfather Of tho Mayor on his mothers side
was S. s. Merrill. who built the Chicago. Mil
waukee & 81. Paul Railroad. John t. Mitchell
a former State Senator from Wisconsin, was an
uncle. The Young man In his political fights
has been Obliged 10 antsEonize the interests OF
many of his warmest social friends but ne saws
that they beginning appreciate what
he has been doing for the city. and he thinks
they would advocate his reelection