The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1909-03-26

city's money and the eyes of the peo-
pie were opened to other practices
which were not in strict accord with
the ordinary principles of business
honesty.
strived for Betterment.
There was not a moment OF the
two years in which THE Boy Mayor
was at the head OF affairs in Milwau-
kee that he was not constantly striy-
ing for the betterment of his city. 1t
was during his term and entirely due
to his energy, aggressiveness and
.stick-to-it-tiveness" that the public
schools Of the city were equipped
with fire escapes, an expenditure of
money that has more than repaid the
city for it's investment. Mr.. Becker
was young and he was in sympathy
with all things that pertained to the
young. He realized the value of edu-
cation in building up city and did
all in his power to increase the school
facilities of the city of which he was
mayor. More school houses were
built during Mayor Becker's term of Of
flee than in the preceding six years
under the Rose regime :.
Ever On the Ebert.
The Boy Mayor was ever on the
alert. The natural enthusiasm Of
youth kept him constantly on the
move. Pavements, bridges. garbage,
crematories, pumping stations, munic
ipal lighting plants, questions of pub
lie health-all received attention at his
hands. Even on his vacations he was
ever alive to an opportunity to adver-.
tise the city of his birth. whose high
est office he held. He made trips
through the state advertising the bust
ness interests of Milwaukee, urging the
country people to do their buying in
their home state, rather than travel to
Chicago and other foreign trade cen
tiers. In fact, the administration of
Mayor Becker was one continuous
march of progress. When he retired
from office it was with the plaudits of
the entire people and the knowledge
of duty well done. .,
The best test of public life is the
judgment of time. Although it is less
than year since the youthful execu
tive left the Milwaukee city hall, that
short period has been sufficient to
show that the Boy Mayor" has left his
impression upon the pages of history
in Milwaukee politics. Since Mayor
Becker's retirement to private life a
10,
kee and has reported. The report of
that grand jury did not contain sin
gle indictment against an official who
served during the Becker administra-
ton, nor did it contain one word of re-
buke for the manner in which the at
fairs Of the city were, conducted dur
ing his term of office-a record that
has never been equalled in Milwaukee
before.
Is an inspiration.
The career of Mayor Becker has in
spired hope and confidence in the ris-
ing generation. 1t has shown that
young men stand for the things that
are right and that they have the cour
age of their convictions to act when
once they have determined upon the
proper course to pursue. In this they
have the advantage of being unspoiled
by a loss of ideals. They are tied
down by no iron-clad traditions or GUS
toms, nor are they bound to factions
or lotteries through years of business
or social relationship. Things that it
would be impossible for an older man
to enter upon and carry to a successful
no matter how sound in
principle or right in spirit they may
be, can be done by the young man.
Mayor Becker has proved that the
young man has become power in pol
itics to be reckoned with, and that it
is only through such men that the peo-
pie may hope for return of their con-
stitutional right to government of
the people by the people and for the
people,"