The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1909-03-26
YOUTHFUL MAYOR
SAVED MILWAUKEE
FROM SPOIL SMEN
CONTINUED From Page one.)

ers. than had the board OF supervisors
Ind when his term as supervisor was
up "Sherbie" turned his political ac-
INVITES to the council. He ran for al
herman. His work in the county
board had shown the voters OF his
ward that what was needed in official
life was young blood" and when he
hsked for the votes of his people for
alderman he got them.
His career in the council was con-
kinuance of what he had done in the
county board. He was the implacable
Zoe Of all the grafters, standing on
chat universal young mans platform
equal rights for all and special privi-
1eges to none and square deal for
everyone" He stood squarely on
that platform and fought for every
plank in 1t during his entire term in
the council and when the biennial cleo
ton time rolled around it is certain
that he would have been returned
from his ward by an overwhelming
vote, despite the vehement opposition
of the ring" had not the electors of
the city greater honor in store for
him.
Impressed the People.
The fight which Becker had made
for honesty in government had i'm
pressed the people of Milwaukee. 1t
opened their eyes to the opportunity
that was before them to put an end
TO the shameful practices that had
been going on for years of diverting
public funds. Becker's successful ca
reer in politics was an example to the
thousands of other young men who
BAw the corruptness of official life
but were at a loss to know what to do
TO clean up the city. The older men,
beers Of the party were quick to seize
upon an available candidate to GUST
the old machine" and Mr.. Becker be-
came candidate for mayor.
The mayoralty campaign of 1906
was the first test OF the new Wiscon-
sin primary election law The old
party caucus and convention system
had been done away with and the peo-
pie for the first time had the choos-
Ing of their nominees in their own
hands. The enthusiasm and eagerness
with which the young Mr. Becker en-
tered into the campaign inspired the
voters with confidence in him and he
was made the nominee of the republi-
can party by an overwhelming major
lty.
A Crafty Opponent.
Becker had as his opponent on the
democratic ticket one of the craftiest
politicians that had ever played the
game in Wisconsin. This was Mayor
David s. Rose. But the hold that
Rose apparently had upon the voters
Of the city did not in any way dampen
the ardor with which Becker pushed
his campaign.
The characteristic faith of young
man-the belief that majority of the
people are honest and want to do the
right thing-asserted itself and Beck
or set out to convince those voters
who were not already of his way of
thinking that a vote for him meant
vote for good government He did
not make extravagant promises of
what he would do should the people
answer his appeal and elect him to
the office which he sought, but he did
promise that If he was elected he
would give the city a good, clean,
honest, business-like administration,
something 1t had not had for many
years. AS has been said. he placed
his confidence in the people. and the
n0nn1o NV,
fidence in him and electing him over
Rose by big plurality.
A Splendid Record.
The records Of Mr. Becker's admin
istration speak for themselves. No
sooner had he entered upon his Off
cial duties than he began to make
good on the platform on which he had
been elected. The city books had not
been Notwithstanding to Mr.. Beck
er's own statement-since the Potowo-
tamie Indians had transferred the site
OF the city to Solomon Juneau. Mr..
Becker employed the services of ex-
pert accountants to go over the books
of the city.
The first discovery made was that
ahe clerk OF the courts, man in
whom the citizens of the city had had
Implicit confidence. was an embezzler
to the extent of $500. That official
is now serving time in the House of
Correction. Numerous other irregular
tiles and false entries were found,
among other things pernicious Jug
Cling of funds from one city account
10 another. 1t was discovered that
the city treasurers had been in the