Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1910-04-18
SOCIALIST Tells
WHAT MILWAUKEE,
MAYOR WILL Do
Leader of Party Stands for Radi-
cal Changes in Government
of Wisconsin City.
FREE SCHOOL BOOKS AND
FREE MEDICAL SERVICE
Objection Raised Of Having Pub
lie Work Done Under Contract
System as Graft Incentive.

MILWAUKEE, Wis, April 1s.-Vic-
tor E. Berger, acknowledgements,
and spokesman of the Social Demo-
a statement giving an outline of the
principles that will guide the Social
Democratic administration of Mil
waukee during the next two years, be-
ginning with tomorrow. when the in
augural ceremonies will take place.
Mr.. Berger's statement. in part, is as
follows:
THE founders of the Republic de-
clared for political freedom. But we
call attention to the fact that since
the birth of this nation a revolution in
industry has taken place. Formerly
hand labor and individual effort pro-
duced the necessities Of mankind. To-
day machine labor inc social or asso-
ciated labor are the means of produ-
cling those necessities. And while in
that former time it was the imperative
duty of the government to protect the
Individual in possession Of the property
he had produced, SO today it is equally
the duty of the government to protect
associated labor, that is to say. the
whole body of working people, in the
possession of the products Of their
toll
In city affairs, we stand for the
public ownership of municipal utilities.
We are well aware. however, that Mil
waukee does not enjoy self-government.
and that, as a rule, nc steps can be
taken in hat direction without an APP
peal to the State Legislature at Madi-
son.
in municipal affairs, the Social-De-
mocracy stands also for radical change
that will bring means of production
into the hands of the people. 1t be-
Iieves in self-government for the city,
the initiative, the referendum, and tho
right to recall, in a Just and equitable
taxation, in efficient sanitary inspection
of workshops and houses, and in the
public control Of the food supply in the
interests of the public health, and in
the highest development Of a reason
able public service. At the proper time
The Social-D Democracy will initiate
these and other things.
"We stand for the public ownership
of public utilities. but until we reach
this we will enforce the utmost ex-
tension and possible service from these
utilities, as far as the present laws
will permit.
I'VE look upon the contract system
also as a LANCER. 1t constantly in
duces contractors to bride city officials
on the one hand and to exploit their
workinen on the other. Moreover, It
is. always in the interest of the city
that citizens earn decent wages; there
.e ;--ko~1 30 n1ntpnrfnrc Che la hnp
unions ought to be encouraged. The
city should stand pledged, as far as
the charter permits, to employ only
union labor, at eight hours a day, and
should require the same of all con-
tractors doing city work.
Free education is essential to a high
civilization. Free books are as much
a part of free education a. free teach
ers and free sc~hoolhouses. The Social
Democracy demands that books and
school utensils be furnished free to, all
pupils attending the public schools.
This naturally leads us to the ques-
ton Of taxes. If corporations bore
their share of tax~es-fgured even at
the present valuation-the x of all
citizens could be reduced 20 per cent.
and there would still be enough money
left in the city treasury. which couio
be used for public improvements of all
kinds.
Public health also demands an ex-
tension Of the free medical service. Al
the present time, many a disease, and
even ~epidemics. get their origin from
the fact hat poor people shrink from
consulting a physician because of the
expense, until it is too late.
1.-THE city ought to afford the protec-
ton of the law to such OF its citizens
as are unable to- afford it themselves.
At present the poor know Of the law
only when they feel it's crushing effect.
A poor person with a just cause has no
standing in the courts unless some law
yer is promised a big share of the
proceeds of the case; If there are no