The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-04-07
Election Of Socialist Mayor
In Milwaukee Creates
General Discussion
SOCIALISTS MAY ELECT
SEVERAL CONGRESSMEA
Success of the Ticket In Milwaukee
VIII Give Socialist Party Control
for Two Years and Many Re-
forms Are In View

Washington April 6.-The election of a
socialist mayor In Milwaukee by a plural
lty almost unprecedented In that city,
was the subject of much comment among
members of Congress today. especially
those from Wisconsin. Leading republic
ans were inclined TO minimize the political
Importance of the result; some of them
would not admit that it was really So
cialist victory. Democrats were generally
uncommunicative on the subject.
But the Wisconsin representatives view
1t as momentous. One of the most PROM
lnent of these, forbidding quotation by
name, went so far as to say that the elec-
tion of the socialist mayor may mean the
election OF two socialist congressman
from Wisconsin this fall.
Representative Morse. ''insurgent' re-
publican from the Tenth Wisconsin dis
trict, declared that the socialist VIC
tory in Milwaukee indicated a revolt
against the corporation domination and
control of the eastern wing of the re-
publican party and a lack of faith in DEM
ocratic progressions."
THE. result indicates that there is a
litical conditions" said Mr. Morse 'eThe
people in Milwaukee voted a protest
against the control of the republican
party by the eastern wing of it, which
they know is dominated by business in
terests in'the interest of trusts and COM
binations. The voters are afraid to turn
to the democratic party.
1.-The socialists are gaining strength rap
idly, not only in Milwaukee but also in
my district and elsewhere in the state.
They have the best political organization
have ever SEEM"
| Representative Carey (republican) of
| Wisconsin said the result was a protest
| against both republican and democratic
| machines. These machines can't COM
| bine and fool the people any longer he
said. 1.-The people have stood for it as
long as they will. The fight in Mil
waukee, however, was local one"
Representative Stafford Gepublican),
whose district is partly in Milwaukee,
declined to comment on the result. He
said he was not familiar with the condi-
tions surrounding the election.
1t is Representative Stafford and Rep
resentative Carey whose seats in Congress
were considered by their colleagues to be
in danger from the socialists.
Socialists Sweep Milwaukee
Milwaukee, Wis, April 6.-The social
democratic party which swept Milwau-
kee. city and county, in yesterdays cleo
tion, gave Emil Seidel, candidate for
mayor, 7,109 plurality. according to COM
plete returns, or about 1000 less than
approximated last night. Seidel's lead
is the largest in the history of Mlwau-
kee municipal elections, with the excep-
tion of that in 1898, when David S. Rose,
democrat, had 7.S4s plurality.
The vote yesterday was as follows:
seidel, 27,662; v. ]. Schoenecker Jr.
democrat. 2o51S; DR.. John NJ Beffel. re-
publican. 11.262 The new council con-
sists of twenty-one social democrats. ten
democrats and four republicans. In the
new board OF supervisors there will be
eleven social democrats, three republi-
cans and two democrats.
The social democrats elected two out
of seven civil judges, Joseph E. Cordss
and Richard Elsner being successful.
Five other candidates who were elected
OH non-partisan tickets are: John J.
Blenski, John F. Donovan and Henry
Cummings.
The result of the election in Milwaukee
gives the social democrats practically
complete power in civic affairs for the
next two years. They advocate many re-
ferns.
The socialists advocate municipal
ownership: the sprinklng of streets by
the traction company; a seat for every
passenger in street cars; three-cent street
car fare: eight-hour day for labor;
cheaper gas: municipal plants: municipal
| light plants; payment of full share or
taxes by corporations; cheaper bread.
and work for the unemployed at union
wages, at an eight-hour day.
AS tho street railway company has
| franchise which governs the rate OF fare.
and, owing to the fact that the street
railway rate commission regulates other
| traction affairs. the new political power
| in Milwaukee may not be able to bring
about many changes regarding trolley
operations.
An agitation for lower city and subur
| ban street car fares has been before the
railway rate commission for more than
a year.
Mayor-elect Seidel does not look upon
| the victory as a personal one.
''The defeat of the capitalist party was
| fore ordained, because they stood on
wrong principles" says the new mayor.
| Victor L. Berger, political adviser to
| the new mayor, and who was elected
alderman at large, says the citizens or
| Milwaukee and even the moneyed In
| terests need have no fear during the So
cialist regime: that everybody will get
| square deal
| There will be thorough cleaning out
| Of the city hall. especially persons who
have held civic positions through a long
| period of years. Among the more I'M
l IN
Of healtI commissioner city engineer,
| building inspector, commissioner OF pub
| lie works, water register and member of
| the police and fire commission.
Rr. Roller Defeats Turk