St. Johns review. (Saint Johns, Or.) 1904-current, 1910-04-22
We Are Short on Phrases.


dire predictions for the present and
the future, from our friends the i'm
possibilists on one hand, and our
enemies the capitalists on the other,
we hereby declare again that the
Milwaukee Social Democratic move
ment which won out week ago,
is revolutionary, class-conscious,
uncompromising, clear-cut and
MARKHAM in the best sense OF the
word.
However, as the Chicago Social
ist very pertinently said, we "are
strong on facts and short on phras-
es in Milwaukee" And as we un-
derstand Marxism and the 'revolu-
tion," IL means a revolution OF
mems minds, an endless series OF
continually changing important de-
tails which some call evolution
and which would call revolt
ton in permanence.
Again say we will not try to
establish the cooperative common
wealth In Milwaukee next Tues
day. But we will surely drive out
the grafters and break up the con-
tractors ring by finding out the
"cost unit Of all the public busi-
ness and public work in Milwau-
kee.
We will not nail the red flag on
masthead of the city hall but we will
try to readjust the taxes so that the
burden will fall in a less degree upon
the poor and so that the rich shall
pay their just share.
We will not try to lynch John ].
Beggs; but as far as lies within our
power, we will compel the street
railway aud other public utility
corporations to give satisfactory
service.
We will not con6scate the public
service corporations, which in fact
we cannot do under the law; but
we will ask the legislature for pow.
er to buy them, and we will build
aud operate the municipal electric
light and power plant which has
been promised the Milwaukee for
twelve years by the capitalist par
ties.
We will try to give employment
to as many Of our citizens as possi'
bic. and as far as practicable we
will so shift the work as to give
them employment In winter.
And we will pay fair days
wage for q fair days work.
We will fill positions requiring
technical or scientific skill with ex-
perts. without any regard for poll
tics, race, color or any other pre-
vious condition Of servitude, even
II we have to go outside OF Milwau-
kee to get these experts.
For positions where questions OF
policy are determined, we will take
social-democrats and the social
democrats only. no matter how
much Of a reputation or halo the
incumbent may have gathered as
servant OF the capitalist.
In minor places, as of clerks and
city laborers, etc., we will disturb
nobody who has done his duty and
who does not show any "pernicious
activity for the capitalist parties.
To greater degree than anybody
now imagines, we will make good
our platform, which during the
campaign both the republican and
democratic orators in innumerable
speeches pronounced both visionary
and impossible, and full OF nothing
but false promises.
We will never forget that the car
rying OF the city of Milwaukee at
municipal elections is not the final
aim of the social democratic party.
And that our victory on April S,
I9Io-important as was this victo-
ry-was only a little skirmish in
the age-long battle for emancipation
Of the working class.
And with all this in view and be-
fore us, l hereby accept for the So
cial-democratic party of Milwaukee
the challenge of the capitalist world
of America that we cannot make
good. We will make good.
We will make good by applying
the principles of international So
cialism to the local situation in Mil
waukee.
And we also repeat that these
principles will lose nothing OF their
revolutionary energy by being thus
applied.
We will give Milwaukee the best
administration il has ever had.
VIcroR l.. BRRGER.
----------------