Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-04-18
REc|TES ITS CREED
Victor Berger Tells Purposes
of Social Democracy.
PRINCIPLES OF THE PARTY
Self-Government for City and Just
Taxation Favored.
CONTRACT SYSTEM cENsURED
Public Ownership Of Public Utilities
Thought Desirable-Inaugura-
ton Of Seidel Tomorrow.
PRINCIPLES OF THE PARTY
CONTRACT SYSTEM CENsURED

| MILWAUKEE,, April 1S.-Victor E.
Berger, alderman-at-large-elec and
spokesman of the social democratic party
in Milwaukee, today issued a statement
| giving an outline of the principles that
will guide the social democratic admin
| istration Of Milwaukee during the next
two years. beginning with tomorrow.
when the inaugural ceremonies will take
place. Mr.. Berger's statement follows:
| "A detailed revisw Of what the social
democratic administration Of Milwaukee
intends to accomplish during the pext
two years will be contained in the may
or's inaugural message.
Il wish only to state the general prin-
ciples upon which this party stands and
| upon which we we're elected April 5. I,
Of course, will not repeat the platform.
In the first place. the social demo-
cratic party Of Milwaukee is an integral
part of the socialist party Of America.
In Wisconsin we are often named the
social democratic party'-which is the
customary international name.
Expression of Wide Movement.
THE socialist party Of America is the
American expression Of the international
movement Of modern wageworkers for
better food. better houses. sufficient
sleep, more leisure. more education and
more culture.
The present system of social production
by individual ownership has produced two
cIasses-the propertyless class and the
capitalist class. The middle class. once
the backbone Of this nation, is fast dis.
the issue is now between the first two
classes. All attempts to obscure this is
sue or to delay the settlement are futile.
for all other issues will be speedily alb
sorbed by it. Thus it develops that the
battle for human rights has become a
battle to determine which form OF gov
eminent We shall have in the future
plutocraoy or democracy.
Municipal self-Government.
In civil affairs we stand for the public
ownership Of municipal utilities. We
are well aware, however. that Mifwaal-
kee does not enjoy self government. and
that. az a rule. no steps can be taken in
that direction without an appeal to the
state legislature at Madison.
In municipal affairs, the social demo-
cracy believes In self-government for the
city, the initiative. the referendum and
the right to recall, in a just and equitable
taxation, in efficient sanitary inspection
Of workshops and houses and In the pub
lie control of the food supply in the in
terests Of the public health. and In the
highest development Of a reasonable pub
lie service. At the proper time the social
democracy will initiate these and other
things.
competition In public utilities. More COM
petition means more corruption. We
stand for the public ownership Of public
| utilities; but, until We reach this. we will
| enforce the utmost extension and possible
service from these utilities, as far as the
present laws will permit.
Contract System Denounced.
I'VE look upon the contract system also
as danger. It constantly induces con-
| tractors to bribe city officials on the one
hand and to exploit their workmen on
the other Moreover. it is always IN the
| interest Of the city that citizens earn
decent wages; therefore, instead Of con-
tractors, the labor 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
contractors doing city work.
1.-THE money made out of the city by
| contractors will better go toward the re-
lief OF the unemployed.
First, by the improvement of the
streets; second, by the establishment of
public coal and wood yards, and public
Ice house In this climate ice is as neces-
sary in summer as coal is in winter
These necessities should be sold at cost
Free education is essential to a high
civilization. Free books are as much a
part of free education as free teachers
and free schoolhouses. The social de.
mocracy demands that books and schoo
utensils be furnished free to all pupils
attending the public schools.
The Question Of Taxes.
"This naturally leads US to the question
of taxes. II corporations bore their
share of taxes-hgured even at the pres
emit valuation-the taxes Of all citizens
could be reduced 20 per cent. and there
still would be enough money left in the
city treasury, which could be used fol
public improvements Of all kinds.
Public health requires more attention
to factories and workshops. better plumb
ing, more public baths and system OF
public street closets, such as is found ir
European cities. Public health also de-
mands an extension of the free medica
service.
"While we realize that pauperism and
prostitution are the legitimate outgrowtf
OF the present system, which submerges
the lower stratum Of the proletariat, II
is we'll known that certain wealthy cit
ixens derive profit from degradation
through the rent Of old rookeries, which
the public health. We will see to 1,
that all slum property shall be condemned
and that steps shall be taken to protect
our boys and girls.
1.-The city ought to afford the protection
Of the law to such OF its citizens as are
unable to afford it themselves. At pres.
emit the poor know Of the law only when
they feel it's crushing effect. A poor per-
son with q Just cause has no standing
in the courts unless some lawyer il
promised q big share Of the proceeds OF
the case; II there are no proceeds the
; poor person has no means of defense al
all.
) "This il a general outline Of the prin.
) ciples that will gunde the social demo
cratic administration. AS to the working
details, we shall have to refer to our
platform and the message OF our mayor
Emil Seidel."
i POTOMAC SHORES POPULAR.