The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-04-19
Victor E. Berger, Milwaukee AL
derman at Large,
outlines the Programme of the
New City Government.
ECONOMIC LIBERTY
As Well as Political Liberty
Among Its Aims.
Also Municipal Ownership of
All Public Utilities.

Milwaukee. Wis. April 19.-Victor E
Berger, alderman at large-elect, and
spokesman of the Social Democratic
party in Milwaukee, has issued a
statement giving an outline of the prin-
ciples that will guide the Social Demo-
cratic administration of Milwaukee
during the next two years.
The Socialist party of America is
the expression of the international
movement of modern wage workers for
better food, better houses, sufficient
sleep, more leisure, more education and
more culture says the statement
To secure economic, as well as politi-
cal liberty, will be one of the aims Of
the Social Democratic party.
Municipal ownership of public ut1l-
ties, among other things, is advocated
but until this is reached the best pos
sible service will be exacted from
to on the ground that more competi-
ton means more corruption In brief
the Social Democracy stands for every
radical change that will bring means
of production into the hands of the
people. Mr. Berger's statement in full
is IS follows:
Il wish only to state the general
principles upon which this party stands
and upon which we were elected N
April 5. 1. of course, will not repeat
the platform.
Standing as a Party.
In the first place, the Social Demo-
cratic party of Milwaukee is an ill.,
tegraI part of the Socialist party of
America. In Wisconsin we are official
~ named the Social Democratic party
which is the customary international
name.
THE Socialist party of America is the
American expression of the interna-
tional movement of modern wage
workers for better food. better houses,
sufficient sleep, more leisure, more edu-
cation and more culture.
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 eff
fort produced the necessities of man.
kind. Today machine labor and social
or associated labor are the means of
producing those necessities. And while
in that former time it was the inn
perative duty of the government 10
protect the individual in possession #
the property he had produced so to-
day it is equally the duty of the gov
eminent to- protect associated, labor,
that iS-to say, the whole body of work.
ing people, in the possession of the pro-
ducts of their toll.
The present system of social produc-
ton by individual ownership has pro-
duced two classes-the propertyless
l.
die class. once the backbone of this
great nation, is fast disappearing in the
mill of competition and the issue is now
between the first two classes. All at
tempts to obscure this issue or to de-
lay the settlement are futile, for all
other issues will be speedily absorbed
by it. Thus it develops that the battle
for human rights has become a battle
to determine which form of govern
ment we shall have in the future
plutocracy Or democracy.
Aim of the Socialists.
Political liberty alone has become
inadequate; we must have both poll
teal and economic liberty. To secure
this is the aim of the social-Demo-
crazy.
In city affairs, we stand for the
public ownership of municipal utili-
ties We are we'll aware, however,
that Milwaukee does not enjoy self
government, and that, as a rule, no
steps can be taken in that direction
without an appeal to the state legis-
lature at Madison
I'm municipal affairs, the social
Democracy stands also for radical
changes that will bring means of pro-
duction into the hands of the people.
It believes in self government for the
city, the initiative, the referendum