The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1911-10-14
Carl D. THOMPSON.


It is claimed by the Milwaukee
Journal, quoted In many other papers.
that the Socialist administration has
ignored Its platform pledges on sew
eral important matters. -. ..s.: !?
&. a. 1t is claimed that they have
absolutely ignored evil housing condi-
tions. It is not true. A thorough in
spection of tile congested quarters. of
the city was made early in the spring
of 1910, by the Socialist officials,
even before they were inaugurated.
They had with them in this work
some of the best experts in America,
among them Lawrence Voiller.
General Clean Up.
Upon assuming charge of affairs q
general cleanup of the strttes and
alleys was ordered in the congested
districts, and this was thoroughly
done. Next an earnest effort was
made to secure the cooperation Of
the police department, but their as
sistance was absolutely refused, the
chief og police being a bitter enemy
of the Socialists. =.
Attention was next given. to the
fearful condition in the congested dis
tricts, whre garbage had been allowed
to remain unmoved for two or thres
years. Notices We're served repeatedly
upon owners to clean up. When sew
eral months later the present health
commissioner, DR.. Kraft, took charge
of the department, a thorough inves-
t1gation of the housing conditions was
inaugurated, many disreputable and
unsanitary buildings torn down and
one of the most noted and dangerous
of the slum tenements condemned.
At this point, however, the courts
interfered. An injunction was served
restraining the health department
from further interfering with the
property rights involved.
Overcrowding Reduced.
Meanwhile vigorous and persis-
tent effort is made to compel pro-
perty owners to put their dwelling
places in fit condition and to keep
them so. Overcrowding is being re-
duced as much as possible and care
full attention being given these MAJ
tiers.
However, all of this work is in the
very nature of the case superficial.
The solution of the housing problem
can proceed only as certain other mat
tiers are readjusted. For example,
wages must be improved so as to en-
able people to rent better quarters,
for that matter to rent quarters at
all in some cases. Hours of labor
must be shortened, so as to enable
people to live away from the
crowded centers. Transportation faci-
lities must be improved and the fares
reduced. Land values must be kept
low to enable people to secure sites,
and the city must own land and ought
to be able to build model tenements
or better still, cottages to be rented
or sold to the working class at the
cost OF building and maintenance.
Important Matters.
These are the most important mat
ters and on every one of these the So
cialist administration has been maxi
ing aggressive progress. But in the
nature of the case, these matters re-
quire time.
(2.) It is charged that the Social
lists have neglected to make eny ef-
fort to reduce the cost of living. This
also is untrue. The city attorneys
department, acting under resolution
of the city council, made such a
strenuous and convincing fight before
the state legislature and the railroad
rate commission, that the gas COM
pany on its own notion reduced the
gas rates cents per thousand feet.
The case is still pending, however,
and the fight for lower gas is still on.
And again, the administration has
Instructed the LEGAL denartment "a