The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1912-02-17
SOCIALISTS EXPECT TO HOLD MILWAUKEE
Present Mayor to be Candidate
 For Reelection
CITY OWNERSHIP OF
 PUBLIC UTILITIES
Points Out What Present Ad- ministration of Affairs in Famous Beer City Has Ac- comp.i he'd

1 Milwaukee, Wis, February 17-''The | first socialist administration of Mil | waukee has been a decided success, and we base our demand for reelection upon a review of our record and upon our proposition to institute city own ership of all revenue-bearing public utilitieS.''
 Mayor Emil Seidel, whose candidacy for reelection has just been announc- ed, in this statement to-day admit ted he based his strongest hope upon the | municipal ownership p-ank in his plat ! form.
 We are going to carry on our fight for municipal ownership of public u ,il- tiles and win it, too,'' said the former nearly two years ago to take the may or's chair. Profits of revenue-bear- ing utilities which now go to fill the coffers of privileged wealth, vii then be poured into the city treasury, to be used in solving the problems of mu- nicipal life.
 Tt is noticeable" he continued, "that municipal activities which are non revenue-bearing are left to the average American city to perform. All reve- nue-bearing service is controlled by the monopolies by means of franchise
 quoting from the party platform, the mayor outlined in brief the achieve ments of the past administration which he claimed would force the av- craze honest voter to return the So- cialiStS to office:
 'In spite of the opposition of old party politicians in the council, in the state legislature and even the courts, the admin stration has built the first public .lavatory in the city; is con structing an electric lighting plant; ac- quiring a municipal stone quarry; building a municipal hospital; has consolidated fire and police arm sys- tenn; establishing a city telephone ser vice and is steadily demanding the public ownership of all local utilities.
 'Ear'y in office the Socialists uncov- cred and stopped a long standing paw ing graft. The cost of paving has to SIPS to $1.40 per square yard by the opening up of specifications and elimination of favoritism in contract awards. This alone saved the voters more than $400. 1000 in 1911.
 "The honesty of this administration which has been watched by the eyes of the nation and maligned by the color ed capitalistic press, Is unchallenged," also been distinctly a working mans administration. The wage of the common laborer in city employ has been increased from S1.75 to s2 per eight hours work. The union scale Is raid to all skilled workmen and ma terials purchased by the administra- been manufactured by union labor.
 ''The, city has established a system l of factory inspection; inaugurated | policy of social activities looking to |
 
 the young in the dark shadows of the | average American city; commissions l have been appointed for the invesuga- l ton and inauguration of the fight l against tuberculosis; furthering child | welfare: relieving the unemployed ;bet- | ter harbors; parks, pub ic garden | patches, city planning, housing and | municipal market places. A bureau of | experts on efficiency and economy has ] been appointed and is now at work | studying and solving these many prob | iens.''
 DO you think the Socialists have a | legitimate claim to be allowed to pro- ] ceed with this program?" the mayor | asked.
 Reports detrimental to the admin l istration have been spread broadcast | over the country to discredit us,' he ] charged, ''but the people whose votes : we will solicit are here where they ] have been enabld to see for them selves"
 Here's a parting shot for our oppo- nents," Mayor Seidel concluded: the ] administration found the city govern ! ment with a S216, ,OO0 deficit: it finishes it's first term with surplus. Al the dire calamities predicted by it's oppo uentS lave failed to nnaterialize''