The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1912-03-28
Socialists Set Record With a
Political Meeting at the
Rhode Opera House
HEAR STORY OF MILWAUKEE,
Nearly Thousand People Pay Ten
Cents to Hear City Clerk Thomp-
son Of Milwaukee Tell What Social
lists Did for Largest City Of State.

|. When a politician can get chance
to talk to thousand people and tell
them Of his political beliefs and at the
same time have the aforesaid thousand
pay him ten cents each for giving
them chance to know what he stands
for he has come pretty close to solving
the way of running a campaign
This was the novel spectacle given
to Kenosha on Tuesday night by the
Social Democrats when Carl D. Tbomp-
son, city clerk Of Milwaukee, pleaded
the cause of Socialism before q crowd
which filed the Rhode Opera House
from pit to gallery Only ono Of the
members Of the great crowd Of people
called at the window at the. close Of
the lecture and asked for the refund
Of the ten cents which he had paid for
his admission and he was given the
money and enough Social Democratic
literature to keep him busy for the
next two weeks.
City Clerk Thompson is an interest
ing talker and he had an interesting
story from the standpoint Of the So
cialist. He had lot of clever illus
trations which he used in illustrating
the work that the Socialists had done
during the two years that they had
been in charge of the administration
of the government of Milwaukee.
Many times during his address he was
interrupted by applause and he was
given this applause by both Democrats
and Republicans Mr.. Thompson did
not take up political conditions in Ke-
nosha to any great extent more than
to declare that Kenosha now had a
chance to break chains which had
bound them to an incompetent and
wasteful administration and elect men
who would be favorable to the admin
istration of the affairs of the city for
the best interests Of the majority
rather than for the interest of a few
who were political friends Of Office
holders.
The story Of Milwaukee has been an
interesting one. Many people have
watched the development Of the So
cialist administration in Milwaukee
with the understanding that Socialism
was on trial in that city. The state
ments made by Mr.. Thompson we're
from the standpoint Of his own party.
He sought to show that the Socialists
had given Milwaukee an administra-
tion where the interest of the wage
earners had been particularly protect
ed, but that at the same time the in
terests of every other man had been
properly cared for. He told Of the
workings Of the non-partisan tax as
SCISSORS in Milwaukee and this proved
one of the most interesting parts of
his lecture. Mr.. Thompson played
strong on the heart interest which
the Socialists had put into the admin
istration Of the affairs Of Milwaukee.
During the evening the Social
Democrats Of Kenosha announced
their platform for the campaign.
Here are the important planks in the
platform:
/. We demand that the city charter
be revised, and that the city be en-
powered to control its own affairs, and
to meet the needs of its own life. We
ASK for complete home rule in muni-
eipal matters, and for the initiative,
the referendum and the rights Of re-
call.
2. The muniel pal ownership and op-
Grafton Of all public service enter
pfises, such as street railways wharves,
telephones, gas and electric Light
plants. Up to tic time that public
ownership and o5eration is secured,
all public service corporations shall be
compelled to grant the best possible
service at the lowest rates.
3. We stand for the eight hour
work day Of all city employees, and
that the city Of Kenosha should use
its influence to create a general eight
hour work day, and union conditions
for all workmen II the city Of Keno
sha.
4. A system Of taxation that win
compel the big CORPORATIONS and
wealthy tax dodgers to pay their
rightful share Of municipal taxes
5. The appropriation of sufficient
funds to the health department to en-