The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1912-04-16
S0CIALISTS' MILWAUKEE DEFEAT
But They Claim to be Stronger Than Ever-An UnfavOrable
 Record.


 Milwaukee, Wis. April 16.-After two years of experimenting with So-, cialistic doctrine in conducting a mu- nicipality of 100000 peAple, Milwau- kee to-day retired from office the so- reins of the city's government over to the new non-partisan officials who were elected on April 2.
 Thus closes the first trial that so-, cialism has ever had in this coun- try in conducting the affairs tof large city. Socialists have been in control in other cities. but none of them ranked in Milwaukee's class in size, nor were the conditions so that they had full sway to carry out their doctrines. The election day verdict shows that a large majority of Mil-s waukee considers the trial a failure. yet the fact remains that the social ists, though beaten at the polls, are stronger to-day than ever. The of ficial count shows that 74,15O votes were cast, the largest in the history of the city; Bading received 43,176, Sci del, socialist, 30.272 and Mishoff, pro- hibitionist, 1862. Seidel was defeated by 12,9O4 plurality, but the vote shows that he received 5000 more votes than he did two years ago. Considering that the keystone of socialism is mu-s nicipal ownership of city utilities and governmental ownership of railroads. telephones, telegraph companies and these things were promised twAo years ago, they have not been accomplish ed; that taxes were higher under their rule; that they failed to keep their platform promises; that they spent H. .0So.000 a. year more than any pre- vious administration; that they made many blunders in the conduct of the city's affairs; the growth shown by them is remarkable 1t shows how firmly socialism is embedded and how fast it is spreading throughout the country. Of course the retiring so- grossly extravagant and incompetent Q handle so big an affair as running a large city, but since their defeat they are candid enough to say that they are disappointed in not having accomplished more. Their excuse for to effect is that. under the capitalis- tic system now in vogue, they were powerless, and required more time to bring about more favorable cohdi- tions for their theories Before they can do this, they say, they must have more control of the state and the nation, which, they declare will come with time. sGN =fhe+-3
 Analyzing the situation as it Is af- ter the election which retired the Socialists, Congressman Victor l.. Ber- ger, the first representative, of that party in Congress, says: rs
 "I want it clearly understood that istration.- A socialist administration is impossible as long. as we have a capitalist charter and capitalist state laws. want 1t understood that this has been an administration by social ists under the capitalist system. But i,-3< ton even in the cities until we have laws that breathe the socialist spirit and that are dictated by. the social ist conscience. However, the Social Democratic party being a modern par ty naturally, we must first carry eth ics. And that is why we are making so strong an effort to hold Milwau- kee for the people. tell you the capitalistic system is doomed, not only locally, but nationally and information ally.
 "Our showing in the last election was much more remarkable because all through the camga'gn the capital ist slogan was We must redeem Mil-- waukee from the Socialists, because coming from a Socialist city drum mers cannot sell goods They made the issue-Americanfsm and the flag meaning their graft and their profit versus socialism. And they got the answer that there are over 3O,O0O men in Milwaukee standing for socialism" The socialists are still in control of the principal county offices. They also have good representation in the state legislature, besides one con gressman. They already are planning the fall campaign to hold control of the county. Out in the state their membership is also gaining and they say their showing this year will be better than ever. s-ft' This briefly tells the story of Social ism as tried out here for two years, it's results and it's future prospects Considering that the Milwaukee ex- pertinent is to be followed in other large cities by the national leaders, the outcome 'of the struggle Is of na- tional importance.