The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1912-03-12
SOCIALISTS
Are Preparing For Hot Battle
In Milwaukee
The Primaries To Be Held
On March i9


lines are forming for The hottest po-
1tical fight in Milwaukee's municipal
history. Tomorrow will be the first
day of registration for tho coming
municipal election. The primaries
will be held on March 10, on March
26 the voters will have their last OPP
portunity to register and on April 3,
the election Is to be held.
The result of the election will be
watched with great interest through
out the country. for II will definitely
settle the question whether the citi-
Eens of Milwaukee were satisfied with
their present administration, the first
Socialist government OF the city In Its
history. The Socialist administration,
headed by Mayor lsmii Seidel, isin the
field for reelection and bases its
claim to the support Of the citizens
upon the record OF the administration
during the past two years. The re-
election of Mayor Seide, will mean
the practical endorsement Of the rec
ord Of the Socialist administration and
will, 1t is beliyed. greatly strengthen
the Socialist party ln other parts of
the State.
Mayor Seldei is Of the opinion that
the record OF his administration
speaks for itself and that the citizens
have every reason 10 be we'll satisfied
with 1t. In an interview ne referred
10 the prophecies OF the calamity howl.
ers who had predicted the most dire
calamities as the result of the election
of Socialist administration; yet. he
said, none of these predictions came
true. The administration found the
city government with u $216,O00 defic'
It, and finishes It's first term with a
surplus.
He pointed TO the fact that, In spite
nf the opposition of old party politi
clans in the council In the State legis
iature and even In the courts, hls ad
minlstratlon has built the first public
layatory in the city; Is constructing
an electric light plant; Is acquiring 4
municipal stone quarry; building Q
municipal hospital. has established q
consolidated fire aud police alarm sys
lem; Is establishing a city telephone
service and Is steadily demanding and
working for the public ownership OF
all local public utilities The Mayor
bases his strongest hopes upon the
municipal ownership plank In his plat
form.
The Socialists claim on behalf OF
tho present administration that 1t was
thoroughly honest and made every ef.
fort TO eliminate graft and corruption
from every municipal department. Ear.
iy in office, II IL claimed. the Socialists
uncovered and stopped long standing
paving graft. The cost OF paving was
dhereby reduced from S2.25 and $2.40
10 Sl.26 and $I.a0 per square yard.
which alone saved the voters more
han 100000 In 1871, II Ia also claim
I'd that under the present administers
tion the wage OF the common laborer
IN city employ has been increased from
S175 to 81 for an eightbour day.
while the regular union scale IL paid
all skilled workmen and. e obtainable.
only material madet by union labor
were purchased by the city.
The Socialists also point with pride
10 the city's system Of factory lnspec-
tion and to the Inauguration of var.
ious reforms intended to promote the
morals OF young men and women; to
combat the spread OF tuberculosis; TO
relieve the unemployed; tobrlng about
an Improvement OF the eity's harbor
{ ana the establishment Of public gar
den patches, model tenemonts and mu.
aicipal market places.