New Ulm review. (New Ulm, Brown County, Minn.) 1892-1961, 1915-03-31

leadership in improvements. When We
praised him, he modestly protested that
II was all nothing simply the fulflment
OF duty. But the results stand, and thew
speak for themselves.
am optimistic enough to believe that
we in America can have MAYORS like
Or. Won Wagner if we only pursue the
right moethd to secure them. But the
right method is not to be found in the
recall, which, together with certain
other so-called political reforms. strikes
me as an ideal belonging to rather
early and primitive rural democracy
when life was SO simple that every citi-
zen was expected to be able to hold
every office and men looked upon Office
holding as mere incident in a life de-
voted to private affairs. Now, life, pub
TIC and private, is complex, and it re-
qulres years of preparation and experience
to administer great city we'll.
What sheer nonsense is often talked
about classes and a governing classs
Thrust Nature out with a pitch-fork
and she will return! Always and now
we have had for rulership selected
class in America and everywhere. Go
into the Rathaus at Ulm and YOU will
see there on tablets the names of men
like Won Wagner and Holch. Go to
Chicago and New York and YOU will
see on bridges and public buildings the
names OF councilmen and mayors, engi-
neers, etc. These, too, are held up for,
imitation. In certain South and Central
American countries leaders of revo-
lutlons are held up for imitation, and a
mother is proud because her son shows
capacity for revolutionary leadership. In
Germany social democracy leadership is
developing, and class differentiation:
and every socialist of sense knows that
this IS necessary outcome of the nature.
of things.
Let us notice that what we have in
Ulm and in the best modern politicaI
developments is something as far re-
moved as possible from paternalism-
mistaken term often applied to any pub
nc activity. The people act together
Tor common needs, and afford us illus,
trations of self-help. It is said every
man is the architect of his own fortune
"a partial truth; it is more nearly the
whole truth to say that the citv. state.
and nation are the architects of their
own fortunes.
Social Self Determination.
Social self-determination must be our
watchword, and Ulm may be called
city Of social self-determination. We
find here harmonious cooperation of
social forces trolley systems, water and
gas works, sanitation and public health
control, education, land policies, etc. In
surance illustrates this. Workingmen's
insurance results in immense accumula-
ton OF capital, and from the insurance
funds the city borrows at low rate
money to construct model dwellings.
All that have written may suggest
something beyond reality; and no one
would claim that Ulm is model for
immediate imitation in America. But
1t does give suggestions and points out
goals towards which we can in our way
strive. Doubtless there are evils enough
IN Ulm, but l did not seek them. It
was not necessary to look for crime and
human degradation, which may be found
there as elsewhere. As I read Mayor
Won Wagner's little book "The Activity
OF the City of Ulm' and learned how
one thing after another is done for the
people to promote their welfare, even
providing little children with fresh milk.
| exclaimed Involuntary: s'This seems
like fairy story; and vet it accords
with sound principles. The citv is
strengthening the individual for the
struggle of life as it is found in we'll
regulated competition in short, is help
ing self-help; and the citizen is learning
to play mans part in his day.