nicipal BOOK OIJNTY CENTRAX COMMITTEE SOCIAL-DEMOCRATIC PARTY n Mii- w frig the bo.p,ir»ess c*-f tl MilAvaukee Municipal Campaign Book 1912 Social- Democratic Party CARL D. THOMPSON FERDINAND REHFELD MAX GRASS Committee Price 25 Cents Published by Order of the I County Central Committee of the ! Social-Democratic Party, Milwaukee County, Wis. 20 THE CITY GREAT AND STRONG. What makes the city great and strong? Not architecture's graceful strength, Not factories' extended length, But men who see the civic wrong, And give their lives to make it right And turn its darkness into light. What makes a city full of power? Not wealth's display or titled fame, Not fashion's loudly boasted claim, But women rich in virtue's dower, Whose homes though humble still are great Because of service to the State. What makes a city men can love? Not things that charm the outward sense, Nor gross display of opulence, But right, the virrong cannot remove. And truth that faces civic fraud And smites it in the name of God. * This is a city that shall stand, A light upon a nation's hill, A voice that evil cannot still, A source of blessing to the land; Its strength not brick, nor stone, nor wood, But Justice, Love and Brotherhood. — Selected. Milwaukee City Hall 3 OUR CITY A Few Milwaukee Facts and Figures Population — 380,000 (Twelfth largest city). Area — 14,326 acres or 22 1-4 square miles. Park Area — 918 acres. PubliclLibrary — 906,281 volumes. Street Car Mileage — 140 miles; interurban, tributary to Milwaukee, 200 miles. Public School Property — $4,43a,000. There are twenty-eight cities in the United States which have a population of over 200,000 people. Milwaukee ranks as follows: 1 Area 24th 2 Population 12th 3 Assessed Valuation 12th 4 Per Capita Wealth 12th 5 Bonded Debt 18th 6 Rate of Taxation 21st 7 Annual Expenditures 15th 8 Per Capita Expense 18th 8 Per Capita Tax 14th Record of Steady, Commercial and Industrial Progress Milwaukee Gained 819 New Firms in 1912 Figures taken from reports of Merchants and Manu- facturers, Chamber of Commerce and Sentinel's Trade Reviews for year 1909, 1910 and 1911, completely disprove the charge that the Social-Democratic Administration has caused a panic or commercial depression. NO. OF ESTABLISHMENTS. 1909. 3,989 1910 4,126 1911 4,230 NO. OF EMPLOYES. 1909 105,919 1910 109,216 1911 114,072 WAGES PAID. 1909 $62,057,934 1910 65,853,152 1911 68,160,368 AMOUNT OF CAPITAL EMPLOYED. 1909 $229,864,362 1910 236,558,011 1911 250,239,222 VALUE OF YEAR'S PRODUCTION. 1909 $323,354,823 1910 329,526,607 1911 355,320,396 BANK CLEARINGS. 1909 $602,880,459 1910 658,002,572 1911 . 700,103,538 POST OFFICE RECEIPTS. 1909 $1,500,000 1910. 1,630,000 1911 1,699,332 BUILDING RECORD— CITY AND SUBURBAN. 1909 $16,485,440 1910. 15,169,939 1911 . 17,810,269 They all agree. The city is doing nicely — thank you. 5 A WORD TO YOU— MR. VOTER, TO YOU— THE PEOPLE OF MILWAUKEE We would like to have you read this book'et. It is the voice of labor. The working men and the working women of^Mil- waukee have paid for it. The Social- Democratic party has published it. You are not afraid of the truth. You ought to know all about your city government — w^hat it has done — what it has not done. We tell you that the old party capitalistic papers — and that means every paper in Milwaukee except The Milwaukee Leader — have steadily misrepresented the work of the Social- Democrats in the_Milwaukeeniu- nicipal government. They have told things that are not true.^TheyJhave concealed things that the people ought to know. They have distorted the facts. Here we bring you the truth. We, the working people of Milwaukee. We who built Milwaukee. We who feed the city. We vho clothe it. We who have built its homes. We w^ho have borne and reared its children. We who have built its schools, its libraries, factories, its stores, its shops, its engines — and run them. We speak to you here. The appeal of labor. Hear us. Read. Where We Stand THE PLATFORM Adopted by Referendum Vote by the Social-Democratic Party of Milwaukee County, February, 1912 Social-Democracy has achieved a tremendous suc- cess in Milwaukee. It has not only given this city the best administra- tion it ever had : its work has challenged the attention and interest of the nation. Not a single one of the dire calamities so loudly predicted by our enemies has come to pass. Holding steadily a goal that lies beyond the range of municipal government, the administration has, nev- ertheless, addressed itself with all diligence to the solu- tion of the immediate problems of the people. Platform Pledges Kept The Social-Democratic party has kept faith with the people. It has kept every platform pledge, carrying out those which were possible under present legislation and the limited degree 5f self-government which the city enjoys, and fighting steadily for all the others. An Honest Municipal Government In contrast to the wretched and disgraceful records of past administrations, the Social-Democratic party has given Milwaukee an honest municipal government. Graft and boodle, bribery and political jobbery are a thing of the past in Milwaukee. Social-Democracy has put them out of business. This is conceded upon every hand. Efficient Municipal Grovemment But the administration does not base its claim upon honesty alone. It has given the city the most efficient government it has ever had. It found the city with a $216,000 deficit ; it finishes its first term with a surplus. It found the city budget a loose, disorderly bunch of papers ; it has inaugurated a scientific and businesslike budget. It found the city, a $40,000,000 corpor action, doing business without an inventory. It has introduced a thorough system of inventory and property account- ability. It found the city issuing long-time bonds for short-time improvements and stopped the practice. In short, it has established the credit of the city upon such a firm basis that its bonds sell more readily than ever before in its history. Reorganization of Public Works Department One of the first acts of the new administration was the reorganization of the department of public works. The old three-men commission was abolished and one commissioner put in charge. Plans are under way to make the police department a crime prevention rather than a crime detective force ; and the fire department a fire prevention rather -than a fire extinction force. Street Construction Early in its first year the administration uncovered and stopped a long standing paving graft, that had been going on for more than fifteen years, under Re- publican and Democratic administrations alike. This one feature of the work of the Social-Demo- cratic administration saved the people of this city more than $400,000 in a single year ; and, what is more, the resulting economy and efficiency enable the admin- istration to get the problem of street construction and repair work in hand. Labor Measures The Social-Democratic administration is a working class administration. It established by ordinance the eight-hour day for all public employes and the trade union scale of wages for skilled workmen. It raised the wages of all city laborers from $1.75 to $2 per day. It has consistently adhered to its policy of purchasing union made products. It helped to settle the garment workers' strike. It secured an additional two days ''off" for policemen each month and readjusted the hours of labor for the bridgetenders and inaugurated a system of factory in- spection. And finally, in co-operation with trade unions, com- mercial organizations and the state government, the administration has secured the establishment of a free employment agency, to do what can be done under the capitalist system to relieve the unemployed. Our Record In spite of the opposition and obstructive tactics played by old party politicians in the council, in the state legislature, and even the courts, the administration has built the first public lavatory in the city ; it is con- structing an electric lighting plant ; is acquiring a mu- nicipal stone quarry ; building a municipal hospital; has consolidated the fire and police alarm systems, and is adding thereto a city telephone service. It has encouraged the vigorous enforcement of the weights and measures ordinance, and has also encour- aged the work of the smoke inspector for the elimina- tion of the smoke nuisance. It has extended and increased the number of band concerts given in the parks; inaugurated a series of popular Auditorium concerts, and otherwise encour- aged the development of wholesome public recreation and amusement. It has established a bureau of efficiency and econ- omy and has created various non-salaried commissions to assist the city in the solution of many of its public problems. Work of the County Administration In the administration of the affairs of the county government, the Social-Democratic party has been equally successful. For the first time the county and city administrations work together in complete co- operation to one common end. The county administra- tion has completely abolished the fee system in all de- partments under its control, thus turning thousands of dollars into the county treasury, which formerly went into the pockets of the officials; has established the custom of securing to the county interest money on all deposits ; has introduced new and up-to-date methods of accounting and purchases; improved methods of keep- ing records and orders, and an inventory of public property. In the collection of delinquent personal taxes especial efficiency was shown in the sheriff's depart- ment, and $5,000 was saved by applying proper business methods to the feeding of the prisoners. In the register of deeds' office an entire new set of tract indices was worked out without extra help or cost to the county, thus effecting a saving of -between $8,000 and $10,000, and in the administration of the affairs of the house of correction notable improvements were effected, including the establishment of a farm on which the prisoners are employed under modern, scientific management, and where the products raised contributed largely toward reducing the expenses of the institution. In the coroner's department over $5,000 has been saved by appointing physicians as assistants instead of engaging outside service, and special attention to in- dustrial and traffic accidents has shown negligence on the part of the companies in nearly 50 per cent of the cases, where before it was not shown in a single case. The county board established the Milwaukee County School of Agriculture and Domestic Economy, affording opportunity to 500 students for the study of the physi- cal and economic conditions of suburban and rural life. OUR LOCAL PROGRAM Home Rule The Social-Democratic party has kept up its fight for home rule for Milwaukee. The biUs which we pre- sented to the legislature to empower us to establish municipal plumbing and loan departments, also munici- pal lodging, ice and slaughter houses, were killed by 10 the combined opposition of the Republicans and Demo- crats. But our fight for them will be continued until successful. Our common council also presented to the state legislature a constitutional amendment providing home rule for cities. This was passed in a modified form. The next legislature and the people must indorse it before it becomes effective. The state legislature also passed a law granting limited authority to the people of this city to amend its charter. This law, being of doubtful validity, will soon be passed upon by the supreme court. As soon as our home rule rights are clearly estab- lished we shall proceed to secure such changes in our charter as are necessary to enable the city government to carry out the local demands of this platform. Taxation The attempt of the dishonest politicians to make an issue of the question of taxation is simply hypocritical pretense. It has always been their practice to grind the poor and favor the rich. We condemn the last assessment made under the supervision of the previous tax commissioner, as most unjust and unfair. Millions of dollars' worth of prop- erty in the city has escaped taxation, as the public records show, with the consequent overburdening of the small property owner. The next assessment will be under the direction of the newly appointed Social- Democratic tax commissioner. . We pledge ourselves to continue our efforts to place on the assessment roll all taxable property, and to make the big interests pay their full share of taxes. The re-election of the Social-Democratic administra- tion will insure the co-operation and support of all departments of municipal government to this end. City Finances In order that the city's finances may be handled to advantage we demand that it be given the same rights as are enjoyed by private corporations. The city should also have the right to raise money on its own bonds and mortgage certificates. This can be done by placing them with the state treasnrer as security and opening savings deposit accounts in the city treasurer's office. The city could thus borrow di- rectly from the people, giving them the best of security, and at the same time effecting a saving of at least 1 per cent in interest, which means more than a hundred thousand dollars a year on the present basis. The city debt commission should also have the right to purchase or discount certificates of the department of public works and bonds issued to contractors for street construction whenever it can be done with profit ■ to the city. The city should also have the first right to purchase tax certificates for non-payment of taxes and the right to use the profits which it makes for the establishment of municipal enterprises. The careful management of the city finances along the lines mentioned above could be made to yield hun- dreds of thousands of dollars of revenue per year. Better Homes and City Planning The city shall continue to annex and incorporate reasonable territory in addition to its present area— the same to be surveyed and platted as far as possible in such a manner as to insure healthful and esthetic conditions— for homes, factories, schools and play- grounds. But the addition of new territory to a city does not in itself solve the problem of congestion. That cannot be solved until the land problem is under con- trol and a comprehensive city plan evolved that will provide proper housing, segregation of commercial, manufacturing and domestic activities, transportation by water and rail, neighborhood centers' and travel- ways. To this end the present administration has sought and secured enabling legislation ; a land commission has been appointed and our representatives in the county government, co-operating with the city administration, have secured the appointment of a highway commis- sioner, and the work is actually under way. Direct Employment We pledge ourselves to continue the fight for the abolition of the contract system in all public work. Such work can be done better and more economically by direct employment of the workers by the city at an eight-hour day and a fair union wage. Dangerous Grade Crossings We pledge ourselves to continue the vigorous fight to abolish dangerous grade crossings. For Personal Liberty— Against Vice Wholesome recreation and relaxation is the best antidote for immorality. The Social-Democratic party does not intend to cur- tail the few amusements and places of recreation that capitalism has left the working class. The saloon is still the proletarian's clubhouse. But we demand that our city shall protect youth and combat vice. At the same time we call attention to the fact that intemper- ance and prostitution are a part of the capitalist system and will entirely disappear only as the cause, capital- ism, disappears. Meanwhile we stand for the development of oppor- tunities for wholesome recreation and public amuse- ments. We favor the wider use of the schools, parks, public playgrounds. Auditorium concerts, social cen- ters and neighborhood clubs to this end. Public Health The Social-Democratic administration recognizes public health as a great natural resource of the people. It has greatly extended the activities of the health de- partment and will continue to lay special stress upon all health measures. Public Markets The administration has appointed a market commis- sion to work out plans for a system of public markets. Sewerage and Water Departments We advocate the consolidation of the sewer and water departments and propose that the profits from the water department shall be used for the reconstruc- tion and maintenance of the sewerage system. Ownership by the People of Milwaukee We here reiterate our demand for the ownership and operation of all local public utilities. The Great Issue— The Trust Problem But greater than all these matters, and more vital to the welfare of the people, is the problem of the cost of living and labor conditions. To an ever increasing number of people the securing of a livelihood is becoming more and more precarious. The cost of living has reached such a point that the average worker's wife finds it wellnigh impossible to keep the family warm, fed and clothed with the meager weekly earnings of her husband. On the other hand, the power of entrenched and privileged wealth is growing each day, until a small number of capitalists have it in their power to decide how much meat and how much bread we shall eat ; how much we shall spend for coal, and how much for gas ; how well or how poorly we shall be clothed and housed ; what kind of furniture we are permitted to use ; and in what kind of a coffin we are to be buried. They can do this by fixing the price of everything. The Trust Question Both a Local and National Issue Moreover, every trust and monopoly affects the cost of living and controls the necessities of life, both na- tionally and locally. This is the case with the meat trust, the ice trust, the gas trust and the coal trust. It is also the case with our local public utilities, which 14 form a part of the gigantic system of national public service trusts, as our local telephone system, which has merged with the Western Union Telegraph Company; the street car company, the electric light and gas com- pany, all of which are now a part of the North Ameri- can Securities trust. The trust question, therefore, must be met locally as well as nationally. Public Ownership and Socialism Thus Social-Democracy offers to the people of Mil- waukee the only opportunity to work and to fight for a real solution of the problem. And herein lies the greatest strength of the program of Social-Democracy. For back of the local organiza- tion of this movement is the state organization, of which it is an essential and inseparable part. By having Social-Democratic members in the state legislature we can secure the necessary state legislation to enable us to carry out the demands of our platform. Back of the state is the national organization of the Social-Democratic movement, which, in turn, will carry the fight into the national congress. The Social-Democracy, both locally and nationally, insists that the production of this country shall be taken away from the control of a small number of irresponsible men whose aim it is to exploit us to the last limit of endurance. Social-Democracy demands that the nation shall own the trusts. It fights for the complete overthrow of modem plutocracy. And nothing short of this will solve the problem. The proposal to regulate the trusts has proven to be utterly inadequate and futile. It has failed and been abandoned in practically every country where it has been tried. The Non-Partisan Fallacy. In view of these facts it is clear that the so-called non-partisan movement is utterly wrong in principle 15 and can only result disastrously to the people, since the problems that torment them most cannot be solved apart from city, state and national organizations fight- ing to that end. We denounce the local manifestation of this non- partisan movement as a most transparent piece of po- litical trickery, since the most notorious partisan poli- ticians have forced themselves upon the movement, thus proving that the same big interests that have ruled the city so disgracefully in the past are now simply masquerading under a new name. Beaten in their efforts to control the city through the Republican and Democratic party organizations, they are now at- tempting to control it through a non-partisan combina- tion of the corrupt elements in both parties. In Conclusion. The Social-Democracy combats not alone the condi- tions which exploit and oppress the wage- working class, but every kind of exploitation, whether directed against a class, a party, a sex or a rac«. All its measures bene- fit not only the wage-working class, but the whole people, and while the working people are the banner bearers in this fight, in the last analysis everybody— the merchant, professional man and the small shop- keeper — ^will profit thereby. Therefore we invite every honest and well meaning voter, without regard to occupation, race or creed, to join in our undertaking for the emancipation of man- kind. r6 A Socialist Who is a Socialist? It is a man Who strives to formulate or aid a plan To better earth's conditions. It is he Who, having ears to hear and eyes to see, Is neither deaf nor blind when might, rough-shod, Treads down the privileges and rights which God Means for all men ; the right to toil, To breathe pure air, to till the fertile soil- To live, to love, to woo, to wed. And earn for hungry mouths their meed of bread. The Socialist is he who claims no more Than his own share from generous Nature's store; But he asks, and asks, too, that no other Shall claim the share of any weaker brother. And brand him beggar in his own domairt, To glut a mad, inordinate lust for gain. The Socialist is one who holds the best Of all God's gifts is toil, the second, rest. He asks that all men learn the sweets of labor, And no idler fatten off his neighbor ; That all men be allowed their share of leisure. Nor thousands slave that one may seek his pleasure. Who on the Golden Rule shall dare insist— Behold him, the modern Socialist. —Ella Wheeler Wilcox. 17 Our Candidates Candidates of the Social-Democratic Party Chosen by Referendum Vote Emil Seid el— Mayor 1154 Twentieth Street Telephone North 2353 Social Democratic Candidate for Re-election At the patternmaker's bench, where care and accu- racy count, Mayor Emil Seidel acquired his earnest and conscientious spirit. He was only thirteen when he began work. His parents were Germans, but he was born in Schuylkill County, Pa., on December 13, 1864. Before he had reached his fifth year his fam- ily settled in Milwaukee. This cutting short of his school- ing has always been a serious re- gret to Mr. Seidel, and his sympa- thy for the young people dates back, no doubt, to the days when he first became a wage-worker, after graduating from the Union School in the Sixth Ward. However, in his twenty-second year, he went abroad to perfect himself in his trade of cai;ving and design- ing. Six 3^ears he lived in Berlin, working at his trade by da}^, and attending a trade school at night. In 1892 he returned to Milwaukee. He then added patternmaking to his other trades. In 1895 he mar- ried Miss Lucy Geissel. Long before this, how^ever, he had become a trade unionist. Away back in 1884 he had helped to organ^ ize the wood carvers. While in Berlin he was a mem- i8 ber of a union. Later he joined the Milwaukee Asso- ciation of Patternmakers. He was also an early worker in the Socialist move- ment. His ballot was one of a total of two Socialist votes in his precinct in 1892. It w^ould have been a rash prophecy then to predict that he would one day be swept into the mayor's office on a Socialist ticket! The . first Social-D.emocratic branch organized in Mil- waukee enrolled him as a charter member. Mr. Seidel served two terms as alderman from the Twentieth Ward, and in 1909 was elected alderman-at- large. In 1910 he was elected mayor of Milwaukee. After his inauguration people who were accustomed to the easy-going ways of previous officials were aston- ished to find the mayor with his sleeves rolled up, toil- ing early and late at his official duties. As time Avent on, however, they discovered that this spirit of earnest and conscientious work was the ruling spirit of the new administration. The work of Comrade Seidel, the patternmaker mayor, has been in line with the impulse of thorough- ness and accuracy which years before had prompted him while yet a young wage-worker to cross the ocean and undergo long years of hard work and study in or- der to become an expert in his own trade. He served the city well as an alderman. He served it better as mayor, and it is best to keep him on the job. "The mayor, Emil Seidel, is in many ways the most competent mayor that Milwaukee ever had." — Prof. John Graham Brooks the noted Sociologist, at present Lecturer on Economics, University of California, at Berkeley. 19 Carl P. Dietz— Comptroller 748% Sixteenth Street Telephone North 1273L Social-Democratic Candidate for Re-election Comptroller Dietz, the quiet young man who intro- duced order out of the chaos which formerly reigned in the comptroller's office, was born in Newark, N. J., in 1875. His father, Rev. H. L. Dietz, a German Baptist minister, removed to Milwaukee when our present comptroller was six years of age. He was graduated from the Mil- waukee public schools in 1891, and completed his education in the San Francisco Boys' High School and the German-American Acad- emy in Rochester, N. Y. In 1895 Mr. Dietz returned to Milwaukee, where he engaged in mercantile work and in the law. In 1902 he joined the Social-Democratic party and in 1904 was elected secretary of the County Central Committee, an office to which he has ever since been annually re-elected. Mr. Dietz was elected justice of tlie peace for the Ninth Judicial District in 1904, and re-elected in 1906 and 1908. In 1910 he was elected city comptroller, re- ceiving 26,510 votes, against 20,019 cast for the Demo- cratic candidate and 12,481 given the Republican can- didate. No fledgling feeds the father bird! No chicken feeds the hen! No kitten mouses for the cat — This glory is for men. We are the Wisest, Strongest Race — Loud may our praise be sung! The only animal alive That lives upon its young. — Charlotte Perkins Gilman. 20 Charles B. Whitnall— City Treasurer 026 Locust Street Telephone North 2617 Social-Democratic Candidate for Re-election Long years of training and business experience in the banking and business world have made City Treas- urer Whitnall a man especially fit for the position he holds. His election as city treasurer not only inspired confidence in the ability of the administration to handle the city's finances proper- ly, but resulted in a thorough and competent management of the de- partment. Few Americans of Mr. Whit- nall's age can make his boast- that he is still living in the very same house where he was born in 1859. Here at the age of fifteen^ in his father's greenhouses, he began the training: which, with constant study and application, made hint an authority as a florist and landscape gardener. In. more recent years he has given special attention to the^ subject of city planning, which has made him a man ol' the greatest value to the administration in all its con- structive work for the city. He was one of the earliest members of the Social- Democratic party, being a charter member of the first branch organized in the city ; and has served the party faithfully in various official capacities, especially as its state treasurer, for years. Mr. Whitnall has served on the school board; as a member of both the City Planning and the County Park Commissions from their inception, and now is presi- dent of the County School Board, which controls the County School of Agriculture and Domestic Economy. In 1910 he was elected to his present office of city treasurer. 21 Social-Democratic Candidates for Aldermen-at-Large Edmund J. Berner 666 Twenty-second Street Social Democratic Candidate for Alderman-at-Large Assemblyman Berner has had years of experience in the trade union and Social-Democratic movements. He went through the big strike of 3 881-82 with the Cigarmakers' ^;.^^^fc,^ Union No. 25, which he joined in f '^^ 1881. He served as the secretary / -v^^» ^^ ^^^^ union in 1895 ; as their del- f '^^ -^^^^HB egate to the Federated Trades Trades Council in 1896, and also as secretary of the executive board of the latter body. These offices he held till he entered the assembly. He has been active in the So- cialist movement since 1891, and for six years acted as secretary of the Ninth Ward Branch of the Social-Democratic party. . He is a native of Ozaukee County, was born May 17, 1864, and received his education in the Ninth Ward public school. In 1905 he was elected assemblyman, and has been thrice re-elected, thus serving four suc- cessive terms in the assembly. "The Socialist officials have displayed sagac- ity and moderation. They promise nothing Uto- pian, they threaten nothing sinister." — Chicago Inter Ocean. Keep the page clean — vote the Social-Demo- i)ratic ticket. Winfield R. Gaylord 42 Estes Street Telephone South 3878Y Social Democratic Candidate for Alderman-at-Large Senator Gaylord was one of the prominent figures of the last two sessions of the Wisconsin legislature. When first elected he was the only Social-Democrat in the state sen- ate. However, the fight he inaugu- rated in behalf of the working class made up in energy what the party lacked in point of numbers. Mr. Gaylord was born June 14, 1870, in Mississippi, and was edu- cated in Ohio Wesleyan Univer- sity, Hamline University, North- western University, and Chicago Theological Seminary. From 1889 to 1902 he served as ' pastor of Methodist and Congregational churches in Minnesota, Illinois and Wisconsin. Since 1902 he has lectured in twenty states on popular and economic subjects. He is one of the national commit- teemen of the Social-Democrat party and was a dele- gate to the Milwaukee charter convention of 1908. In the same year he was elected to the state senate from the Sixth District, with 6,236 votes, against August Langhoff (Rep.), who received 5,820 votes, there being no Democratic candidate. Ex-President of Harvard University "I do not know about the accuracy of some of their theoretical views — I think they are called by a very inaccurate name. But they seem to have a true conception of honest munici- pal government, not for their own benefit, nor for the benefit of any class, but for the common good." — Former President Eliot of Harvard Uni- versity, December, 1910, after a visit to the Mil- waukee City Hall. 22 Martin Gorecki 455 Hayes Avenue Social Democratic Candidate for Aldennan-at-Large Borai in Bromberg, Germany, October 20, 1871. Re- ceived a public school education. Immigrated to America at the age of eighteen. In 1902 he settled in Milwau- kee, worked in Schlitz brewery and joined Beer Bottlers' Union, Local 213, and was later trans- ferred to Brewers' Union No. 9. He served as a delegate to the Federated Trades Council from both these bodies. He has been active in organiz- ing the five Polish branches of the Social-Democratic party in Milwaukee, and in establishing the Naprzod, a weekly Polish pa- per. In 1910 he was elected alderman-at-large for two years. The Welfare of the People First — They Stand for the Best Things "The Socialist program is an honest one, and their intentions to carry it out are likewise honest. "Their general policy is to work for men rather than in the interests of property. The welfare of the people is their first aim. "The little group of Socialists in the last council stood for the best things in municipal affairs, and their program for the future is cer- tainly a good one. There is no opportunity to put into operation any of the more extreme poli- cies for which Socialism stands." — Rev. C. H. Beale, Pastor of Grand Avenue Congregational Church. 24 Edmund T. Melms President of the Common Council 579 Eighth Avenue Telephone South 3120Y Social Democratic Candidate for Alderman-at-Large While president of the Milwaukee Common Council, Alderman Melms has held the respect of that body dur- ing his incumbency. Not many men in politics have as few ene- mies as Mr. Melms. Yet he makes no secret of his convictions and can fight for them when necessity requires. Alderman Melms is a native of Milwaukee County, and attend- ed the Eleventh District school No. 1. He became a wage-worker at the early age of thirteen. Candy-making, shipping clerk in two large furniture factories, and syrup-refining were his occupa- tions for the next seventeen years. Later he did news- paper work and joined Newspaper Writers' Union No. 9, under the jurisdiction of the International Typo- graphical Union. For six years he has acted as their delegate to the Federated Trades Council. He is also a member of the executive council of the latter body. Mr. Melms was among the pioneer members of the Social-Democratic party, having joined that body in 1897. He is now the party's county organizer. He was elected alderman of the Eleventh Ward in 1904, and has been re-elected by his ward in every succeed- ing election, the council. He has served two years as president of "The Socialists, through their adherence to principle and their insistence upon the inviol- ability of party pledges, will serve to elevate the standard of politics." — Milwaukee Daily News of April 30, 1904. 25 Carl Minkley 1269 Nineteenth Street Telephone North 3405X Social Democratic Candidate for Alderman-at-Large Alderman Minkley was born in Germany November 14, 1866. He early entered the Socialist and labor union movements, and in 1890' his trade organization elected him delegate to their national conven- tion, which was held in Bremen. At the age of twenty-six he came to America, and in 1893 set- tled in Milwaukee. Here he joined the Socialist Labor party, then the only Socialist party in the field. In 1908 he became a mem- ber of the Social-Democratic par- ty, and in April, 1910, was ap- pointed alderman-at-large to fill the vacancy caused by the elec- tion of Victor L. Berger to Congress. Alderman Minkley is a member of the Painters and Dcorators' Union No. 160, and has served as delegate to their national conyention. He has also acted for a number of years as vice-president of the Milwaukee Maennerchor. An Up-State Paper Says a Good Word "The Social-Democrats of Milwaukee are cer- tainly giving to the country some splendid les- sons on high ideals in public office. Service to the public seems to be the aim of the adminis- tration. Merit, and merit only, counts in all official appointments. The best man for the place, the one best qualified to perform the work required in the office is sought for, and when found, appointed. Honesty, economy, full service for pay received seem to be the princi- ples so far used in conducting the business of the city." — Ashland Daily Press. 26 Frank J. Weber 1223 Locust Street Social Democratic Candidate for Alderman-at-Large During the last three sessions of the Wisconsin leg- islature Mr. Weber has been one of the band of Social- Democratic legislators who have faithfully served the interests of' labor. He acted as business agent of the Federated Trades Council from 1902 to 1911, when he was made their business manager and corresponding secretary. He can also boast of having organized, in 1893, the Wisconsin State Federa- tion ^ of Labor, in which he has been an official for twenty years. Another proud record for Mr. Weber is that he has never voted the Republican or Democratic ticket. A native of Milwaukee, he was born in 1849. At the early age of twelve he began to earn his living on the Great Lakes and later joined the Lake Seamen's Union. In 1892 he left the water for work on the docks, and became a member of the Lumber Unloaders' Union No. 18. He now belongs to Carpenters' Union No. 1053. Mr. Weber can therefore claim to be a sort of grand- father of the labor movement, where he has rendered such long and loyal service to the working class, A man tried and true, through long years of public service in legislative and labor bodies. "The Social-Democvats have brought to the common council a spirit of honesty and inde- pendence that was needed and that has helped to bring that body into better public repute." — Free Press of March 5, 1906. 27 Martin Petersen 569 Twenty-seventh Avenue Social Democratic Candidate for Alderman-at-Larg'e Mr. Petersen is a native of Denmark, where he was born in 1865, and received a common school education. At the age of nineteen he came to America. He obtained work in Michigan saw-mills and lumber camps. There being no organization of these trades, he helped to form the "Manistee County Labor Union." This was both an economic and political or- ganization and placed a city tick- et in the field. It won in three successive city elections, but Mr. Petersen found himself blacklist- ed. He was fired from the saw- mills and could not get even a day laborer's job. The mayor appointed him to the fire department, but later, when the capitalists combined to throw out the Labor Union party, he found that he must starve or leave Manistee. He accordingly removed to Milwaukee in 1889, learned the trade of stationary fireman, helped to or- ganize the Stationary Firemen's Union and became its secretary. In 1905 he joined the Social-Democratic party. A New and a Better Page in Municipal History "There has been awakened in the community a spirit that unites a large body of the people and the municipal officials in the resolve that there shall be written a new and better page in the history of American municipalities."' — Mil- waukee Journal, April 21, 1910. Keep the page clean — vote the Social-Demo- cratic ticket. 28 Otto Braun 1396 Booth St. Social Democratic Candidate for Alderman-at-Large For his year's term to fill the unexpired term of Victor L. Berger, resigned Otto Braun was born at Dt Eylau, Germany, on October 18th, 1867, and immigrated with his parents to America in 1869. The family came to Milwaukee in 1890 where they have lived ever since. Mr. Braun has been active in the union movement for many years. He joined the famous Street Carmen's Union when it was or- ganized in 1893, and was instru- mental in getting the shopmen in the powerhouse, where he worked, to join the union. The strike came on in 1896 and Braun lost his job. In 1900 he helped to organize the Stationery Firemen's Union and later joined the Janitor's Union. When the Janitor's Union was consolidated with the Stationary Engineer's Union he went in with that or- ganization, of which he is still a member. He joined the Social-Democratic Party in 1905. Federation of Civic Societies Approves The Federation of Civic Societies views with approval the published utterances of the new city administration, as follows: "To retire from public service incapable men; to retain the service of those who have shown special fitness; defense of the public schools against former hostile city administration; in- troduction of a system of cost-keeping; redis- tricting city wards; social survey of Milwau- kee." — Federation of Civic Societies. 29 Social-Democratic Candidates for Ward Aldermen Ward. Name. Address. 1st— Ben j. F. Buticofer 842 Arlington PI. 2d— Walter P. Stroesser. . 316 State St. 3d -Max Wrege 239 Jefferson St. 4th— T. 0. F. Randolph '" 206 Alhambra Theater Buiding 5th— Martin Mikkelson. . . . 217 Greenbush St. 6th— John L. Reisse 612 Third St. 7th— John Doerfler, Jr 1239 Clarke St. 8th — Michael Katzban 946 Windake Ave. 9th— Henry Ries 1601 Walnut St. 10th— William Koch 781 Sixteenth St. 11th— Ole A. Olsen 815 Forest Home Ave. 12th— Max Grass 293 Mitchell St. 13th— Albert F. Giese 139 Hadley St. 14th— Leo Krzycki 1044 Eighth Ave. 15th— W. P. Faulkner 410^ Thirty-ninth St. 16th— William P. Carrigan. . 3111 St. Paul Ave. 17th— John J. Blade 628 Conway St. 18th — Jacob Leonard 482 Murray Ave. 19th— Jacob Jung, Jr 2814 Yliet St. 20th— August W. Strehlow.1193 Teutonia Ave. 21st— William Baumann. . . . 1316 Booth St. 22d— John Hassmann 772 Thirty-ninth St. 23d —Ferdinand W. Rehfeld 453 Twelfth Ave. 24th— John S. Jones 949 Twenty-second Ave. 25th— Arthur Urbanek 1356 Twelfth St. Clean Campaigns "The clean campaigns of the Social-Demo- cratic party in this city have given to other po- litical organizations a model worthy of imita- tion." — Evening Wisconsin of March 24, 1905. 30 Social-Democratic Candidates for CountyBoard of Supervisors Ward. Name. Address. 1st— Charles C. McDonald. 672 Jefferson St. 2d —Otto Harbicht ; 1303 Cold Spring Ave. 3d ^Fred H. Wolfe 588 Jackson St. 4tli-George Moerschel. . . . 912 Thirty-seventh St. 5th- Gilbert Harlem Poor. 591 Scott St. 6th— Andrew Buehler 601 Sherman St. 7th— George Mensing . 830 Eleventh St. 8th— Louis Petzak 682 American Ave. ^9th— Frank Boness 1413 Cherry St. 10th— Frederic Heath 902 Locust St. 11th — Emil Ruhnke 430 Twenty-seventh Ave. 12th— Martin Mies 875 Kinnickinnic Ave. 13th— Fred Buenger 1063 Booth St. 14th— Casimir Kowalski, . . . 733 Lincoln Ave. 15th— Edwin W. Knappe. . . 2614 Galena St. 16th-George J. Indra-. 43 Park Hill PI. 17th — Christopher Dunn. . . . 205 Logan Ave. 18th— Peter S. Parsons 676 Oakland Ave. 19th— Frank Vierthaler 1011 Twenty-eighth Ave. A Minister's View "Yes, the personnel of the present administra- tion, well known to the voters of the city, not so well known by the outside world, presents a combination of ethical idealism inspiring and directing practical efficiency rarely ever found in the reform administration elected in any Ameri- can city. It is, moreover, an administration unembarrassed by any shady political obligations or shameful 'gentlemen's agreements.' " — Rev. Walter F. Greenman, First Unitarian Church. 31 "Ill fares the land, to hastening ills a prey- Where wealth accumuiates and men decay." The Issue THEIR SIDE The Non-Partisan, Bi-Par- tisan, Omni-Partisan, Re- Bunkocratic Ticket — ' ' Anything - to - Beat the Socialists" Side The Shirkers Private Monopoly- Graft and Private Profit Jobbery Machine Politics Child Labor Low Wages Fraud OUR SIDE The Social-Democratic Side The Workers Public Ownership Honest Administration Efficiency- Scientific Management- Bureau of Efficiency and Economy Union Labor Union Wages Honest Weights and Meas- ures Competition Ecxploitation The Class Struggle War The Capitalist Class Industrial Despotism Capitalism Co-operation Economic Justice Fraternity Peace The Working Class Social-Democracy Socialism 32 A Party that Keeps Its Platform Pledges The Social-Democratic party has never been a party of promises. It has been a party that made demands. It is a party with a program comprehensive and has a goal beyond the reach of a day or even a decade. The de- mands of the Social-Democratic party are for all the things that are. necessary for the health, the culture, the freedom and happiness of the workers of the world. Our platform is not to be regarded as a set of promises made to others. It is the declared goal of the workers endeavoring to work out their own salvation. Our promises, so far as they are promises, are promises to ourselves and our children— a resolution and a sum- mons of all the working class and all decent citizens to the task of the emancipation of the workers. No platform of the Social-Democratic party, there- fore, can be judged by the short-sighted vision of those who think of it only as a temporary expedient, or as a means to catch votes for today or tomorrow. The Social-Democracy is building big for the mighty and the better future of humanity. What we have written into our platforms, therefore, is altogether greater and better than what is written into the plat- forms of other political parties. And what we do not accomplish today we will accomplish tomorrow. What we do not achieve this year we will the next. And what we do not achieve this decade we will the next. However, this does not mean that the Social-Demo- cratic party in Milwaukee has not kept its platform pledges to the limit. We present here the planks of the platform of the party adopted in 1910, with a brief reference to what has been done in each case. 3 ? The Platform 1. We demand — new charter, complete home rule, initiative, referen- dum, recall. 2. Ownership and oper- ation of public service en- terprises as far and as fast as state laws will permit. 3. Equitable taxation — big corporations to pay their rightful share. The Record 1. Forty different bills sent to the legislature, which were calculated to secure some measure of home rule ; proposed amendment to the consti- tution introduced, also general home rule bill; a number of charter amend- ments adopted as result of strenuous fight of Social- Democrats, among them one providing for initia- tive anu referendum. 2. First unit of the elec- tric lighting plant under construction at garbage plant. Contracts for the machinery for main plant let. Budget for 1912 in- cludes issue of $100,000 in bonds and $300,000 worth of mortgage certificates for completion of plant. 3. Tax commissioner's office held by a Dave Rose Democratic hold-over pol- itician, Frank B. Schutz. Social-Democrats did not secure control of this de- partment until Jan. 1, 1912. Efforts made to secure tax experts— blocked by Republicans and Democrats in state legislature. Readjust- ment of basis of taxa- tion to true or full value 34 4. Slaughter house and municipal markets. 5. Direict employment— abolition of contract sys- tem. 6. Firemen and police- men to have fair treat- ment and public trial be- fore being discharged. 7. The city shall pay fair wages, not less than union scale. 8. Election day public holiday. 9. City shall provide for its unemployed. as required by law. Mil- lions of dollars' worth of property discovered by Social-Democrats subject to taxation, but omitted from the roll by Demo- cratic tax department. 4. Bills covering these points introduced at the last session of legislature. Killed by old parties. Com- mission appointed and at work on plans. 5. Public Works depart- ment submitted carefully prepared plans involving the purchase of materials and machinery in order that city might do its own paving. Three-fourths vote necessary to carry the proposition; minority de- feated the plan. A begin- ning made in the asphalt repair department. 6. Law secured and put into operation. 7. Minimum wage es- tablished and union scale for all city employes. 8. Law enacted for half holiday on election day. 9. Co-operation of the administration with Fed- erated Trades Council, As- sociated Charities, Mer- 35 10. M u n i c i pal quarry. 11. Municipal wood and coal yard. 12. Municipal ice plant. 13. Annexation of terrir tory. 14. City planning for better housing. 15. Redistricting of city wards. 16. Municipal terminal. 17. Extension of free medical service. chants and Manufacturers^ Association to relieve un- employed. Assisted in the establishment of a free employment bureau now developed into an organi- zation covering the entire state. Most effective of its kind in America. stone 10. Resolution for the purchase of the Zimmer- man site passed council. Provision in budget. 11. Awaiting proper public control of transpor- tation and actual re- sources. 12. Constitutionality of law giving city right to es- tablish being tested in the courts. 13. Several portions an- nexed. 14. Metropolitan Park Commission, now called the City Planning Com- mission, at work on plan. Also land commission ap- pointed. 15. Accomplished. 16. Defeated by refer- endum. 17. New isolation hos- pital established ; Blue Mound Sanitarium taken 36 18. For personal liberty and against vice. 19. Comfort stations. - 20. Municipal plumbing and se^verage. 21. Reorganization the sewerage system. of 22. Small parks and playgrounds. 23. Larger development and use of public schools favored— free text books —social centers. over by the county ; tuber- culosis commission co-or- dinating forces for help in fight on that dread dis- ease; Child Welfare work established. 18. Many disreputable saloons put out of business. 19. The first comfort station erected and in op- eration at First Avenue Viaduct. 20. Enabling law de- feated by the legislature. 21. Report of sewerage commission received and plans being made for con- solidation of the water de- partment and sewerage de- partment to enable the carrying out of recommen- dations. 22. Fifth Ward Park and playground on south side. City forester en- gaged. 23. Larger appropria- tions for public schools made by Social-Democrats? than ever before. County Board sets aside $5,000 to be used for the feeding of under-nursed school chil- dren. Twenty-one school buildings opened for so- cial, civic and neighbor- hood clubs. 24. Public recreations 24. Concerts given in and amusements. Auditorium Sunday after- noons during the winter months. Park concerts ex- tended. A Fair, Impartial Judgment "Justice and fair play demand that it be said that in contrast with the sort of social service and municipal service Milwaukee ever had be- fore this present Seidel administration is wholly excellent. "And that is the only true criterion. Kansas City is one of the few most fortunate cities in the country in the large measure of its freedom to attend to its own business. The board of public welfare grew from this home rule liberty. Milwaukee has no such freedom. It is governed largely by state laws. Its Socialists cannot set up a Socialist regime. They can simply give honest and efficient administration within the limits of the general laws of the land and the specific acts of the Wisconsin legislature. This last the Socialist administration has given in a rare degree — as every fair-minded, impartial in- vestigator will tell you." — Kansas City Star, January 6, 1912. You have an honest, efficient government in Milwau- Tcee — vote to'heep it up. 38 The Departments at Work A BRIEF REVIEW OF WORK OF THE ADMINIS- TRATION By Emil Seidel, Mayor The past two years in the history of the govern- ment of the city of Milwaukee have been replete with many advancements. Hardly had the result of the last municipal election become known when already the men elected were preparing plans for the two years' work before them. The first rule laid down was that every man con- nected with the city government and receiving an ade- quate salary was to devote his entire time to the city's work. This was the rule that the mayor applied to himself and insisted upon its strictest observance by every officer, whether appointed or elected. Department of Public Works The administration was not yet inaugurated when the plans to abolish the Board of Public Works and substitute therefor the one head department were com- pleted. At first there was no opposition to this change ; but when its far-reaching effect in the breaking up of the asphalt ring became known certain elements in our city deemed it advisable that the legality of the change be tested. The decision in the lower court de- clared the change illegal. In the upper court this de- cision was reversed. This one instance is indicative of the opposition that the present administration met with during its term of office. Less Help, More Work From the very first day the mayor's office con- cerned itself diligently with the many questions that came before it. With a decreased force of three men, instead of four as formerly, it not only carried out all of its routine work, but was at all times ready to meet 39 any citizen without distinction to discuss and act in any matter pertaining to the public welfare. The rooms of the executive office were thrown open to committee gatherings on all occasions. Nor was this policy con- fined to the mayor's office. It applied likewise to the council chamber, thus letting the public know that its city hall is its property. Expert Help Noting the fact that no sooner do men become ex- pert in any particular line of activity than some private corporation engages them at salaries such as cities are not accustomed to pay, the administration put forth its best efforts to engage. the best help that it could lay its hands on, believing that municipalities should have the first claim to expert service. Following this policy, the mayor's office cast- about for a health commissioner and secured a man who, as a sanitarian, had established a national reputation. The methods employed to drive him from the city are too well known to be repeated here. Similar efforts were made to secure the best man for the head of the Public Works Department. But it soon developed that the salary which the city of Mil- waukee was permitted to pay by law could not secure a man with many years' experience as a public official. Besides that a mean opposition arose to appointing non-residents, although previously such were appoint- ed to positions in Milwaukee without legal embarrass- ments. It therefore became necessary to do the best that could be done, and today no fair minded man questions the statement that the present commissioner of public works has filled his position creditably. Efficiency and Economy Following the suggestion contained in the mayor's message in 1910, the administration decided that the mayor begin negotiations with Dr. John R. Commons, looking toward the establishment of a Bureau of Econ- omy and Efficiency. 40 Earh^ in the summer of 1910 the bureau Avas start- ed, with Dr. John R. Commons as director, B. M. Ras- tall as associate director. A comprehension of the work of this department cannot be gained from a brief account given here. Only spending the time to go through the many volumes of reports worked out by this department will permit any one to understand its huge task. At the same time, this department has un- dertaken surveys and prepared plans for social im- provements along many lines. The attention of the interested public is called to such bulletins as appeared in print. The work of this department will have only begun after it has completed the plans for the reor- ganization of all city departments. A city government cannot administer to the needs of a people unless it understands the intricacies of any given problem and the means at its disposal for the solution of such prob- lems. In gathering such information and working out the solution lies the real importance of this department. Civil Service The position of the administration on civil service has been questioned. But a careful analysis, will prove that the charges made in connection herewith are base- less and born of malice. Together with ability must also go fealty to a purpose. Men may be very able, and just because of this, be the more dangerous to the public welfare if such ability is used to favor corporate interests. For this reason the people were served well in the appointment of Charles A. Mullen; for uppermost in his mind he had the ideal to give the people full value for money expended in pavement. When, therefore, the supreme court decided that his position was ille- gally filled, it may have taken a sound legal stand, but it does not hold a sane, businesslike position. Time and again the present administration has ap- pointed men to office because of their qualifications, though they were not Socialists. Other men who have been for years in the employ of the cit}^ have been re- 41 tained and in a number of instances even promoted to higher positions. Co-operation One of the features of the present administration is the spirit of co-operation. Not only have the vari- ous departments under the administration been en- thused to a high degree of teamwork, but the city and county governments have in all problems that required greater efforts, likewise worked together for the com- mon welfare. But the administration has not stopped here. Wherever there was an indication in the com- munity for advancement, where there was a man or woman or a group of men or women that worked for a progressive cause, there the administration stood ready, at all times, to co-operate and to lend such assistance as it was possible to give, very often going out of its way. It was rarely that in this plan of col- lective effort a note of discord was struck, such as the refusal of the school board to act in harmony in the budget exhibit, or the refusal of the chiefs of the police and fire departments to aid in the consolidation of the police and fire alarm systems. But the administration hopes that with a continuance of this spirit the preju- dice even in these departments will be broken down. River Walk One of the notable results of this co-operation be- tween the administration and civic groups of citizens is the plan of the river walk. This improvement today appears practically assured, and was only possible through the good will of the property owners and busi- ness men interested, together with the good will of the administration. If the plans do not miscarry, work on this improvement will be begun by the 1st of May, 1912. What this improvement means for the city very few today even realize. But it is the first time in the his- tory of the United States that unsightly river fronts 42 The Proposed River Walk. will be turned into beauty spots. It is the beginning to reclaim the river as one of Milwaukee's most beau- tiful natural resources. Special Privileges During the last two years a new policy has been inaugurated with regard to special privileges. All of these so-called special privileges carry with them some value to the recipient. In the past the granting of these has always been fraught with possibilities of graft. The mayor's office, therefore, has taken the initiative in securing for the city values for privileges granted. Thus several amounts were turned over to the playground association and in another case the playground paraphernalia in Lapham^Park secured. In the case of vacating an alley, the legal power of the city to assess benefits and damages was resorted to, and for the vacation of the alley $7,000 paid into the city treasury. The business man prefers to deal with 43 a city on a fair basis like this rather than to be charged with getting- things for nothing, or even running the danger of offering bribes. Gambling and Vice An earnest attempt has been made to combat the evils of gambling and the sale of intoxicants in houses of ill fame. It cannot be overlooked, however, that there is a serious discrepancy between the report of the chief of police on these evils and the rumors that are continually brought to the attention of this office. The chief has time and again assured the mayor that he knows of no cases of violations while the rumors main- tain that gambling as well as the dispensation of liquor in houses of ill fame continue, though less openly than before. Recreation and Relaxation However, the real cure for these evils does not lie in police control or regulation, but rather in offering something better to our youth for that which we seek to abolish. Recreation and relaxation will, under the control of properly trained men and women, go far to diminish these evils. For that reason the administra- tion has put forth special efforts to secure enabling leg- islation. The Socialists will continue their efforts to firmly establish and broaden educational and recrea- tional activities. Fire and Police Inspection Through the Bureau of Economy and Efficiency plans for a comprehensive system of inspection by the police force were prepared. The council now is busy carrying into effect these plans. A similar system of inspection for the fire depart- ment is in course of preparation. It is hoped that through this work eventually the waste in fire losses will be reduced and a comparative reduction in rates follow. 44 City Planning Many cities of this nation have become aware of the necessity that our growth must be directed along com- prehensive and well planned lines. This administration has taken a live interest in this problem. The city treasurer has put in his entire spare time on the work. In addition thereto, the city attorney's office has aided in the drafting of laws and resolutions. The mayor's office has prepared several studies and a model covering various phases on city planning. Sidetracks, transfer facilities, street car franchises, transportation and harbor matters were taken up. Track elevation wa.s continuously pushed. A land conimission was ap- pointed, likewise commissions on housing and harbor. The work on the building code commission is being vigorously pushed under the able guidance of the build- ing inspector, Carl F. Ringer, appointed under the present administration. River beautification has al- ready been mentioned. In this manner the problem is being approached from many angles and with con- tinued energy spent upon it a few years should show marked improvements, with resulting better sanitary conditions for all the people. Social Activities It may be safely said that never before in the his- tory of the city have so many activities for social im- provement been begun and carried on as under the present administration. Through the combined efforts of the district attorney, city attorney and mayor's office a vigorous campaign has been waged against the loan shark evil. Recreation, city planning and hous- ing have already been mentioned. Following the suggestion of the mayor^n his mes- sage to the common council of April, 1911, there were appointed commissioners on tuberculosis and child wel- fare. The work of the Child Welfare Commission has been highly complimented by men and women interest- ed in it. Some of its features are unique. The result is already shown in a reduction of the death rate 45 among the children in the locality in which the work is carried on. Similarly, many activities carried on by a number of high minded private citizens to combat tuberculosis received a renewed impetus through the appointment of the Tuberculosis Commission. The offices of these two commissions are located in the city hall and visit- ors are always welcome. The problem of unemployment during the times of industrial crises very early received the attention of the administration and a commission to take up this work was also appointed. A call at the office of the Free Emplojonent Bureau will convince any one that the work of this commission is not without results. Nor has the high cost of living been overlooked. To develop such limited resources as are at our dis- posal at this time, commissions on garden patches and markets were appointed. It must, however, be borne in mind that the best that can be done by these com- missions is to carefully and thoroughly study the re- spective problems and work out comprehensive solu- tions therefor. In most instances the constructive work that can be done can be only in the nature of immediate relief. To effect complete cures it will be necessary for the city to be given immensely more powers and resources than it has today. To illustrate, with the in- dustries all in possession of private corporations and the working people worked to the limit of their endur- ance, it is not possible that the city can assume respon- sibility for the unemployed when in these industries a panic prevails. Labor Measures One of the most important lines of activity was followed by the administration in laying down the rule that the power of a government shall be used to ele- vate the standard of living of the masses. Labor being the human source of wealth, the object is to use every effort to improve and elevate the conditions of the workers. For that reason special effort was placed 46 upon factory and food inspection. In this respect the Health Department has done very much. The influence of the administration was used in se- curing fair conditions on work done by private contract for the city. For this reason an ordinance was passed providing for a maximum working day of eight hours on all work done under contract for the city. Partially successful efforts have been made to enforce this ordi- nance, which, it is hoped, will finally become effective throughout. Hours and wages for city employes have been revised. Through the co-operation of the Mayor's office the Retail Clerks' Association succeeded in securing for the first time the observance of Labor Day in a great number of stores. Several strikes and a number of individual disputes, involving costly litigation, were amicably settled through the efforts of the officers of the administration* Professor John Graham Brooks, the Noted Sociologist, CHiarmed with Milwaukee Socialist Administration "The Socialists in Milwaukee and Butte are giving these cities the best, the cleanest and most satisfactory business administration in their history and are repairing the damage wrought by years of the old graft regime. ''In Milwaukee the Socialists came into office great- ly handi hand. 12. A new and complete system of keeping account of sidewalk work has been installed which eliminates many of the uncertainties and disagreeable features of concfucting this important branch of work. 13. Schedules of certificates for street and alley work have been worked out which save time in the office of- the City Clerk and City Comptroller. These certificates are written in quadruplicate and at one writing. 14. A complete system of records in the Bureau of Purchases has been installed, by means of which every step in the process of purchase becomes a permanent record. Careful tab is kept upon the process of the department and it is now possible to determine just how much of each commodity and for what depart- ments, and how much business is done through the activity of this bureau. 15. A system of automobile records has been de- vised and installed by means of which the total miles, the amount of gasoline and time used by and spent on automobiles, may be easily determined. From these records it is possible to^ derive anything necessary per- taining to the cost of maintenance and operation of city automobiles. "It is not an exaggeration to say that no mu- nicipal administration in Milwaukee ever; entered upon its duties with higher purpose or more de- termined resolve to 'make good' than that which animates the Socialist regime." —The Milwaukee Journal, April 21, 1910 90 The Re-organized Department of Public Works Harry E. Briggs, Commissioner The Board of Public Works as it stood in 1909 had the following meager organization: The three commissioners of public works, whose total salaries were $7,499.80; cler- ical assistance which cost a total of $15,255.97; a super- intendent of sewers at $1,500.00 and a superintendent of bridges at $1,800.00. The total salaries amounted to $2 6,- 055.85. The reorganization brought about by the new adminis- tration involved the following changes: 1. The creation of a Bureau of Street Construction and Repair. This work had had no special attention be- fore, with a result that the city was being fearfully gouged. The creation of this bureau and the putting of an expert on sti-eet construction, Charles A. Mullen, at the head, re- sulted in a tremendous saving to the city of $3 62,000. The cost was only $3,393. 2. The organization of a Bureau of Street Sanitation. This was also a new organization the expense of which had formerly been distributed, part of it in the Health Depart- ment and another part in the Public Works Department. The new bureau assumed all of this work and some that had not been done before. For example, the collection of garbage and the operation of the incinerator plant were transferred to this bureau January, 1911. This work was formerly done by the Health Department. 3. A creation of a Bureau of Bridges and Public Build- ings. The department had formerly had a superintendent of bridges. He was at that time an assistant of the city engineer at a salary of $2,000 per year. This assistant was brought into the Public Works department and made su- perintendent of this bureau. This addition of $2,000 to the account of the Public Works Department, therefore, represents no new expense to the city. It is merely a trans- fer. This change, however, enabled the Public Works De- partment to handle work which before had been impos- sible. For example, during 1911 the bureau made plans and specijfiications for public buildings aggregating $153,000. In the past it was customary to pay outside architects for 91 such work 5% of the total cost. In this way alone this re- organization saved the city $7,650. 4. The reorganization of the work of the Sewerage Department. This involved no extra expenditure, due to the fact that a superintendent was already provided by the former organization. 5. The organization of a Bureau of Purchases. For- merly the purchasing of the city was done by the members of the various city departments, each department doing its own buying. This purchasing power has now been con- centrated and systematized with the result that during 1911 a saving of approximately $48,000 has been effected for the city. This work involved approximately $4,493.56 new ex- penditures in the department. Even this, however, could not be counted as an entirely new expense since the bureau assumed the work of buying for all the departments. And besides in connection with the Purchasing Depart- ment, a city's store has been organized so that instead of buying in small quantities materials are bought in large quantities and stored to be used as required. This enables the city to secure the best possible prices consistent with the quality of materials needed, even on things that are used in small quantities at a time. With these transfers which brought over a number of salaries from other departments to the Departinent of Pub- lic Works and the addition of new work to the administra- tive end the department showed a total salary list of $27,~ 946.33 for 1910 as against $26,055.85 for 1909, a slight increase. A part of that year's work, however, was under the old regime. And the process of reorganization began about the middle of the year. The Reorganized Department With the five bureaus reorganized as stated above, the sixth one being still in process and to be completed within the next year, the Department of Public Works stands as follows for the year 1911: Office of Commissioner — Commissioner $ 4,999.92 Deputy Commissioner .... 2,175.51 Clerical 1,308.28 Chiei Clerk — Main Office. — Clerical 4,799.34 Special Assessment Office — Clerical 5,821.00 Permit Office — Clerical 820.00 92 Bureau of Purchases — Office of Superintendent — Superintendent 2,959.68 Clerical 1,533.88 General City Stores — Store-keeper 666.64 Clerical 72.50 Bureau of Bridges and Public Buildings — Office of Superintendent — Superintendent 2,466.36 Draftsman 2,228.23 Clerical 690.97 Field Supt. of Bridges 1,800.00 Bureau of Sewers — Office of Superintendent — ^' Superintendent 1,479.84 Bureau of Street Construction and Repair — Office of Superintendent — Superintendent 2,943.55 Clerical 450.00 Bureau of Street Sanitation- Office of Superintendent — Superintendent .' . 1,973.04 Clerical 1,250.00 Chauffeur 332.98 $40,771.72 Thus the department as at present operated involves an increase expenditure of $14,715.87 over that shown by the Public Works Department in 1909. This fact has lead some misguided critics to fall into the error of supposing that the Social-Democrats were great- ly increasing the expenses of operating the city govern- ment. As a matter of fact, however, as explained above, this increase expenditure represents in most cases salaries transferred from other departments or new work under- taken which has produced many and in some cases enormous economies. And besides, this administration is introducing wherever it can the policy of direct employment in place of contract work. This invariably saves the city money by eliminating the contractor's profits. But it increases the payrolls in the departments effected. Every such added ex- penditure, however, represents not only increased effici- ency, but actual economy to the city. Savings Effected The measure of the increased efficiency resulting from the above reorganization of the Department of Public Works is shown in a direct manner in the following table: 93 Saving due to change in price of asphalt pave- ment, approximately $362,000.00 Saving due to systematic buying, approximately. 48,000.00 Saving due to doing our own work in archie tectural design 7,650.00 Credit for transfer of Assistant City Engineer to Bureau of Bridges and Public Buildings. . .. 2,000.00 Credit for handling garbage collection and in- cinerator records 1,000.00 Credit for doing, by direct employment, certain work hereinafter specified 5,000.00 Profit to city by direct operation of asphalt re- pair plant 3,068.00 Total ,..". $428,718.00 In addition to the above there will be another saving of $315,000 due to the change in method of assessment, if the city is successful in its suit with the T. M. E. R. & L. Co., to compel them to pay for the pavement between the tracks and one foot outside as required by their franchises. This will make, if added to the above, a grand total of $743,718.00 due to the increased efficiency of the Public Works Department under the Social Democratic method of reorganization. We doubt whether any city administration in America in a city of the size of Milwaukee has been able to make such a showing. With the former administrations Milwaukee has had there is absolutely no comparison whatever to be made. We challenge the representatives of any group of people — non-partisan, bi-partisan, or omni-partisan, to show any evidence anywhere that they could equal or even approach a record of this kind. Former administrations have disgraced the city with their incompetency and graft. The present administra- tion has made records like the above, which have not been equaled and cannot be approached by anything that any of these other bodies have offered the people. And yet the same old political office-seekers would like to get back on the job again. They have changed their name, it is true. But it is the same old gang. The Social-Democrats Have Saved You $700,000 in Two Years In Ten Years They Will Save the City 94 STREET CONSTRUCTION-A TREMENDOUS ACHIEVEMENT The Socialist Administration Makes an Astonishing Saving on Asphalt Paving. 370,000 square yards of asphalt paving that formerly cost $2.40 per square yard, let at an average of $1.35, thus saving $386,000 131,300 square yards, formerly charged to prop- erty owners at $2.40 per square yard, now charged to street car company, saving (if city is successful in its suit) 315,120 Total $701,120 To stop a leak of $386,000 a year in the ship of city finances is no small matter, we should say. The people of this city have the Social-Democrats to thank for just such sort of service. A leak of that kind would soon sink any ship. And it would have sunk the city, too, sooner or later, if the Social-Democrats hadn't been called on deck by the people. For seventeen years the Republican and Demo- cratic administrations had kept the specifications for asphalt street pavement so closed that the city was sewed up in a sack and handed over to one certain asphalt company that had a complete monopoly. No other company could get in on the deal. And what this one company did to the people of Milwaukee was not written in the platforms of the Republican or Democratic parties. Be assured of that. And what they did to the people was done by the grace of David S. Rose— the late lamented — and his valiant Republican and Democratic supporters. Some of these men are now in the council. One of them, Joseph P. Carney, was chairman of the Committee on 95 Streets and Alleys while these closed specifications pre- vailed. Some of them even now aspire to higher posi- tions than they had at the time they helped the paving trust to fasten itself upon the people. They've been ''caught" — redhanded— by the Social- Democrats in this matter, to be sure. But they have a new scheme by which they hope to avoid the gaze of an outraged public. They have changed their names. They are not Republicans or Democrats any more. They are Non-Partisans. As such they hope to again get back into public power and do business at old counters in the same old way. But a rose by any other name is just as— has the same odor. And Milwaukee is wise to the non-partisan game. Members of the Milwaukee Council who voted to keep the specifications for street paving closed— sus- taining the veto of DAVED S. ROSE (July 27, 1903) Republicans— 9 Democrats— 12 Genz Biersach Jenz Fitzgerald Laack Himmelstein Langholff Jankiewicz Luedtke Jesion McCormack Kaminski Meredith McCoy Schranck Murphy Walter Steigerwald Weiher Zimmermann Corcoran 96 In spite of protests on the part of the Republican- Democratic combination in the council, the Socialists secured a real, live expert in street construction and put him at the head of the bureau of street construc- tion. And in spite of a furious fight against him ever since, involving a fight every hour of the time from Keep the City Glean Waste Paper Receptacle Installed in Down Town District then till now (the case is still pending) the Social- Democrats kept him on the job until it was finished. When C. A. Mullen came to Milwaukee and took charge of the work of street construction something started to happen right away. First of all specifications were redrafted for asphalt pavement. It was found that the asphalt specifications made it impossible to use any other than that supplied by the Barber Asphalt Paving Company. This was done by substituting the chemical and physical properties of 97 Trinidad Lake asphalt for the words ''Trinidad Lake Asphalt." By this clever trick the above mentioned material was the only thing that could be used in Mil- waukee asphalt pavements. There are many other ma- terials that are as good or even better than that fur- nished by the Barber Asphalt Paving Company. The first work, then, was to open specifications sufficiently to permit several other good grades of asphalt. This was done, and under the present speci- fications asphalt from Venezuela, Cuba, Utah and Cali- fornia, as well as from the Island of Trinidad, is ad- mitted. Another change in the specifications was the elimina- tion of the binder course. The so-called binder course is not, in any sense, a ''binder." Where the proper amount of asphaltic cement is used there is no necessity for a binder. In fact its presence aids in the deteriora- tion of the wearing surface and its elimination reduces the cost of the pavement from 20 to 30 cents per square yard. The best authorities on street construction insist that the binder course serves no useful purpose. For example, Mr. E. M. Perdue, chemical and consulting engineer for Kansas City, Mo., declares that the binder course serves only to increase the cost of pavement to the property owner, requires more work in laying the pavement, and permits the rapid disintegration of the surface. "As a matter of scientific engineering," he says, "the binder course is obsolete. It ought never to be laid." Furthermore, experience shows conclu- sively that the best pavements in America are laid without a binder, as the accompanying illustration will show. The new specifications also eliminated the guaranty. Where proper inspection is used it is unnecessary to have a guaranty for the first five years of the life of the pavement. If the work is done with proper mate- rial, labor and inspection, from 3 to 5 cents per square yard may be saved thereby. The system of inspection Asphalt Pavement Without a Binder A Sample from Washington, D. C— The Pavement Has Worn 33 Years inaugurated by this bureau consisted in employing a competent asphalt chemical engineer for expert con- sultation work. Especially equipped inspectors were put at the mixing plants of the contractors and other inspectors placed on the streets where the work was being done. Samples of the asphalt from the plant and from the streets were taken daily and analyzed, the results of which became a record in this office. Every carload of asphalt, every tank of fluxing oil was sub- jected to the most rigid scrutiny and rejected where the results did not meet the requirements of the speci- fications. Another change made in the specifications was the introduction of a certain amount of crushed rock into the wearing surface. In the sheet asphalt pavements of Milwaukee it was proposed on the ground that the rock increased the "inherent stability" and formed 99 internal reinforcement in the wearing surface. This pavement is known to be no harder in the wintertime, and harder in the summertime than the ordinarj^ sand- asphalt mix. All of the above mentioned changes were worked into the specifications for 1911. At the very next bid- ding there were six different companies that submitted bids, where before there had been but two. And the prices dropped from $2.40 per square yard to $1,351/2 per square yard. Three hundred and seventy thou- sand yards of pavement were let during 1911 and, fig- ured at an average saving of $1,041/2, the amount saved to the city and the property owners is approximately $386,000. A new method in making assessments of benefits and damages for street work was worked out. The city attorney's department formulated plans by means of which the street car company could be made to pay for the pavement between its rails and one foot outside. Accordingly no property owner paid for pavement laid between the street car company's rails in 1911. One hundred and thirty-one thousand yards were therefore saved to the property owners and to the city. Steps have been takeu to compel the street car company to pay for this area which formerly was paid for at an average of $2.40 per square yard, making an additional saving of $315,120. This matter will, however, haA^e to go through the various courts and be passed upon finally by the supreme court of Wisconsin before the saving is an actual reality to the city. Further Improvements and Economies It was found that many old macadam streets in town could be specially treated with an asphaltic binder and be made to last for many years. This treatment comprises the removal of the top two inches of the roadway and the building up of the same with new rock cemented and held firmly together by means of an asphaltic road binder. When properly treated the roadway becomes hard, smooth and very much like a 100 regular asphalt street. Sixty-seven thousand yards were treated during the summer of 1911 at an average cost of 51 cents per square yard. Another economy introduced was that of utilizing the annual harvest of rock and broken curb that results from the usual street construction work. Thousands of yards a year have been hauled to the city dumps and this rock utilized merely as filler. A small portable stone crusher was purchased, a road roller connected thereto, and was hauled from place to place. This equipment crushed 2,917 yards at an average cost of 76 cents per yard. This stone, if bought, would cost us $1.23 per square yard, or $3,587.91, thereby saving to the city $1,370.99, besides utilizing what had formerly been a waste product and giving employment for a certain number of men. There are at present waiting to be crushed at various places in the city about 7,000 cubic yards. Portable Stone Crusher 1 J imf ■•': ^^■■E is W ^^5^P^!?r^^^»^^^BHIi^ ■S. ftl**# ■ ■&*> ,tv7« > ^^^^^j^^ For Utilizing the City's Waste Rock lOI Will Vote for Us Again Don't Believe the Lies About Social-Democrats. "The battle between light and darkness is fought out at the ballot box as well as in a man's soul. There is a party of darkness, of vice, of corruption, of crime. "A majority of the voters of this city evi- dently believed at the last election that the quickest way to end the rule of darkness was to elect the Social-Democratic ticket. "Many of them never read Karl Marx. But they evidently did believe the Social-Democrats to be sincefe, honest, trustworthy, public spirit- ed, and that they will give us an administration along the lines we are seeking. They represent the new spirit in our national life. "And I say to our Socialist friends, be honest, efficient, broad-minded, progressive, making haste slowly, and we will vote for you again. We are tired of being ruled by red lights, spe- cial interests, absentees. We want to see pov- erty abolished, every man at work, the sick and dependents taken care of. "We don't believe the lies that are told about you. We believe you are as moral as we are; that you love your homes and your flag as much as we do. You are American citizens, and our neighbors. You have preached ideals to us; now put them into practice. Be to us the po- litical expression of the Kingdom of God and you may count on the votes of all Christian men." — Rev. Frederick Edwards, St. James' Episcopal Church. They will vote fhe Social-Democrats again — ''go thou and do likewise/' 102 street Cleaning and Sanitation The Bureau of Street Sanitation has charge of street cleaning, sprinkling, flushing and oiling, also of the collection of ashes and garbage and the direct manage- ment of the garbage incinerator, all of the city dumps and all of the ward men in the city. John J. Handley, one of the best known and, most capable trade unionists of the city, was put in charge of this work. And here, as in other departments, a series of improvements were begun. Sprinkling. — First of all the street sprinklers were thor- oughly overhauled, put in good repair and started on their work early in the year. They began last spring on February 2 7th, a very unusual occurrence. The next improvement was the working out of a sys- tem by means of which tab was kept on every man in charge of a sprinkler. His route was carefully worked out for him, with instructions to sprinkle two, three or four times a day. Record was kept of the time he was on the sprinkling wagon, of the number of tanks of water used and also of the total cost on all sprinkling routes. By this means an accurate cost account has been established, to- gether with a greater certainty as to the amount of water used for this purpose. In this manner 315 miles of streets were sprinkled this year. Street Oiling — The sprinkling of streets, however, is not the most satisfactory method of treating the streets. The bet- ter way is to treat them with bituminous oil. This treat- ment acts not only as a dust preventative, but also protects the surface of the road and against the erosive action ot the water. The oil acts as a cement and holds the small stone particles together and so helps to resist the effects of traffic and water. This policy of oiling was begun in a small way by the previous administration. The present administration, how- ever, has extended it greatly and made more complete pro- vision for this kind of work. In order that the oil could be more effectively handled three storage tanks were in- stalled in various parts of the city, each having a capacity of 12,000 gallons. Each of the tanks is provided with necessary equipment for heating and pumping the oil. Over 71 miles of streets were oiled this year with a spe- cial 65% asphaltic oil. The cost was an average of 4 1-1 Oc per front foot. 103 The Old Way Of Flushing Streets Street Cleaning — The most important improvement in the street cleaning department was the introduction of the modern power street flushing machines. This work was for- merly done with an ordinary fire hose. With the new method 47i/^ miles of streets were flushed regularly. The down-town districts were flushed every night. Other streets lying adjacent were flushed every other night and still others once a week. With the new power machines the flushing cost, per thousand square yards, has been reduced from 69c, under the old fire hose system, to 15c under the new system. Collection of Ashes — The collection of ashes has been systematized. Time cards are turned in every day show- ing the number of loads taken from each 'block, the num- ber of teamsters employed and the number of laborers used so that an accurate account can be kept. In this way it is possible to locate whether or not complaints are justified. The records for 1911 show just when ashes were collected in every block in the city. Also shows when rubbish was taken from any building and if no collection was made, reason for non-collection is stated. During 1911 188,000 yards were collected and disposed of. There being no rec- 104 The New Way The Power Flusher Introduced by the Social-Democrats ords on file for previous years, no comparison can be made. Collection of Garbage — The work of the collection and disposal of garbage was turned over to this Bureau January 1st, 1911. Careful study was immediately begun and a re- districting of the entire city resulted. Two horse teams gradually being substituted for the one horse rigs that have prevailed so long. The capacity of the big wagon is four yards while that of the small wagon is one and one-half yards. This change will result in a saving approximately 50c per ton. The total cost of collection in 1910 was $89,156.75 and in 1911 $82,699.30, thereby reducing the cost of 1911 $6,457.45, notwithstanding that 464 acres were annex d to the city. The Incinerator Plant — The incinerator, formerly under the control of the Health Department, was turned over to the Department of Public Works January 1, 1911, where- upon it was placed under the immediate control of the su- perintendent of street sanitation. This incinerator is of the Heenan-Froude type, and cost the city $212,000. Its capacity is 300 tons of refuse per day, and it is equipped with auxiliary boilers adapted to utilize the heat of combustion for the generation of steam. I05 Contracts have been let, aggregating $30,000, for tlie construction of an auxiliary electric light and power plant to utilize this waste steam. It is expected that the plant will develop 600 kilowatts, which will be utilized in light- ing a number of city streets. It is expected that this plant will be put into operation some time early in the spring. In June, 1910, when the new incinerator at the foot of Erie Street was put into operation, the practice of weigh- ing every load of garbage and other material that was de- livered to the plant was begun. This practice was extended down to and through 1911. No such records were kept before and the amount of garbage actually collected was the inerest guess work or empty boast. Such figures as have been used are utterly unreliable. There is absolutely no basis for comparison as is clearly shown in the preface of the 1910 report of the Commissioner of Health, who had charge of the work up to that time. ^ Since the present bureau took charge, however, the rec- ords have been carefully kept showing the exact amount and the nature of all the city waste delivered to the inciji- eration plant. The number of loads, the weight per load of Every Little Bit Helps Receptacle to Keep Street Sweepings from Littering Streets io6 each collector have been recorded. A copy is also kept of private collections. A system of records has been devised and is in use at the incinerator by means of which all of the details of the process of incineration are known. Care- ful account has also been kept of all labor, material, re- placement and outlays, so that a complete financial state- ment for the year can be made. By this means the oper- ation for the entire year has been one long experiment from which we can deduce all conclusions which bear upon prob- lems of operation and accounting. Sixty-four men are employed at the plant and are ar- ranged to work in three shifts of eight hours each. The plant is operated, at present, six days a week. When the waste steam is utilized for lighting purposes it will have to be operated seven days a week, 365 days of the year. The total number of tons of refuse handled during the year 1911 is 50,800. The total cost of labor, excluding the cost of collection, is $50,526, making an average of $1 per ton. The cost of labor for refuse disposal ranges from 87 cents to $1.06 per ton. A total of $82,699.30 was expended for the collection of garbage for 1911, which makes an average of approxi- mately $2.35 per ton. The budget allowed $92,241.00 for this purpose for 1911, $9,542.00 of which was turned back for general city purposes. Other Improvements — In addition to the above improve- ments various others were made, among them the follow- ing: A complete system of recording complaints coming to the department; the installation of 40 bubbler drinking fountains in various parts of the city; 72 waste paper boxes on poles in the down-town district; 320 refuse cans in ad- justed districts; completing of five new ward buildings and the resurfacing of 5&V2 miles of macadamized streets with crushed stone. Practically all of the above work referred to represents improved methods introduced by the department. The Best is Good Enough Vote the Social-Democratic Ticket 107 SEWER DEPARTMENT In accordance with the charter amendment provid- ing for the reorganization of the Department of Public Works, a Bureau of Sewerage was organized and Mr. Henry J. Kruse appointed as superintendent. The work of this bureau comprises the general sup- ervision of all inspection of new work, together with the superintending of the repair, replacement and cleaning of all old sewers, manholes and catch-basins. For years the city had been receiving much poor labor and material in sewer construction work. It was, therefore, necessary to repair and to replace a considerable portion of the city's investment in drain- age system each year. Many instances were found in which defective material and workmanship made ac- ceptance of the new work impossible. Wretched Contract Work As an example, a sewer on Greenbush Street, from Chicago Road to Harrison Avenue, was laid under con- tract and not accepted as laid, for the reason that it did not conform to the established grade for the sewer and because of the poor pipe used. Instances were found in which improper tamping of the earth around the pipe caused a subsequent settling of the trench, which finally caused the pipe to collapse. According to specifications, a plank support should have been laid underneath the pipe, which, in many cases, was en- tirely disregarded. Other instances were found in which mortar for the brick manholes had very little or no cement. Work of this kind is almost completely lost, so far as the city is concerned. Another sewer was found to have been completed thirty years or more ago and never connected with the sewer it was intended to drain. For the last genera- tion, therefore, the city has been in no position to secure the full use of this investment. It is imperative that it is some one's definite business to carefully in- spect and exercise general supervision over all new 1 08 Results of Private Contract Work Contractor Smashes through a City Sewer work of this nature. Another difficulty that has been encountered many times is the tendency of the contractor in laying sewers and water pipe to smash through Avhatever other work may in anywise interfere with the immediate prosecu- tion of his own. For instance, we found in several sec- tions of the city contractors breaking sewers in order to lay water pipe underneath. In all cases of this kind trenches were filled up without first repairing damage done to the sewer. In this w^ay many catch-basins and basements were flooded. Other instances are found in which public service corporations have deliberately broken overflow pipes from catch-basins and sewers in order to install their own underground work with the least amount of trou- ble. In such cases the bureau made the necessary repairs and then sent the bills for the same to the public service corporations for payment. 109 Three Sewerage Districts The city is divided into three sewerage districts, the east, west and south sides, each of which is under the immediate supervision of a district superintendent. Materials are bought, laborers employed, and each sup- erintendent is equipped to do whatever cleaning and repairing are necessary to be done in his district. The city at present has approximately 9,250 catch- basins, 20,750 manholes, and 428 miles of sewers, which cost approximately $6,000,000. The Sewerage Department will eventually be broadened so as to include the operation of whatever sewerage disposal system is installed by the city. The disposal of city wastes, including the sewerage mate- rial, is a matter of vital importance and is directly related to the health conditions of the city. In the reorganization of the Bureau of Sewerage the house drain inspectors were transferred to the Bureau of Plumbing and House Drain Inspection, thereby relieving this department of work which does not properly belong to it. A complete system of time cards and cost data forms has been worked out and installed in this bu- reau. By this means all material and labor are kept account of, and from these it is possible to charge to all jobs undertaken and the exact amount of labor and material used thereon. Purchasing Department Henry Campbell, Purchasing Agent Heretofore the purchasing of the city has been done in a most slipshod and unbusinesslike fashion. Each department did its own buying, thus involv- ing a great amount of waste of time and energy, be- sides leaving a way open for irregularities. By the organization of the Purchasing Department the administration has in another line proven its in- creased efficiency. Not only is an immense amount of no time saved by assembling all the purchases from all of the departments, and then ordering from one central agency, but other advantages are obtained. The as- sembling of the orders enables the Purchasing Depart- ment to secure better prices by reason of the larger quantities purchased. Furthermore, having one de- partment concerned solely with buying enables that department to introduce greater care and to exercise more diligence. In this way the city is sure to secure better quality in goods purchased, and better prices. These principles are all well known to every effi- cient management. The results during the first year are as might be expected. , During 1911 the department made purchases aggre- gating approximately $500,000. A careful comparison of the prices paid by the department with those previ- ously paid shows a saving of fully 10 per cent. Allow- ing for the cost of running the department, which tm PURCHASING •^f ^##^^M##9#M^iP^ COST OF nwkim f^JOo.*" PER rsAf? •##«#9##^#^ an CEPAfiTfiSffrs C05T OF PORCHASING J p^ff/'if /?mrm Aiirm/r rm ^4,440^ 7££ Chart Illustrating the New Method of Handling City's Purchasing amounted during the year to about $6,000, the clean, positive balance of $44,000 is left to the credit of the department and saved to the city. Some of the instances of economy effected by means of the Purchasing Department may be mentioned as follows : Bicarbonate of Soda— Per lb. Former price : $ .0'3 Present price Ol^/o Saving $ .Oli/o Saving on 50 barrels every year, 20,000 lbs. .$ 300.00 Sulphuric Acid— Per lb. Former price $ .03 Present price OII/2 Saving $ .Oli/o Saving on 50 carboys used every year, 10,000 lbs '^ 150.00 The Old Police Ambulance 112 street Brooms, 14 Inch— Per doz. Former price, averaging $8.50' Present price 4.80 Saving $3.70 Saving on 100 dozens, used approximately ev- ery year. 370.00 Coal— City Hall Use— Per ton Former price $3.65 Present price 3.15 Saving ; $ .50 Saving on 2,000 tons used every year, ap- proximately 1,000.00 The New Automobile Ambulance Bought by Purchasing Department Chief of Police Refuses to Use It 113 Cement— Per bbl. Former price, averaging' $1.50 Present price 1.25 Saving $ .25 Saving on about 8,000 barrels used every year 2,000.00 Crushed Stone— Per sq. yd. Former price $1.50 Present price 1.33 Saving $ .17 Saving on 80,000 yards used per year 13,600.00 Fire Hose— Last year's purchases amounted to $10,450.00 Taking the increased cost of material at 5% . 522.00 $10,972.50 This year's purchase 7,690.00 Saving $3,282.50 In addition to the above, this department has con- tracted for 10,000 barrels of Portland cement at $1 per barrel, which is a saving of 50 cents over the former price, a total saving of $2,500. Also contracted for police alarm posts at $10 below the former non-competitive price. As 200 of these will be required during the year, this represents a saving of $2,000. THE WATER DEQPARTMEiNT A Splendid Showing of Public Ownership Average cost of water, 25 cents per family per month. Labor conditions and wages, good. Average annual revenues to the city $ 53,000 Profit to city last year 200,000 * * * A vote for Social-Democracy is a vote for more of this sort of thing. Public ownership is the program. 114 For forty years the city of Milwaukee has owned and operated its water works system. Here is one point at least in which Milwaukee is up- to-date. It is about the only revenue producing public utility the city owns. We are far behind the European cities in this respect, and even behind many American citieg. But there is at least this one revenue producing utility which the city owns. ■And the results are splendid. In the first place, the cost of water, which is one of the necessities of life, has been kept very low. The rate for the private consumer is, on an average, only 25 cents a month. In many cases it is as low as 8 cents a month. Contrast this with the rates in Racine and Superior, both Wisconsin cities, and both on the shores of a lake. Public Ownership in Milwaukee Makes Water Cheap Mil CM vMfr or O To I . uni - ■Oz-o- ~ ,/ /3 MILW. I 1:11 WOKK .. 1011 lUWrnfi. ■J^^ - 00 lii-.:!!!:; niiiiii $1: i; -- /p>^ ^^_f f 00; ^00 ^ , .-.; .; — -—7:;^ —- ■■ - •• Milwaukee Water Bill 115 Under Private Ownership Water Costs Five Times as Much ^ BRING TH IS BILL WITH YOU V E - E » a '"^ o -^ N c B A -: *' f ^ '^ J ; . .- • '"j : f/^ « z SrPfL < TO RACINE WATER COMPANY o^ ri^OV AP»'*-L ' "'^fll TO J - ♦. <" ' • v ' - Ci 'So ^-^J^^l Racine Water Bill In the second place, special effort has been made by those who have had the management of the water plant in charge to make the conditions of labor good. Wages, hours and general conditions are considerably better than the average in similar employments under private ownership. And, finally, after supplying the city of Milwaukee with its nearly 400,000 population with water, not only for private uses, but for the sprinkling of streets, for the care of its numerous parks, for flushing of its sewers, and for fire protection, the city has cleared a handsome surplus every year. The profit on the water plant has averaged $53,000 per year during the entire period of public ownership. Last year $200,000 was turned into the general city fund by the water depart- ment. The secretary of the department some time ago gave ii6 Water in Superior R.-; N. "r'i< T« Superior Water, Light ^ Power Co. ^^ JULY. I9tj l«4«x ol Meter > ^- ^^ UO C», it Co««ui«pUon X^ (K) Cu. It. ,,, ,„. ,,. „„,,,, ,,,. ,.,,„.., $ -i*" ^ 4» L«M dweount il pattt !>y tte i5tL ol tkc aiontli ^ , _ _ _ $„_„^„ ^X-H Net Bai $ --^ ^A-y Re«'<3 r>4>a5al.*J3C« iryOJ Idwt OJt>atk» $ SUPE8I«8 WATER, LIGHT 4 POWEIt CO. R«.t oi M^t.r - - $ Sun'To purchase alarm box posts and electrical apparatus lor Police and Fire Alarm Systems. To appropriate $600 for expense for Bureau of Unemp oyed To purchase 100 tons of coal for poor of city. To purchase 300 telephones for Fire j'and ^Police Alarm Systems. ^^^'.^^ ^ -J To appropriate $265,000 for the construction and improvp- ment of flushing tunnels. 211 Direct Employment — Saving Thousands Certain stupid critics of the administration who are not bright enough to know a good thing when they see it have set up a big hue and cry because the Social-Democrats have increased the pay rolls of the city. For the purpose of enlightening such, we present the following with the explanation that every dollar spent by the city on direct eiiiployment brings a dollar onto a pay roll that was not there before, but means a saving of a pri- vate contractor's profit. WORK DONE BY DIRECT EMPLOYMENT, 1910-11 Item 1. — By Bureau of Bridges and Public Buildings Wrecking old Oneida Street swing bridge $ 954.00 Oneida Street foot bridge 1,180.00 Sixteenth Street Viaduct reconstruction (comple- tion) 1,130.00 Drawing plans for building 2,210.00 Remodeling West Side Natatorium 579.00 Oil Houses 286.00 Greenfield sanatorium 218.00 McKinley Park bathhouse 223.00 Babies' pavilion 115.00 Partitions, eighth and ninth floors, City Hall. . . 1,700.00 City Hall repairs 1,110.00 Comfort station 110.00 Cement work, First Avenue bridge 76.00 Painting Sixteenth Street viaduct 5,819.00 Sixteenth Street viaduct side approach 2,882.00 Municipal storage building 24 6.00 South Side natatorium (painting) 71.00 South Shore bathouse (construction) 24.00 Isolation hospital -, 43.00 Scale house (refuse incinerator 50.00 Locker building (refuse incinerator) 18.00 Power house (refuse incinerator) 19.00 Armory building 25.00 City scales, Third Ward . 37.00 Juneau Park fountain 3.00 South Side police station 5.00 Old garbage plant 30.00 Grand Avenue bridge (floor system) 2,000.00 Grand Avenue bridge (accidents) 560.00 Broadway bridge (ironwork) 325.00 212 West Water Street bridge (ironwork) 475.00 State Street bridge (fenders) 325.00 Chestnut Street bridge (fenders) 525.00 First Avenue bascule bridge (shaft) 400.00 Twenty-seventh Street viaduct (concrete work) . 410.00 Highland Boulevard (llightingO 15.00 Chicago Avenue bridge (construction) 96.00 Fourth and Fifth Avenue bridges (construction) 24.00 Budget Exhibit 387.00 Total $24,705.00 Item 2. — By Bureau of Street Sanitation and Repair. Cost of labor in resurfacing 67,014 yards of pene- tration macadam streets $14,707.78 Service transfer vouchers for work done by Bu- reau of Streets-Sanitation for other depts. . 3,407.00 Construction of ward sheds 62 0.0 7 Repair of garbage wagons 219.60 Repair of oil stations 5 6.00 Cost of crushing and delivering 2,917 cubic yards of crushed rock ; 2,269.19 Total $21,279.64 Grand total of all work done by direct employ- ment in these two departments, which in- creased the pay rolls to that amountt $45,984.64 In addition to the above the Common Council author- ized the employment of additional bridgetenders on the Chestnut, Cherry and State Street bridges, and an addi- tional bridge sweeper on the Sixteenth Street viaduct, which amounted to $2,430 more; and during the construction of the Michigan Street bridge in 1910 no bridgetenders were employed, while such tenders were employed during the entire year 1911, which accounts for $2,30 more. Same Out in Nebraska "More municipal improvements have been made in Wymore in the last year than in twenty years before." — City Engineer of Wy- more, Neb. (non-Socialist), in an address before the Municipal League at Omaha. Keep the page clean — vote the Social-Demo- cratic ticket. 213 INTERNATIONAL SOCIALISM Described in the American Review of Reviews as the Greatest and Most Constructive Political Movement of Human History [From an article by George AUan England, published May, 1908.] ** Their program was big with the plans of a social democracy so vast that it outshadows any other idea or movement whatsoever recorded in history. National revolutions have been without number, but never until the rise of International Socialism has revolution as- sumed a universal character. Never before has a whole social class, irrespective of race, creed or color, united in the determination to throw off industrial and politi- cal servitude, ilhus, these congresses, which in a way sum up the forward movement of Socialism, embody 'something new under the sun'— the complete and per- manent emancipation of labor. * * * A Constructive Program ''The whole character of the discussion was con- structive, for the betterment of the world's workers, and, through them, of the world as a whole. It re- affirmed the fundamental Socialist determination to put an end to class rule, exploitation, poverty, crime, and war, and to establish in their place actual democ- racy, political and economic, collective ownership of the sources of the world's life, and lasting peace through the abolition of capitalistic struggles for world-markets. It reaffirmed the community of inter- ests between the workers of all lands ; it reaffirmed the right of men to live and think and work without pay- ing tribute to the possessing but non-producing classes. And in all its reaffirmations it had at its back the 'Aye!' of 30,000,000 human beings. # « # A Mighty Force "First of all, the fact should be made quite clear 214 that the Socialist party is far-and-away the largest [)olitical unit, not. only of today but of any time. To the uninformed who conceive of Socialists as a rather obscure and fantastic set of Utopians— of 'dreamers'— the discovery must come as something of a shock that the world's Socialist vote now stands more than 10,500,000, representing about 30,000,000 adult So- cialists. This latter number includes, of course, women and disfranchised persons, who in the Socialist concept of government, in the 'state within a state' which Socialism is building up, enjoy equal rights with present voters. There is something peculiarly discon- certing to the present governments of, by, and for plu- tocracy in those 30,000,000 of 'dreamers,' all so active in propaganda, all so terribly in earnest. Steady, Progressive Growth "Socialism presents few spectacular features in its development. There is nothing in it of the mushroom quality which distinguished our own Single Tax and Populist movements with their sudden up-springing, their large vote immediately obtained, and their quick disintegration. The Socialist movement grows with comparative steadiness, and never on the whole loses any ground once gained. "Those who regard with indifference, with scorn perhaps, the struggle of the workers all over the world to emancipate themselves from political and industrial servitude; those who think the members of that class incapable of managing industry and government in their own interests ; those who still in some manner look down upon the proletariat as by nature a race of inferiors, must pause and reflect in face of such an organization as that of the Social-Democracy. For here in tangible form stands a body conceived, organ- ized, brought into being not only through the workers' own unaided efforts, but also despite of the most persistent, far-reaching, and unscrupulous opposition that the world's ruling classes have been able to de- vise. 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