AMERICAN SOCIALISM.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1144, 3 June 1911, Page 7

AMERICAN SOCIALISM.

A CICANTIC EXPERIMENT AND FAILURE. THE EXPERIENCE OF MILWAUKEE. A year ago the Socialists gained their first important victory in tho United States.' They captured tho great city of Milwaukee —a beautiful and immensely rich town of over 300,00(1 inhabitants. "Comrade" Emil Seidel was elected Mayor, "Comrade" Victor J. Berger was sent to Congress, and fourteen members of the State Legislature and all the county officials belong to the party of tho Red Flag. Everywhere through tho world (says the "Express") this Socialistic triumph was hailed with joy by revolutionary parties and newspapers, and the Milwaukee elections wero taken as a sign that at last tho American proletariat was rising against a triumphant capitalism. The victory, like most considerable ;victories, was the result of long and careful preparation. For fifteen years the "Social Democrat Herald" and the "Voice of the People" had been distributed gratis, and just before last year's elections as many as 400,000 copies of .this last print were placed every Week iu the homes.of tho people by a voluntary army of 1200 distributors. . To this careful distribution of literature, far more, than to excited speeches, does Milwaukee owe its present government. Socialism eloquently presented as heaven upon earth may attract, and indeed does attract, the unthinking and the fluffy-minded, but Socialism in practice has alwavs been a colossal failure, and after twelve months of the administration of "Comrade" Seidel Milwaukee is offering the world a strikin gobjectlosson of what Socialism really is when its doctrines aro applied to the practical world.' Promise and Praotlce. Mr. Seidel, when lie began his term of office, announced that ho was to be "the people's Mayor," accessible at all times by all sorts and conditions of men. To-day ho is tho typical bureau.crat; more difficult to reach than any •-'of-his'capitalistic predecessors lias over been; '■'•'' The Socialists gained support outside their own ranks by their attack on partisan officialism and by their demand for experts in the various city departments. To-day all the city officials belong to the Socialist party, and there is not one non-partisan expert to bo found. Moreover, in the grossest manner, public positions have been filled by the brothers, nephews, and cousins of the Socialist administrators, who had been elected by the people because they promised pure government. Milwaukee in the old days was an "open" , city, and the Socialists beguiled the religious public by promising that the old iniquities should bo wiped away, and that tho city should be cleansed and made virtuous. Doubtless the intentions of Mr. Seidel and his colleagues were admirable, but after twelve months there arc more gambling lielis than ever in Milwaukee; and,'moreover, they are no longer undor police supervision and inspection. The consequence is that with tho Red Flag flying over the city hall, Milwaukee has become a very paradise of "crooks."

Immorality flourishes, illegal "hotels," as thoy arc called, arc to be found in scores, and "the municipal dances" organised by tho Socialist Corporation have had to bo brought to an end since thoy were openly and flagrantly used as a meeting-place for vicious men and women. Tho cost of the city administration in wages and salaries alone has been enormously increased. Tho lo\vo3t wages paid are Bs. a day, and for tho ourrcnt year it is expected that the rates will rise quite 50 per cent. Limit of Borrowing. 'Tho municipality has promoted more than forty Isills in the State Legislature asking for- authority to establish various municipal enterprises which, oven if they were passed into Jaw— which is very doubtful—tho authorities tannofc carry out, since they have already boiTowcd as much money as they are legally entitled to borrow. In every branch of tho business sido of the administration there is muddle and loss, but it is characteristic of the Socialists that they never learn by experience, and the fact that there have been huge losses in faddist schemes docs not prevent them from seeking further powers for new enterprises, new experiments, and further failures. Incompetent Socialist enthusiasts have been placed in responsible positions for which they are entirely unfitted. A teacher in a trade school earning £300 a year was appointed Commissioner of Public Works at a salary of £1000 a year. The Socialist town clerk is a retired minister, and spends most of his time delivering Socialist lectures, and it is alleged that ho was in his office only forty days during tho first nine months of his appointment. Tho City Health Commissioner is not a recognised member of the medical profession at all. According to the Milwaukee doctors, he does not. even know how to writo out a prescription. Of course, he is a good Socialist.