How Wall Street Won Against Milwaukee.

Maoriland Worker, Volume 2, Issue 67, 28 June 1912, Page 9

How Wall Street Won Against Milwaukee.

By CARL D. THOMPSON

( Ex-City Clerk to Milwaukee.) In tho campaign' just closed Wall Street won in Milwaukee. Milwaukee—the people v> ho live and labor there—lost. This victory over Social Democracy was achived by the fusion of tho Ue- ! publican and Democratic parties. Tho j Kepublicuiii Party gave itself up entirely ; tho Republican voters were turned over to the Democratic Party. With this fusion of tho old political parties combined agaiiuit the Social Democrats, they were able to marshal enough votes to win. The victory, however, has not brought any special comfort to the fusion forces and the "Free Press" of April 4 admits in its editorial columns that "the real defeat of Socialism in Milwaukee has yet to be accomplished." Speaking of the votes cast in the election, the "Free Press" says: "While the Socialist vote has increased by big leaps at each election, it required the herculean effort of a .now-partisan, anti-Socialist campaign to bring the combined vote of the Republicans and Democrats within hailing distance of what it was six years ago." Those are the words of the "Free Press" in the hour of their victory. Later on they added: "Socialism, so far from being buried in Milwaukee by this election, is very much alive and kicking." And well may they be warned not to count too much on the victory they achieved in the Milwaukee election. For as a matter of fact the Socialists increased thoir votes splendidly in the I election. In 15)10 tho Social Demoera- j 'i- - * Party cast 27,608 votes in a throe- ( '" r , ' rttctit :uid carried the city. ■rn'oArt 1"' , .Uncial Democrats cast 30.200 votes, th - tual vote by nearly 2(Kll», " ~ , .. 27.000 votes east in 131.0. in a°L? no cornered fight), about 5000 votes were not Socialist votes, but protest votes, while of the 30,000 votes east this year practically every- one is a straight Socialist vote. In other words, the Social Democracy gained in two years about 8000 solid votes. And this was done in the face of the most terrific odds. Nine daily papers fought Social Democracy during every day of the two years they ivere in control of the city. Misrepresentation, falsehoods, and deceit were poured_ out steadily. Scarcely a single achievement af the administration was fairly represented to the people; many of their doings were most grossly misrepresented. False cries were raised,

Facts for Dominion Daily Papers.

and false impressions were given out.! The Socialists had no means of answer* ing this flood of misrepresentation except a weekly papor until about foutf mouths ago, when they started their single Socialist daily, "Tho Milwaukee' Leader." I In addition to tins flood of misrepresentation that had been poured out upon the people for eighteen months or more, tlio politicians of the capitalistic parties succeeded finally by liook oc. crook in effecting a fusion of the Republican and tho Democratic parties. They called it non-partisan. Aβ '» matter of fart it was tho Democratic' Party, and went under that name. All Republicans were compelled to vot-a the Democratic ticket. In spite of this fusion and th* desperate tactics resorted to by tlw parties, Social Democrao* ftot only heid its own, but played a splendid game. Nor was the victory so decisive from the standpoint of tho offices won. The Social Democratic Party holds a number of the offices, including a City Attorney, Health Commissioner, Tax Commissioner. Water .Registrar, ,-mkl the City Rngineer, which hold over for two years longer. They also hay* four aldermen. In addition to this, the Socialists elected seven Want Aldermen, which gives them eleven renrcscntativos in the City Council, together with the heads of several important departments. This makes up a fighting minority which tin; Socialist!) know very veil how to use. The Social Democrats now have a well-established daily paper with a circulation of nearly 50,000, which i» growing by leaps and hounds; they have by far the strongest organisation they ever had ; they raised the largest vote this week that ever has been cast '£l |r the city, exceeding by nearly 3,000 Trade VnuY,Y r tw " years ago; the Social DenKH-raov; - * solid unit for class in general are j.ivjhe workingwon to that pnrty. completely In view of these facts, Social L~. I craoy in Milwaukee soems destined to : make itself the majority party in the I city within the next two years. ; Plans are already under way for tli# fusion of the Republican and Democratic parties in the hope, of defeating the Socialists in tho autumn campaign. Tho old party politicians realise fully the growing power of Socialism in Milwaukee, and they are moving heaven and earth to stem th« ; tide.