MILWAUKEE SOCIALISTS.

Maoriland Worker, Volume 3, Issue 51, 1 March 1912, Page 2

MILWAUKEE SOCIALISTS.

Have They Matte Good?

Havo the Socialists of Milwaukee mado good? Decidedly, yes. Many oi the promises mado have been redeemed, and many of tho things aimed at have been secured. And wherever a platform demand lias not been attained, it has been because of either ono of two conditions," writes Carl Sandburg in "Flint Flashes." First, the city of Milwaukee, in many important, necessary matters, is handculled and holples3 through State laws. Until the State Legislature acts, the city cannot niake a move toward certain actions for the common good. Secondly, the city of Milwaukee for a half-century has-been in tho hands of political exploiters. For years it was run by a crew of. politicians as cunning, resourceful and reactionary as arc o bo found anywhere in America. To coddle the taxpayers, fchoy played the game of "keeping down taxo3." And with a wild, shrewd vengeance they played this gaiiie. Every payment of cash was put off to tho farthost limit of time, through bonds. It was a carnival of long-time bonds for sJiort-f-ime improvements. The city waß plunged into debt. One >f tho first things found by tlie Socialists on entrance to offioe was a defioit of 200,000 dollars, which had been carefully concealed by the old regime through tho juggling of figures. Land contracts aggregating 350,000 dollars came due on January I, 1911. That principal payment on those had been evaded for ten years was not publicly known in tlie city till the Socialists began their "open book" policy. Thus, a third of a million dollars' debt fell due on an administration which was meeting debts in a way different from the frenzied finance methods that had prevailed. Those affairs cut down the amount of cash available for now enterprises. In spite of this, however, every step that could possibly be taken toward the realisation of tho platform demands has been made.