SOCIALIST MILWAUKEE AND TAMMANY NEW YORK
Vladeck, B. C.
SOCIALIST MILWAUKEE AND TAMMANY NEW YORK Which City Is Better-Governed? By B. C Vladeck rTTHE tear of the average person for sta* throes is unjustified. It Is the duty of everyone to...
...I think you have done much to correct a very misleading impression...
...That means also mors ter parks, more numerous pkuw>*3gf less children that get killed by •"**¦ biles on the streets because law WM no place to play...
...Government began in tyranny and force, in feudalism of the soldier and the bigotry of the priest: and the ideas of justice and humanity have been fighting their way like a thunderstorm against the organized selfishness of human nature.—Wendell Phillips...
...Before me a notary public in and for the state and county aforesaid personally appeared Samuel A. De Witt, who, having been duly sworn according to law, deposes and says that he is the Business Manager of The New Leader and that the following is, to the best of his knowledge and belief, a true statement of the ownership, management, and circulation of the aforesaid publication for the date shown in the above caption, required by the Act of August 24, 1912, embodied in Section 443, Postal Laws and Regulations, to wit: 1. That the names snd addresses of the publisher, editor, managing editor, and business manager are: Publisher—The New Leader Publishing Association...
...for October 1 1929, State of New York, County of New York, ss...
...The ruling classes reap the gains...
...The Rothstein skeleton has been grinning from the shadows for many months and is emerging to frighten the Tammany brokers...
...Recently it reigned...
...and each half of the world besought the same God to help it kill the other half.— George A. Dorsey...
...However, at tbe very outset, tt is necessary to establish basic facts...
...In one of my preceding articles I indicated that every man, woman and child in the City of New York pays in direct and indirect taxes for maintaining the city government on an average, $89.50 a year...
...And now that we have rseSbas number seven...
...The Socialist Party of Hew York and other cities should lose no time ta forming Mooney-Blllings release committees to be made up of representatives ef labor and fraternal bodies...
...N. Y...
...That Is fact number six...
...The population of Milwaukee is estimated to be approximately 570.000...
...If you have been in MBwaabl you have seen the healthy-losxtBgjH contented persons who live then...
...There will be so few of the latter left then that they will be regarded as fossil remains of a dying era...
...Ife York...
...While the Mayor of Milwaukee is a Socialist, the majority in the City Council are not Socialists...
...contain not only the list of stockholders mad security holders as they appear span tbe books of the company, but also, ta cases where the stockholder or security holder appears upon the books of the company as trustee or hi any other fiduciary relation the name of the person or corpora, tion for whom such trustee is acting...
...The city government borrows, on our account, money...
...It is important, also, to bear In mind another basic fact...
...JjfM I could go on almost indeawieaT^jgn tag dosens of other comparametatswm striking...
...and this affiant has norsason to believe that any other person, association or corporation h*"JinZ touE?*5 3lree* °* ^direct, ta the said stocfcboads or other securities than as so stated by him...
...Milwaukee also borrows money, but the city government of Milwaukee owes only s^ per psMi^l I per family...
...1 And what does that mesaf ~*means: Not forty, or fifty, or staaagl children to a class, under ssbwP1| which prevent the teacher ham wsaPj efficiently, but 25 and thirty •asWfJl a class...
...The department declares that "metal trades organizations interested in cruiser construction are from the standpoint of prospective work sitting' hearty on top of th/e world...
...lice, leu money for contrasts*, ,h money for graft, and more asaap U parka and playgrounds...
...But while New York spends tat cents tor this purpose, the masbapJ Milwaukee pays but IS cento st star, dollar for interest and principal...
...However, by labelling your joke...
...The Municipal Campaign RARELY have we had a political campaign in New York City which hasj aroused so much interest or out of which has emerged so much that is of vital importance to the masses...
...Every party member and friend should be at some post of duty...
...Of every eMssfilS New York spends, ten cents getassR...
...That means that the amount for the average family of five persons Is about $450 a year...
...Pact number four: _ Milwaukee spends less money bra...
...If the record is true Shearer was the associate of professional crooks a few years ago...
...This is what I sought to accomplish...
...The armament kings who have appeared before the Senate committee have already shown themselves to be either idiots or experts in dodging the truth...
...What we pay each year for the current expenses of the city is not all we pay...
...Do you not want ta correct this matter...
...And yet Milwaukee expends laTf saw, cents of every dollar for its potfaf 4 partment, while New York speah j cents...
...N. Y...
...There are too many top hats that would roll in the gutter and too many professional "patriots" to follow the hats...
...I have that feeling as X write now concerning the differences between Milwaukee, where we have a Soctahat Mayor, and Haw York, where we have a Tammany Mayor...
...New reft fft spends less than a cent and a ktl at of every dollar...
...N. Y. Stockholders holding 1 per cent or more of total amount of stock: None...
...We couldn't do a better job than the capitalist politicians are doing there...
...That isn't "scientific" definition but it comes far nearer to It than your definition which, while it does not, I suppose, express your own belief is likely to be quoted as yours, to the hurt of your own reputation and of the cause of popular education...
...New York boasts of her rtcnm, at si Rise, of her strength, but for eebswbw purposes, especially for the yoaskst* city...
...That means: bettor better teachers, and also a bsBlsMP*E tion...
...Your definition win be remembered and quoted when the application of it is forgotten...
...cation and for the health of afJPfii than does tbe great, rtoo ami 15*51 city of New York t'Jjl Because the citisens of continue to vote for Hylsas aad while the voters of MlrwsnbtS frmm Seidels aad Hoaas...
...is due to the fact that the ctty gets* ment of Milwaukee does not ranrih citisens of the city as a source at- star and graft, but as those in whoa sari and for whose benettt the affaMsT* city are to be administered...
...The gild is likely to be stripped from the "New Tammany'' and some top hat reputations are likely to be soiled...
...In a day when Socialism is one of the great forces in the world a country which is getting ready to welcome the Socialist Prime Minister of Britain ought to be helped to understand Socialism even by its opponents, provided these opponents are men of light and leading in the public eye...
...When the working class and its allies in Great Britain placed you and your party again in public power the masses all over the world breathed easier...
...t^ry truly yours, NORMAN THOMAS...
...We can forget, *•— <y^B ment, that the budget of New SabK Is over $500,000,000, sad -the .ban tbe City of Milwaukee, only atM We will just take one doner gap^ its disposition to see what to dam a that dollar in New York, and aSahZ same dollar is expended fer f/» waukee...
...Pact number one: That means that every family ta Milwaukee saves in taxes about $160 a year, or more than $3 per week...
...Tbe facts that I shall here present wui reveal therefore what even one Important Socialist official can accomplish, Let us now consider the facts...
...It was a complete whitewash which amazed the newspaper correspondents...
...BEN BLTJMENBERG...
...The Scotland Yard dossier giving the record of Shearer is amazing...
...I should like to anal 1 so emphatic paint It...
...It has tt» am ttonal virtue that In times of strsaVsj ctty has enough policemen to prebd.s) strikers, not the manufacturer...
...RAPHAEL GOLDSTEIN MP Commission expires March SO, 1931...
...So we welcome you and through you we greet the f^abor and Socialist movement of Great Britain that made it possible for you to undertake this important mission...
...re** it wui be generally conceded that to health .the well-being of the ebtsas...
...It Was Meant To Be a Joke To this letter Butler responded: Dear Mr...
...But I do not Uah*jam™jj necessary to continue maWBgt"',*T^ portions...
...Every few years s tsnml or fifteen hundred policemen am all to the force, with so many psshss New York should enjoy the dattbeabav being tbe quietest and the aasst am city in tbe world...
...Socialism is not Interested in getting other people's money...
...Ji The small city of Muw«»bw»*»|| real estate ts worth one-twsaawE*l New York Slty's reel estate, to spend twice as much for """JS...
...The Socialist Party took tbe lead In the Mover, Haywood and Pettibone esse, the Ettor-Giovannltti and tbe Sacco-VansetU case...
...cltlaens of New r<^-fz^M not do what the voters M "^mM have been doing all akmg> *Ewm much they have accomplished ~*Sm votes, and how little you "***"£¦ j with yours...
...Is given...
...In Milwaukee, cn the other hand every person pays for tbe maintenance of the city government $57.50, or less than $300 for a family per year...
...There can be no sound education of the American people in pontics while men of your standing give currency to such stupid definitions which even students in the Economics, classes of your own university are taught not to beheve...
...A few newspapers printed thh remark...
...tain our police department...
...Statement of tbe ownership, management, circulation, etc, required by the Act of Congress, August 24, 1912, of THE NEW LEADER Published meekly at New York...
...In spite of character, capacity, and loyal service, the workers are often the victims of a system of class rule which overworks or underpays them at one period, and then throws them on the industrial scrap-heap if greed and selfish Interest so dictate.—Arthur Henderson...
...It Is the duty of everyone to consider mete fully what to being dona with his or her money when tt passes into tbe bands of the politicians...
...Pact number three: For what purpose ought tin sash raised by the ctty be expended...
...It Is now overdue but with this prosperity In the coal mines, working eight days per month, we have a struggle to make ends meet...
...It is this blustering braggart who poisoned news sources at Geneva, who was the crony of certain American naval officers, who mobilized "patriotic" organizations for large armaments, and who was on the payroll of the armament ring...
...The undercover work of the American armament ring's agent at Geney* gives some idea of the dirty deeds of capitalism that would transform the death of millions into profits for a few...
...If organized labor really favors peace, and it is on record against the forces that make for war, it is important that action should square with belief and principle and look for other methods of providing for the unemployed...
...You do not take the curse off this definition by a somewhat labored effort to make It apply...
...It forecasts the time when such negotiations will be unique not because of the participation of a Labor Minister but because of the participation of a minister representing the old order of capitalistic property...
...Julius Oerher Secretary, 48 New Chambers Street, New York...
...He was permitted to read a carefully prepared yet incoherent statement into the record which denied that he had expressed hope that the Geneva conference would fail and concluding with a vague statement of his views regarding naval parity...
...The A. F. of L. Convention A FORECAST of the report of the Executive •^Council of the A. F. of L. to the Toronto convention declares that it will recommend support of a model old age pension bill for every state...
...Editor, The New Leader: I wish to renew my subscription to Tbe New Leader...
...Because of the rotten regime at the City Hall a political upheaval is possible in November...
...This is good news...
...Pact number five: New York spends thirty cento « at* dollar to pay interest snd prlndasla our municipal Indebtedness...
...IN A NUTSHELL With the muck of the Rothstein murder becoming thicker each week Mayor Walker should be careful that his spats are not spoiled...
...We welcome you, Comrade MacDonald, for what you represent and for what you hope to achieve...
...President, Pleasantvuie, N. Y...
...Por instance New l^^mm eight times ss much tor cuarb) *5B waukee...
...Morris Berman...
...A Senate Whitewash...
...New York has not uueagti *a* Of every dollar which New Te** pends...
...It is a unique event in world history...
...that every resident at ** York, and especially every us rati, aasf be able to see it miles away...
...7 East 15th Street, New York, N. Y. Editor—James Oneal, 7 East 15th Street, New York, N. Y. Managing Editor—Edward Levinscn, 7 East 15th Street, New York, N. Y. Business Manager—Samuel A. De Witt, 7 East 15th Street, New York, N. Y. _2...
...also that the said two paragraphs cantata statements embracing affiant's full knowledge and belief as to the 11......atoaaoss and conditions under which stockholders and security boJd?s who do not appear upon the books of the company ha trustees boM stock sad securities ta a capacilw tfSerttmn that of a bona fide owner...
...Meyer GllUs, Treasurer, 179 East Broadway, New York, N. Y...
...It Is Interested In recovering for tbe workers with hand and brain their own money...
...Mast a* h money which was borrowed, ass a which we must now pay interest vsr after year, was wasted...
...Now that a definite stand in favor of pensions is recommended we are sure that the convention will •porovf...
...A THOROUGH and honest investigation of William B. Shearer, the paid propaganda agent of American armament manufacturers, would probably prove the most revolting national scandal in our history...
...A. STEED...
...Does the Senate committee want the full truth about this creature and his paymasters...
...Socialist prospects are splendid...
...I do not wish to speak of gross amounts expended in each of these two cities, since the population of New York is so much larger than that of Milwaukee...
...We hast jarred once before to the terns ef auass of dollars that were spent fat tat dap at Staten Island and for the BrosstsV lie market...
...For years high officials of the American Federation of Labor have been either , indifferent or have avoided commitment while a few like Matthew Woll have even cooperated with the Civic Federation which has fought old age pensions...
...More meetings must be arranged, literature must be widely distributed, and we should already be looking forward to the important work of watching fhe vote...
...It Is therefore necessary, In discussing and comparing the expenditures for the government of each of these cities, to compare the expenditures per person, and the manner ta which each dollar is apportioned to satisfy the needs of the individual In each city...
...and their proper bringing up isaaV.% the first concern of any 1 inimii Of every dollar that the cap of aw York expends, less than one cant b sap on parks and playgrounds far csobm Of every dollar that tha ctty ef Pi waukee expends, four and one-hsP ces are spent for parks and r luiin—sj Just five times as much...
...I therefore ask that those who have begun to read this article make a special effort to follow me through to Its conclusion...
...At no time did tbe Socialist Mayor of Milwaukee have a majority of his party in the City Council...
...With the introduction of machinery and reduced wages they have played havoc ta the mines and with the miners...
...That mesas: * "gl tiller, a more Intelligent a be*,*j^-^B generation a brighter future...
...But that is not all...
...We doubt it...
...J. Ramsay MacDonald, discredited as the anti-war Socialist ten years ago, lead-' er of the Labor Party and now Prime Minister of Great Britain, comes to negotiate with representatives of a government more completely dominated by capitalist interests than any other modern nation...
...Socialist candidate for Mayor In New York City, wrote President Butler: "My dear Mr...
...4. That tbe two paragraphs next above giving the names of the owners, stockholders and security holders, if any...
...Time after time, the Socialist Party has demonstrated that it has the power, prestige and ability to unite all sections of the workers, regardless of then* tactical differences, Into one mighty force ef protest...
...flBtl Pact number two: ..#i&9 The population of MThvealaifeM I debted less than ons-tiafd New York City owes per riZ_^W means not only that the PeafsT— waukee have to pay Ism saawarf^Sj also that in the future nttyTg"!t| have to Increase their teats aaf^lli menu to meet their 'lillislaiaL saW And now, let us see what bssssavtl the money which the ctty rss32 need not consider gross •axes'a*a*, amounts...
...As I explained ta previous articles, the New York City government Is indebted to an amount equal to $300 for every person, or, to be exact $1,670 for every family...
...New York City., PROSPERITY...
...Employment for workers is important in this age of labor displacement by machines but if it is to be purchased at the price of supporting the big navy forces and the armament rings rather than support the world labor movement in its efforts' to scale down arms and insure peace, it is a short-sighted policy that invites ultimate* disaster to Tabor itself...
...only 21 cents Is spent as Satap colleges, libraries, parks sad pbpp*aw| In the much smaller ctty of Mftsaa)>| where there has been for' yean there is now a Socialist Mayor, jtaIftj spends forty cents of every ds#*Jfi the same purposes...
...Butler: "In your endorsement of Major LaGuardia you write: 'One definition of a Socialist is that he Is a person who Is anxious to get possess loo of and to spend the money of other people.' I protest against this statement which is wholly contrary to fact and which is peculiarly inappropriate when coming from a great educator...
...On the other hand a story in the New York World cjwjtiiir the report of the Metal Trades Department which deads with naval parity k disturbing, it declares 'that President 'Hoover informed officers of the department that the ^-cruiser pragma will be carried oat regardless of newrwiations with Great Britain...
...I presume, to Tammany Hall rather than Major LaGuardia...
...It is one of the most eras, cities ta tbe country...
...Last January 1st, the Bureau of the Census estimated the population of New York City to be 6,017,000...
...It is more likely that the truth will be smothered than revealed...
...Thomas In acknowledging your letter of the 25th, it occurs to me to suggest that perhaps your sense of humor is not as weU developed as would seem to be desirable and useful in the esse of a candidate for public office Nicholas Murray Butler...
...The lid which covers the Tammany pot is aquiver with the mess that is bubbling below...
...A Stupid Definition Thereupon, Norman Thomas...
...Representing the claims of the laboring masses and decent people who want a city mariag'ed for human welfare instead of for easy chair brokers and corporations, the Socialist Party is obtaining the Avidest hearing for its program that it has ever received...
...I think that 29 presented speak for themsslvSj^gjB not only speak for themselves, seem to ask: «s*ipi Why...
...Milwaukee spent) Srs as much...
...That the owner is: Owner—Tbe New Leader Publishing Association, 7 East 15th Street, New York...
...Rear Admiral Reeves was called before the committee and his presence had all the appearance of a whitewash...
...Butler: In acknowledging your letter of the 26th it occurs to me to suggest that perhaps your sense of the effect of an utterly misleading definition upon the public, however humorously that definition is intended t» be taken, is not as well developed as would seem to be desirable and useful in the case of a president of a great university...
...We frequently read in the asiai claims of the Police Oceaanssbawl New York that New York has net baa policemen...
...It i$sfherefore important that our party workers and friends sfaguld not permit neglect of opportunity to help...
...That was all...
...I am confident that they win benefit from the information it win make available to them...
...Those who think that Socialism will enslave thinking...
...Butler Labels His Joke EARLY last week President Nicholas Murray Butler of Columbia University publicly denned Socialists, asserting that "one definition of a Socialist is that he is a person who is anxious to get possession of and spend the money of other people...
...May you be successful in contributing something towards the peace of the world...
...They know, and you know, that the peace of the world is not safe in the keeping of the parties of capitalism...
...Judge Daniel V. McNamee is running around the state declaring that Socialists are a godless brood and he pleads for a spiritual life...
...The Socialist campaign is gaining momentum and is going over big...
...If I could, bat* glowing red...
...Owing to the able campaign being made by Norman Thomas, our candidate for Mayor, the Socialist Party and its program are regarded as serious factors by people outside our movement...
...for that matter, to every one who lives In say American city...
...Retraction Accepted Mr Thomas closed the correspondence with this note: < My dear Dr...
...I am certain that tbe facts I present are of the highest importance to every one who lives la New York, sad...
...and writing should go to Boston and investigate the censorship of plays, books and magazines...
...And they hate **3pH ed what they did In MBwasPas a Socialist Mayor Welcome, J. Ramsay MacDonald "IpOR the first time in our history the representative of a Labor government comes to the United States on a. mission charged with the maintenance of the peace of the world...
...Their work -must be supplemented by devoted service in all the boroughs by the candidates and party members and sympathizers...
...Por health purposes...
...The judge who can take his piety into Tammany Hall is-some bright bird, believe us...
...Reeves was not a«ke<l whether he had seen Shearer at Geneva, whether he had frequently met Shearer in the latter's rooms, or whether he had furnished Shearer confidential information regarding the navy...
...I. like a tew more here, keep wondering bow long, oh...
...how long wui this continue...
...Labor makes the bloody sacrifice...
...and, that all of labor's forces will concentrate injthe effort to obtain the legislation...
...Our candidates for Mayor, President of (he Board of Aldermen and Controller cannot and should not bear the whole burden of the campaign...
...3. That the known bondholders, mortgagees sad other security homers owning or holding 1 per cent or more of total amount of bonds, mortgages or other securities are: None...
...Socialists, progressive labor men, and humanitarians have for years been insisting upon such legislation...
...It win be admitted m MUwsahtt f*w is less, much less, crime than to...
...SAMUEL A. DE WITT, Business Manager Sworn to and subscribed before me this 1st day of Octo...
...The poisoning of the human soul by hatred, the darkening of the human mind by lies, and the hardening of-the human heart by slaughter and destruction are evils that spread and fester long after the guns have stopped.—George Bernard Shaw...
...also ta similar if leaser known outrages against tbe workers...
...NORMAN THOMAS From the NEW LEADER MAILBAG MOO.NET AND BILLINGS Editor, The New Leader: The splendid work on behalf of Mconey and Billings performed by The New Leader snd the Socialist Party of New York City, should be foUowed up...
...From this performance we are confident that the full story of" this international scandal will not be revealed by the Senate committee...
...As the world is, hate is given freer reign (than lovei...
Vol. 9 • October 1929 • No. 9
