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Victor Berger and Emil Seidel

Three-quarter length formal studio portrait of Victor Berger and Emil Seidel. View the original source document: WHI 56202

Milwaukee Socialists in the early twentieth century sought to repair the damage of the Industrial Revolution on the local level by cleaning up neighborhoods and factories with new sanitation systems, municipal water and power systems, community parks and improved education systems. They were called "Sewer Socialists." Socialists rejected Progressives' idea that government could regulate industry; they sought to completely replace the Capitalist system with state ownership of business and industry.

Social-Democrats

Milwaukee Socialists joined with the labor movement to form a new political party called the Social-Democrats in 1897. Socialists won major elections in Milwaukee in 1910. Milwaukee became the first Socialist city in the United States. Emile Seidel was elected mayor of Milwaukee to become the nation's first Socialist mayor. The party also won seats on the city council and the county board. Most importantly, Victor Berger went to Washington as the first Socialist Congressman.

Victor Berger

Victor Berger was the symbol of Milwaukee Socialism. Berger was an Austrian immigrant. He developed moderate government reforms in the name of Socialism. Berger also drew on Milwaukee's large German population and active labor movement to unite the Socialists. Berger published both German and English newspapers for free to all Milwaukee homes on the eve of elections.

Seidel and Berger lost in 1912. In 1916, Milwaukee elected another Socialist mayor named Daniel Hoan. But Socialists never controlled Milwaukee government after 1910. However, Hoan remained in office until 1940 and Socialists continued to exert moderate influence in Milwaukee politics.

Fight with Congress

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Fighting Bob La Follette

Portrait of Robert M. La Follette during his tenure as U.S. senator from Wisconsin. La Follette was the leader of the Progressive movement in Wisconsin, and often collaborated with Socialists like Victor Berger. View the original source document: WHI 10650

Berger won a Congressional seat again in 1918. But the House of Representatives refused to let him take his seat because he had violated the federal Espionage Act. Berger supported the 1917 Socialist Convention's anti-war statement. The Convention denounced World War I as a vehicle for U.S. capitalism and imperialism. Wisconsin Governor Emanuel Philipp called a special election to fill Berger's seat in 1919; voters elected Berger back into Congress. The House still refused to seat him. Berger ran again in 1920 but was defeated by Republican William Stafford. Although he lost, the House dropped their charges against Berger. He ran for Congress in 1922 and won. The House finally allowed Berger to take his seat. He served for three consecutive terms.

Berger focused Milwaukee Socialism on municipal reforms. Milwaukee Socialism proved that an honest, efficient government could work on the state and local levels. Voters supported the city-wide reform programs of the Milwaukee Socialists. Milwaukee's government was soon recognized as the best in the country.

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[Sources: The History of Wisconsin vol. 4 (Madison: State Historical Society of Wisconsin); Kasparek, Jon, Bobbie Malone and Erica Schock. Wisconsin History Highlights: Delving into the Past (Madison: Wisconsin Historical Society Press, 2004); Berger, Meta. A Milwaukee Woman's Life on the Left, ed. Kimberly Swanson. (Madison, Wis.: State Historical Society of Wisconsin Press, 2001); Hamilton, Shane "A Victor Without Peace" American History 102 ]