How ‘Sewer Socialism’ Built Milwaukee into America’s Cleanest Big City

POLICY WIRE — Milwaukee, Wisconsin — At the Jones Island Water Reclamation Facility, the primary mission of public servants is a straightforward task: cleaning up the city. This century-old marvel of modern engineering currently processes up to 400 million gallons of wastewater on a daily basis.

Prior to the establishment of this treatment center, Milwaukee lacked a formal system for managing waste. Kevin Shafer, the executive director of the city’s sewer system, noted that regional sewage was previously discharged directly into rivers and into Lake Michigan—the same source where the city drew its drinking water.

Shafer explained that while private corporations could have funded such a system, the massive initial capital required necessitated a public tax base. This vision became reality in 1925 under the administration of Milwaukee’s Socialist-led government.

Once recognized as the epicenter of American Socialism, Milwaukee stands as the only major American city to elect three Socialist mayors. These leaders governed the city for nearly four decades, starting back in 1910.

Historian John Gurda suggests that voters chose a Socialist government because it represented the most viable option during an era marked by political corruption and a massive manufacturing working class. With 57% of the city’s men employed in factories—an area famously dubbed the ‘machine shop of the world’—the appeals resonated deeply with the class consciousness.

Another influential factor was the community of educated German immigrants who arrived with Socialist ideals. These individuals frequently met at Turner Hall, which served as an intellectual hub and social center for debates and lectures.

This specific brand of Midwestern politics became known as “Sewer Socialism” because it focused on practical improvements for the working class, such as public housing, parklands, and functional sewage systems, rather than abstract class warfare.

Gurda describes the movement as a form of social democracy that prioritized practical results over rigid ideology. He noted that while the Milwaukee Socialists were anti-capitalist, they were willing to collaborate with anyone.

Unlike the modern era where socialism is often used as a political pejorative, it was not a radioactive label in the early 20th century. Gurda observed that the public learned to trust the Socialists because they were perceived as entirely incorruptible.

The first Socialist mayor, Emil Seidel, began his tenure by creating public exhibits regarding the city’s budget. Gurda believes this appealed to the thrift of immigrant families who appreciated that the Socialists could manage city finances as carefully as a household budget.

The second Socialist mayor, Daniel Hoan, left the most significant mark. During his 24-year tenure, Milwaukee was frequently recognized as the healthiest, safest, and cleanest major American city. Gurda remarked that the city won public health awards so often it was eventually retired from the competition to allow others to win.

Hoan was the driving force behind the Jones Island facility, but he applied a capitalist-style approach by developing a commercial product from the wastewater: Milwaukee Organic Nitrogen, commonly known as Milorganite.

Bill Graffin clarified that Milorganite is not simply waste, but consists of the microscopic organisms used in the treatment process. The product is still in sale today, generating millions in annual revenue for the city and favored by homeowners and gardeners alike.

Milwaukee’s final Socialist mayor, Frank Zeidler, departed office in 1960. By that point, many of the core Socialist platforms had been absorbed by the Democratic Party. Gurda noted that the New Deal co-opted Socialist rhetoric, turning old age insurance into Social Security by 1935.

Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)em>