1922 Encyclopædia Britannica/Lueger, Karl

LUEGER, KARL (1844-1910), burgomaster of Vienna, was born Oct. 24 1844, the son of an usher, and, studying under the greatest material difficulties, succeeded in qualifying as an advocate. He was at first a partisan of the Democratic party, then a leader of the Christian Socialists, an anti-Semite and advocate in the courts for artisans and &ldquo;small men.&rdquo; He overthrew the German-Liberal municipal government of Vienna, and

was elected burgomaster in 1895, but the Emperor did not confirm the appointment and Vienna was placed under the government of a State commission. In the new elections Lueger allowed another member of his party to be set up as dummy burgomaster, while he himself in form became vice-burgomaster. In 1897, however, when the &ldquo;people's candidate,&rdquo; Lueger, was again elected burgomaster, the Emperor confirmed his election and repeatedly honoured him as a loyal patriot. Lueger, who was a powerful orator, was seven times elected burgomaster. He was a zealous Catholic, and wished to &ldquo;capture the university&rdquo; for the Church; he would have neither Social Democrats nor Pan-Germans nor Jews in the municipal administration. He secured good treatment for Czech immigrants, and established Viennese municipal electrical stations, gasworks and tramways, independent of the English gas and tramway companies. He planned to make Vienna one of the most beautiful of garden cities. He died March 10 1910. (Author:Carl Brockhausen)