LUEGER, KARL. - Austrian politician, b. Oct. 24, 1844 in Vienna, d. there March 10, 1910. The son of a porter at the Polytechnic, he graduated in law in 1866 and practiced as a lawyer. Entering public life, he found Vienna and Austria in the hands of speculators and businessmen, for the most part Jews. He therefore felt a very strong aversion toward them
Under the common denominator of anti-Semitism, individuals of various tendencies found themselves united: Catholics concerned about the spread of anticlericalism and the campaign against their faith, supported by liberals funded by Semitic capitalism; nationalists who opposed the interference of other races in Austria's internal affairs and considered Austrian policy an exclusive matter for the German element; members of the petty bourgeoisie, artisans, and peasants, who ran the risk of being economically crushed by the business apparatus. To combat Semitic predominance and the parties dependent on it, the Christian-Social Union of Baron von Vogelsang was formed, of which L. also became a member. Elected municipal councilor for the first time in 1875, L. progressively eliminated the liberals and Semitic influence from the public life of the Austrian capital, until in 1897 he became mayor, a position he held until his death. Once in power, his primary concern was to decisively remove the municipal administration from any form of speculation. He therefore initiated a resolute program of municipalization of public services, which made Vienna one of the best-administered and socially most advanced capitals of his age.