St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1889-07-21
"THE BUGLEs SANG TRUCE"

uC udl fCOU OfOly VIZ ouihiiiSA 40
ended, and we are not saved" The eX-
elusive franchise has obtained securer
seat in the saddle than evor before.
The council has again bowed the knee
to Baal and worships the golden calf of
minneapolis boy" as one alderman
puts it,or of monster" as another al
derman more aptly expressed it.
What the reasons were that led the
council to reject proposition for COM
petition when it saw that the mere
shadow of opposition had already
brought the street railway company to
its knees will probably never be clear
to majority of the people. They may
but the people are not with the council
this time. Much as the aldermen may
pirate about the integrity of their mo-
tiveS, and however indignant they may
wax over the insinuations of corruption
on the streets and in the public points"
it is not clear that the newspapers or
people were far wrong in their inspira-
lions. Aldermen, whose words is as
good as their bond. such men for in
stance as Emerson Cole, may be found
in this city to-day to assert frankly that
certain other aldermen were not true to
their promises. When the coun-
cilmen talk thus about each
other they must not fly into a
fury as the large and luminous presi-
dent of the distinguished body did, at
the mere assertion that there were
speedy and suspicious conversions. In
the face OF such testimony. these high
sounding assertions of virtue are Iidicu-
lous... They are worse than ridiculous;
they are brazen. Aid. johnson may
speak for himself. No one suspects
his motives. No one ever sus-
but stern and unyielding one to main
tain and uphold monopoly wherever he
found it. He is an able leader, man
of splendid ability, keen wit, fertile in
eXpeGients, of supreme nerve i'll battle.
He is everything that the side he es-
pOuses could ask or wish. But he must
not imagine that his acts are above crit
icism, nor his motives, either. for the
motive is an integral part of every
human act.
The majority of the council would
probably say that they voted down the
Anderson 4 Douglas franchise because
they had secured better thing. How
purely visionary that assumption is is
shown by the fact that no alderman
could say on Friday night whether the
street railway company would accept
the supplementary contract offered
them. Suppose Oh Monday Mr. Lowry
should call meeting of his
Boston mot Philadelphia) hackers and
decide to reject the councils offer.
Suppose on Tuesday Anderson and
Douglas should withdraw their propo--
sition from before the council. What
then? Why the Aldermen would say
t.tbaro mill ha o1antv nf Ofbprc tO ruch
in and bid for this privilege" But
would there? Is the country full of
capitalists ready and anxious to treat
with a legislative body which has
shown that it can play fast and
loose with every moral obligation as
this one has done. Certainly Anderson
& Douglas are the first men backed by
money who have made proposition to
test the Lowry franchise in twenty
years. Perhaps the woods are full of
them now, but if they are the said cap
italists should exact a pledge of good
faith before they ever submit even the
rough draft of an ordinance to the
present council. Anderson & Douglas
made a proposal to the council for
franchise ordinance. They asked to
have it submitted to the proper commit
tee for amendment and correction, and
asked to be summoned before that COM
mittee. The committee met and went
into executive session and emerged with
report which was practically this:
Here are two men who have thrown us
life.saving line. We will let them draw
US ashore. We are eight to two. We
will then cut their threats and form
new partnership with the fellows who
threw US into the water. The Anderson
& Douglas contract was never decently
considered. 1t went to subcommittee
all against it but two, and one of those
was never properly notified of its
meetings. The subcommittee smOth-
cred the franchise and drew up
new contract with the Lowry
company, the ideas for which they stole
bodily from MesSrs. Anderson d
Douglas proposition. The jointed COM
mittee reported that contract to the
council and the council swallowed it.
The whole piece of ''dastardly" cbican-
cry was accomplished in twenty-fOur
hours and now the accidental whipper-
snapperS whom tidal wave of political
delirium swept into public office dare to
appeal from the public condemnation of
their "motives." They ought to be and
will be taught different song from that
when the people get another chance at
them.
3 It was Republican council, Lowry
council, and perhaps Indignation at its
acts is superfuous, but there was a resi-
dunn of Democratic members in it who
might have stood for decency and pub
lie faith. Little was to have been ex-
pected of Brueshaber. He is a
s.weak sister" at the best, but
John MCGOWAN is brilliant
young man whose political education
has never been in the direction of up
holding monopoly, and of whom better
things were expected. And Aid. Gilman
is another Democrat. who was col
league of Capt. Mills when ne made his
stand for conductors on the street cars.
He knows how much and how little the
street railway company will give unless
it is forced to act, and he, too, was bit
ter disappointment to his party.
1t is hard to see wherein the people
gained any great victory in the rejection
Of tho pladpa not m grant any more