Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1891-10-02
NATIONALISTS WORK.
Cheap Gas and Electricity in Mas
sachusetts.
PIttsburg Post

Cheap Gas and Electricity in Mas
sachusetts.
Plttsburg Post.
The natiOnalists are commencing
work in Massachusetts in modest
and practical way. Immediately after
their organization as party, two or
three years ago, they asked the legisla-
tnre for the passage of bill giving
any city or town in the State pcrmis.
sion to own and to maintain its own
gas or electric lighting plant for the
public use and for the service of its in
habitants. The measure failed of
adoption at the first session, but it
cost the electric light and gas COM
panies a pretty sum of money to
smother the bill. For an unprepared
and disorganized effort, this was really
a great deal to accomplish. At the
next session, the State having been
canvassed Systematically and energeti-
cally, the bill went through with
whirl, passing the Senate by vote OF
more than two to one and the House
by vote OF five to one. A number OF
towns and small cities secured electric
lighting plants under its provisions,
and are supplying their people with
lights at very cheap rates. The ma
tionalists rejOiced with exceeding great
JOY over this success, and at once laid
their plans for advance movement.
This has taken shape in a nationalist
petition to the City Council of Boston
for the establishment of a fuel de-
partment." 1t is asked that the city
should open a coal yard from which to
supply all purchasers with coal at cost
price. The public received the an
nouncement Of the scheme with a
general smile of incredulity. The az
dermen discussed the petition a little,
referred it and forgot it. But the ma
tionalists were in dead earnest. They
believed in their scheme for "munici-
pal coal yards" and have been vigor-
ously pushing it to attention and
showing a great deal of practical
worldly wisdom in securing public sup
port for it. Now the plan is no longer
laughed at. 1t is seriously discussed,
and even those opposed to it recognize
that its success is, at least, among the
possibilities of the near future. The
labor leaders of the State have indorsed
the plan, it has been taken up by the
trades unions and Mr.. Powdcrly has
written letter approving it. An es-
innate of the profits of dealers and
other expenses, it is claimed, show
that 81 100000 a year would be saved
the people of Boston by the municipal
coal yards. The agitation has been
set a going in other cities than Boston.
The leaders do not expect to gain their
point, save by arousing public opinion
all over the State, and securing en-
couragement on legislative acts. The
evils of the coal monopoly enter into
the debate. The plan is to agitate
from this time on, to circulate litera-
ture, and to hold mass meetings, to
get the support of labor and other Or
ganizations, as far as may be possible,
and to secure the Endorsement of
clergymen and public men. Already
the Rev. +. F. Hale and the Rabbi
SCHNEIDER, a scholarly and progressive
Jew, are active in the movement. Can
didates for the legislature will not be
nominated, but the candidates of the
other parties will be subjected to a
course OF nationalism that will make
their hair stand on end. Every nom.
inee will be asked to declare explicitly
how he stands on the coal yard ques-
ton. and the fullest publicity will be
given to the answer or to the refusals
to answer. The nationalists and their
labor friends calculate that before
election day arrives public sentiment
will be so generally with them that
they will be able practically to secure
legislature favorable to them and
their plans. After establishing muni-
cipal coal yards, the food supply, the
clothing supply and cooperative stores
will be taken up as subjects for agita-
tation. If light ON the nationalist
plan, as at present, why not munich
pal coal supply? If coal why not food
or clothing? That is the nationalists
program. 1t is not very formidable
inst now hut tall nals efc