The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-11-12

not attend school on account of no
buildings to accommodate them. We
built thirty-three school houses. With
all this the rate of taxation has not
materially increased.
This period has been to me more
ike one of war than peace. 1 was Sc
lected as candidate by the most in
huential people. | discovered after
election that the railroads were pay
Ing less than their share of taxes I
said so and the railroad support i'm
mediately left me. l discovered that
the gas companies were charging ex-
orbitant rates. l said so and the
owners of gas stock turned their backs
on me. L found the bankers specu-
lating with city funds. l denounced
the practice and they denounced me
as unsafe. L attacked the turnpike
roads and their owners called me an
anarchist. Every time L attempted to
correct an abuse 1 lost a large and in
fuential class of supporters. l was
four times elected mayor. but in each
campaign was made painfully aware
of the loss of old friends, although my
maJorities crept up from 1900 to more
than 10000. When the influential
classes turned their backs upon me
the common people always stood by
me. You will not be surprised that I
have come to lean upon the common
people as the real foundation upon
which good government must rest.
'As to remedy for these evils, nv
experience has brought me to the con-
clusiOn that the streets OF a city be-
long to the people, and no mayor or
common council has a right to barter
them away. The remedy against many
of these evils is municipal ownership
and entire abolition of monopolies. or.
II monopolfes must exist, which depend
upon public favor, their absolute con-
troll and dependence upon the people
This remedy will not only solve many
municipal problems, but will bring
other agencies of commerce under
proper subsection. We are jobbing
out the sovereign power Of the people
that those who stand fore
most in the synagogue of
Sunday and are engaged the rest of
the week in bribing aldermen, or get
ting up stock jobbing schemes are the
most dangerous members Of society.
| Last winter. in the Michigan legisla-
| ture I tried to have some legislation
| passed which would tax railroads as
/ other property is taxed and to have
! uniform fares esta blished for rich and
| poor alike. | failed. The railroads
J were too much for me. The lobbyist
was there with Doodle and others with
| promise of federal office, to kill the
bills. But l am going to try again
How long can a government last
which increases constantly the burdens
of the Industrial class and gives it to
those who prey upon the bone and sin
ew Of the nation? Here In New York
L fear that my remarks may not be
well received. but L hope and believe
that government by the people
and for the people may yet reach that
| stage which all men who love liber-
fty hn
the duty of government to protect the
weak against the strong, the poor
against the selfishness of wealth I
say right here that, unless the Repub-
| hcan party comes out as a champion
of the average man and his welfare,
and, unless it ceases to cater to syn
| dicates, trusts and monopolies, II viii
be buried in oblivion. We must begin
| by advocating municipal ownership Of
natural monOpoles, and take away
from them the item of profit, and re-
! lieve the wage Garner to that extent"