The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1897-07-09
IN POLITICS.

Municipal ownership will enter large
~ into the coming mayoralty con-
tests in this city, says the Twentieth
Century of New York. The Plat and
Strong administrations, that have
posed as reform ones, have made the
name odious, and further masking of
wolves in Sleeps clothing will scarcely
work. 1t requires no argument to con-
vince an honest man that the value
created by a community belongs to
the community. Therefore, the hold
ing OF a franchise by a corporation,
or an individual, is theft, because the
community alone can give it value,
which value belongs, collectively, to
all, individually to none. Now, the is
sues before the people are simple.
Ihere is no chance to get mixed up
on them, although the mud-throwers
VIII, no doubt, be actively set to work
10 make them as obscure as possible.
whether the political ring shall rule
the city, for it's own benefit, or whether
the people are ready to take control OF
thelr own affairs, at least to a limited
extent, is row the question. The party
That lakes its platform simply the
pubic ownership of public franchises,
no matter under what name it sails,
should command the support Of every
voter. Let the political vultures and
their clients, the corporation magnates
howl as they will; a people knowing
their rights, and determined to have
them, can win in spite of them.
Senator Allen introduced a resolu-
ton expressing sympathy with Greece
IN her heroic and patriotic struggle
against the %tyrannous and oppressive
Turks. The bond-holders and usurers
or Europe are on the side of Turkey
in this fight against Christianity and
liberty. They care more for their prof.
its from Turkish bonds than they do
for justice, humanity and religion.
Il resolution was reported to the
committee on foreign relations.
Six years ago only 20 cities Of the
United States owned their electric
lighting plants; now the number has
reached $50, and in no case can it be
said that municipalization was not a
success.
Senator Foraker has a pooling bill
IN congress, and Vice President Hobart
is a member of the board of direetors
IN the railroad trusts. That looks like
a cinch, and the railroads have little
cause for worry. Senator Chandler is
fighting the dragon of trusts. What
help can he given him should be forth
coming, says the Grand Rapids Work.
man. The Federation of Labor, boards
of trade and should speak,
and at once.
There are II chartered cities in Mich
igan and SO Of them have electric light
plants, of which % are owned by the
cities themselves. OF the 20 cities hav-
ing gas plants, 8 own them; and of the
60 having water plants, 81 are owned
by the municipality. OF the 70 villages
having electric light, "a own their
plants.
The currency question is absorbing
the public attention in Ohio, and the
common herd are beginning to un-
derstand that it is not the tariff but
the free coinage of silver hat will in
augurate an era of good times.-Ex.
The Cuban republic is now to have
money Of it's own, a million silver dol
lars being in process of mintage. PA
triotic" New York capitalists will ad-
vance l 900, 900 if necessary for the
purpose, taking Cuban guarantees to
make it right" when Cuban %indepen-
dence is acknowledged. This shows
two things: Capitalist belief that Cuba
is sure to win; and that Cuba is already
at the mercy of the money sharks who
always make patriotism pay we'll in
dollars and cents.