Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1898-12-12
CHICAGO'S FRANCHISE FIGHT AS
ACTIVE AS EVER.
MASS MEETING YESTERDAY
MUNICIPAL OWNERSHIP TALK GEN.
EROUSLY APPLAUDED.
"HnnE Them. Get a Rope, Hang the
BOOdlers" Were Among the Cries
of the Audience-Companies
Have Adopted a
Waiting Policy.

CHICAGO. Dec. u--Central Music hall
was this afternoon filled with citizens OF
Chicago who had gathered in mass meeting
in order TO protest against the extending
of Chicago's street car franchises to ffty
years.
The speakers dwelt mainly on the ques-
ton of compensation for extension of street
car grants, but before its close the prop
osition of municipal ownership was ex-
tensively touched on and received generous
applause.
Frank II. Head presided. and the speak
ers were Mayor Harrison, Former Govern
or John z. Altgeld. George L. Cole, John
Maynard, Alderman Harlan and Rev.
Father Thomas p. Hudnett-.
Ex-Governor Altgeld was first to advert
to the subject of municipal ownership and
his remarks aroused the greatest enthu>
siasm of the meeting. Referring To the
alleged use of money in the city council.
Mr.. Altgeld said: How can We stop this
thing?"
Hang them; get a rope; hang the bood-
| lers.'' responded the audience.
The resolutions. which were prepared in
advance were found Inadequate to the
sentiment of the meeting. and resolution
was included favorinS municipal owner
ship of the street car lines, If not this
year, then when the present grants expire
| in 1903.
| The most significant portions of the reso-
lutions adopted were as follows:
Resolved. That, inasmuch as TIE be-
ginning and end of all present corruption
! in the city council are the traction COM
panies, the directors and stockholders OF
| those companies should not be permitted
| to escape the odium now directed against
venal public servants, but that they be
| exposed to condemnation as criminals and
anarchists. in that they are organizing
| corruption and plotting against the peace
| and prosperity of Chicago, and in"itinS
| consequences as disastrous to this eoInmu-
| nifty as any outrages ever devised by tas
| sworn enemies of society; and,
| Resolved That the citizenship Of Chi
| cago stands strong at the back of our
mayor in his brave fight for the peoples
| right. That it is the sense of this meeting
| that the time for municipal ownersl alp. X
! not right now, may be by the time the
| present franchise shall expire"
! The Developments of the day all pointed
! to a Strengthening Of the mayors line or
| defense. Meetings were held by politicians
| and by business men, too. in which the
| fifty year ordinance or any other measure
| under the Allen law was denounced; citi-
! zens employed themselves in writing notes
! of encouragement to Mr.. Harrison, and at
least one stockholder of the Chicago City
| railway, Frederick R. Otis, declared him
| self as unalterably opposed to any sort Of
| franchise under Doodle auspices.
| Realizing that the street car companies.
| in apparent retreat, had switched their
plans to system of delay, the mayor
| asked that the Indignation OF the people
| be not wasted in a momentary impulse. but
saved up for the future.
| Il don't believe the committee will re-
| port to the council on Monday night. Their
| plan is to put up & dummy and let the
| people tire themselves hammering away
| against it." said the mayor.
| when the public agitation Is exhausted
| they will apparently succumb, yield few
| points which have been the subject Of the
| opposition, and get practically what they
| have wanted all the time. That Is their
| game. l think We have enough aldermen 10
| defeat them. am sure of twenty-three ana
that is enough. l should like to have more.
| think they are beaten, but | cannot tell
| what will happen. They will try TO drag
| along until public wrath is suspended. That
is why say. Don't call too many meetings
| at present. The people are enthusiastic at
| the beginning and then when the real fight
| comes they feel they have done their duty.
| II is difficult to keep 1.S0.OG0 people keyed
up to the highest tension for three or four
| weeks. and that Is just what the other fell
| lows are figuring on / don't believe in
| entertaining. As in a prizetight, when the
time comes to enter the ring for the actual
combat then is when the man should be
| in the pink of condition"