The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1899-04-29

government, and that with much i'm
proved service of TRANSPORTATION, bet
ter labor conditions and much lower
fares than had been the case while the
street cars were owned by a private
corporation.
In New York Mayor Strong said that
the revenue from the city water sup
ply was. if properly applied, sufficient
to meet all the expenses of the city.
The justice of home rule and the
benefits of civil service are so mivers-
ally conceded as to need no argument.
Direct legislation has proved its eff
cheney in Switzerland. which. political
~, is the model republic of the world.
If you speak with your neighbors on
these matters a1ine out of ten Of them
are heartily tired Of the present con-
ditions. but as each or is out of touch
with his fellows and as so many do
not understand the causes of the diff
culties, to say othing of how to REM
rdy them, the net result of the dscon-
tent, universal as it is, is an OCCASION
al kick in the press, or when some par
ticularly atrocious act has been perpe-
trated there may be protest in the
city council or even a motion in one of
the law courts. Then all quiets down
again. The trouble is not that people
arc not ready for change, but that
they are not ready to get it. There is
10 united effort. People are out Of
touch with each other. One of our
statesmen said The way to resume is
to resume and, friends, the way to
get united action is to unite.
Friends and fellow citizens, you who
believe that we should have "a city Ct
and for the people, I suggest, [ urge
upon you that we join together to form
Il non-partisan league to work for this
cnd-to voice the discomfort and bring
about the changes that are needed.
One dozen earnest men and women
united. can move multitude-a hun
1rrd can move the city.
TO get to practical details, I would
suggest some of the things that in my
mind are essential to the success of
such an organization. First: 1t must
be strictly non-partisan, and not at
tempt to work outside of the definite
object for which it is organized. Sec
ond: It's work must be educational AMI
political. Third: All its work must De
based on principle. If it attacks or
supports a corporation or an individual
it must be because they represent Il
principle, and not as individuals. Its
name should state its object, and /
would suggest calling it THE City
Charter Club
In the island of Skye in Scotland, for
generation after generation. the croft
ers had titled their little croftS, or
farms of few acres. Presently veal
thy folk with nothing to fill their
lives, grudgcd them the wild beauty
of their island. 1t would be such Il
splendid place to hunt deer in.
The injustice to be wrought called
out The Indignation OF all the common
,,ntit;,,, Dft ,p If ion -
after protest was made: bur all were
unavuiliny. \ factor and his deputies
were put in charge and the e>irtion$
|N gan.
In desperation. and plurking deSpcr-
alton from despair, the crofirrS rallicI
HaSinG the slogan "'rhr land for the
people, ~-"nnr homes for our bairn>'
Of the fnctor and then sweep, the hills;
driving the deer and sheep from til"
island and into the sea.
The slogan. "Tht land for he pro-
pie" rang round the world. 1t spoke
Of il higher law than amy rn"ro<std VI
parchment and those who loved ,ju~-
ice rr.ioired.
Today. we, too, have Il call to :lc;
"rht city for the people," Our riti s.,
which are the homes Of rnnlmlnitir; :.
instead Of being organized and carried
on for the benefit, Of al! The citizens.
have only too often been sold for Il
<.n,,ll price to become the hunting
grounds OF private corporations. Ana
lis the rrOiirrS not only had to pay
rent. but were constantly having their
crops eaten ny the deer and sheep Of
the land lords. 50 We not only have to
u,vr1 he ,lirrr, toll levied by the cor
i,,r:,,iunS. i,;; also have 10 support al
the priit irnl and social parasites iuS-
tered by them. let us free ourselves
OF this incubus. sweep away such un'
lust conditions; not lucrcIN because |: