The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1900-02-08
MnWAUKEE'S BAD EMINENCE

MILWAUkEES BAD EMlNENCE'
Milwaukee has become notorious
throughout the length and breadth OF
the land. Who Is to blame it is not easy
to determine by any one who has paid
only passing attention to matters IA they
developed No matter what the cause,
Milwaukee has now the reputation most
large cities have, of being oeething
caldron of corruption.
The city has suffered more than it
could from the charged extortion of the
city railway company for 80 years. 1t
would have been far better for the city
to bear what tremendous efforts are
made to prevent than to endure what
the struggle has entailed. The unwhole-
some reputation abroad is not the worst
outcome of the strife, because time will
cure that if Milwaukee will apply the
palliative. The wounds at home are
deep and will leave permanent scars.
The city for years to come will be divld-
ed into embittered factions. No city
council. no matter how deserving, will
be trusted. No concession to any cor
poratiOn, no matter what its deserving
no matter how prUmotive Of the public
good, can be granted without being
smirChed with suspicion. Milwaukee
will prove fruitful field for the dema-
gogue to cultivate, The people will raj
" 10 the cry Of anti-corporat;on no mat
ter how selfish the motive which raises
the cry.
When passion and prejudice take the
place of reason, unwelcome results are
sure to follow If the street railway
company employed questionable means
10 secure a privilege, ii has thereby
raised an obstacle to securing in future
what would be reasonable and proper.
II must be confessed there is an abund
ance of surface indications of improper
methods
On the other hand the character of the
opposition makes devious methods fire.
quently necessity in securing privi-
lege which ieapardizes no public or
private interests. No reasonable man
ontside of Milwaukee will believe that
the city council would grant any
thing which would prove detrimental to
public interests. Jealous theorists on
public rights are always looking to the
future and are wholly unmindful Of the
present. A present advantage should
never be- declined because of the posi-
bility of n greater advantage in the dis
tant future The Hibernianism why
should we be 50 mindful of pOsterity?
What has pOsterity done for u.s. is real
ly All aphorism, an exaggerated truth,
~ all Irish bulls are
There IL reason liz the contention that
"A franchise for long term is step
toward securing lower rates to the users
or consumers at the outset To sacrifice
present for prospective interests may not
seem wise 10 some and they have II per
lcct rIBht ~ act IN accordance with their
belief and they should not be made the
objects of supicon because their eyes are
not always scam ng the horizon
The opposition in Milwaukee is fully
~ responsible for the unfortunate situa-
~ are the advocates Of the railway com
pany. 1t is not fair to call them "advo-
Gates, as they act with the company
that il many Of them because they per
ceive benefits to themselves and to the
public generally III what is confesscdly II
benefit TO the railway company Toim-
pagn the motives Of these men was lin
vte contention A man cannot be con
vinced by provoking him to anger He
Is thereby induced to permit prejudice
10 take the place of judgement