The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-01-15

or collective ownership and operation OF
the tools-the means of production and
distribution-the establishment of the
cooperative commonwealth.
I'm support of its position 1T points
to the social nature of these tools; that
they are the product of the combined
social genius and not of the individual,
that they require the cooperative eff
fort of the social energy for their con-
create production, preservation and OPP
GRAFTON. 1t is proposed to demonstrate
the merit of social ownership, that sucn
social ownership is necessary to estaD-
liSh the right to work, and the right of
the worker to enjoy the results of his
labor; that it would result in certainty
of employment security of subsistence,
abolition of human poverty and the eie-
walton of the race above the brute
struggle for material needs forced upon
man by our present Industrial system.
OWNERSHIP OF UTILITIES.
GAS 1 have said before. the power of
the municipality is limited, but NUM-
cipaI ownership of the street railways.
gas and electric lighting plants has
long since passed from the experiment
tai to the practical stage, as can be
demonstrated by a careful study of the
conditions prevailing in those munich
palities which have adopted this syS-
tenn. Every citizen who has the welfare
of the city at heart should take especial
care that every obstacle is removed
from the path of legislation that is
looking to the advancement of the own
6rSh1p OF these Utilities.
Municipal franchises have been
granted in the past without any regard
for the peoples rights, and I would
urge upon you the Importance of care
full consideration of this matter in the
future. There should be no franchises
granted to any corporation whatever,
until the peoples interests have been
carefully Safeguarded, and a proper re-
turn made for the valuable privileges
extended, and under no circI instances
Sh0111H a raj nhiSo 10 fad n a
street railway corporation until proper
assurances have been given that its
cars will be run to suit the comfort and
convenience of the people.
1T has been demonstrated very
very clearly in this and every other
city that the abolition of the contract
system by some of the departments IS
sound business policy, and I would urge
you to carefully consider our present
method of constructing public build
ings. I believe the city should con-
struct its own public buildings just as
successfully as it repairs them at pres
ent, latter the contractors have left them
half constructed. I believe, also, that it
could construct a better building and al
less cost than is obtained by the pres
ent methods This is worthy of careful
consideration in view of the large num-
Der of public buildings which are being
constructed each year.
IT recognize the Importance of the
trades union movement, and realize that
~ - anu mas DeeH al important factor
in the education and advancement of
the workingmen of our city, state and
nation, and I urge that union labor be
employed on city work as far as posi-
BILE, and that the city printing bear the
union LABEL
These inaugural addresses show that
Massachusetts is not so far ahead of
Kansas-only that here the people of all
political parties accept these theories
when applied to municipalities and To-
peka'S present mayor is a Staunch ad-
vocate of the ownership of public util-
tiles by the municipality. Topeka has
owned its lighting plant for more than
ten years.