The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1902-05-16
KANSAS CITY MAYOR
AT JEFFERSON CLUB
James \. Reed Addresses st. Louis
Democrats on Subject of Pub
lie Ownership.

James A. Reed, Mayor of Kansas City,
last night was the guest Of the Jefferson
Club. and fully 1850 Democrats were pres
ent to hear and applaud his speech in advo-
cacy of government and municipal owner
ship OF public conveniences.
On the platform with Mayor Reed were
Mayor Rolla Wells. Harry B. Halves, Lieu
tenant Governor John A. Lee and Secretary
John Fitzsimmons
Mayor Rolla Wells introduced Mr.. Read
to the audience in a speech in which he
complimented the jefferson Club on its
work In behalf Of good government. He
said he felt and acknowledged its services
in helping him to give st. Louis good ad-
ministration. His remarks. though not ex-
tended, were frequently applauded.
On his introduction by Mayor Wells. Mr..
Reed declared that the Jefferson Club de-
served the credit of redeeming St. Louis
from the effects of corrupt control and
the hands of men whose right to office was
merit. rather than political influence.
The burden of Mr.. Reeds address was the
discussion and advocacy of governmental
and municipal ownership Of public utilities.
He said he did not declare for the doctrines
of socialism. nor for the immediate confis-
cation of franchises and private or corpor-
said. was The gradual requirement of all
private monopolies by just and legal pro-
cess.
When elected to the mayoralty of Kan
sas City Mr.. Reed said he believed in gov
ernmental and municipal ownership only in
a limited sense, but, he declared the expe-
rience gained in dealing with the water
works company in his own city, had con-
vinced him that the people should be the
owners. not only of municipal lighting
plants ana waterworks. but of railways.
telegraph and telephones. as well. The cost
Of water suppl; to consumers in Kansas
City he said. had been reduced 3S per cent
since the city acquired its waterworks
The doctrine that public utilities should
be the property of the people he said. was
q cardinal principle of English common
law. and its application. he said, had been
made In Rome. In support of that state
ment he cited the Roman aqueducts and
highways. which, he said. were buildcd for
public benefit, and were owned by the
whole Roman people
In closing his remarks Mr.. Reed ex-
planned that he was not speaking for any
political party, but. he declared. that there
should be Incorporated in the next national
and State platforms Of the Democratic
party plank advocating the public owner
ship principle. The trend of opinion. he
said. was toward municipal and govern
mental proprietorship Of public service cor
porations. and the party that attempted to
ignore or fight that opinion would be de-
feated.
Mr.. Reed returned to Kansa, City this
morning.
Last nights was the regular quarterly
meeting of the club. and reports were
ceived from the various committees. The
Labor Committee, under whose auspices the
Jefferson Labor clubs are being formed
throughout the city. reported encouragingly
OF their work.
Resolutions commemorative Of Thomas
NJ. Knapp. the jefferson Clubs first presi-
dent, whore death occurred last week. were
offered by Virgil Rule. and made part of
the clubs records RESOLUTIONS of respect for
the memory of Thomas NJ. Hickey were in
troduced by Joseph Judge They also were
adopted.
Two hundred and ffty-one new members
were received last night Those additions
increase the roll of members in good stand
ing to more than $500.