The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1902-04-04
BELL OFFICIALS
ARE ON GROUND
.Mem hers Of Board Of Trade,
Who Are Backing Purchase
Plan, Believe II Will Be
Atte n ded With Success.


The telephone situation reached a
climax Tuesday, April 1st, being the
date when many of the contracts with
the Bell company expired. The doc
tors. druggists, many of the business
men, and private citizens had notified
the company to take out their phones
on that date. So far as known none
ns the instruments have been taken
,pu, by the Bell company, but visit to
the Offices of the doctors and the drug
stores Tuesday morning. showed that
although the phones were still on the
wall, the wires have been discon-
nected.
It is stated that not single drug
store or doctor is using the Bell
phone, but all are depending upon the
opposition line The majority of them
have disconnected the wires, and 9TH
ers who have not done that have plug
ged the bells so that it Is impossible
for them to ring a call.
PHONES ORDERED OUT
Quite number Of the business men
of the city have ordered out their
phones, and some of them are not using
them Tuesday. Others have postponed
the removal until the Goth OF April,
as it is thought that by that time the
independent lines will be more COM
plete. This is also true of the attor-
neys. Quite number who are still
using the Bell phone in their offices
have discontinued it in their homes.
Throughout the city private indi-
viduals who have ordered out the Bell
phones are adhering to their determi-
nation not to pay the advanced rate
and are disconnecting the wires. In
party lines this has demoralizing
effect, as when one is disconnected 1t
breaks the current and cuts of every
other person who is on the system.
BOOKS GIVEN OUT.
The committee of the board Of trade
and Business Mems association are
taking advantage of the dissat isfaction
and present excitement to push the
scheme along to secure subscriptions
to buy the Stark county lines. At an
informal meeting Monday evening sub
scription books were placed in the
hands of representatives of each de-
partment of trade and each profession
so that the town can be thoroughly
canvassed within a day or two. Fifty
of these books went into the nands OF
as many physicians, they were given
to druggists, dry goods merchants
butchers, bakers, attorneys, jewellers
and every class OF individuals. The
number already given out is 250 and
those taking them have agreed to sub,
scribe from one to fifty shares of $lOt
each and to canvass for other sub
scrlptions. Some parties have already
reported success in their work.
Tho subscription headings call fol
the payment of the stock in four equa
monthly payments, and the amount II
subscribed on the condition that the
money is due just as soon as enough
has been subscribed to insure the pur'
chase. When this is accomplished,
meeting of the subscribers is to be helt
to decide all questions as to the pur
chase, organization, issuing of secur
tiles and management. The decision
OF tho majority in interest Is to con
troll.
CONFUSION REIGNS.
Tho disconnecting Of so many tele
phones has led to great deal of incon
venience and confusion in the city
Persons go to the phones and attemp
to reach doctor, or some other person
who has cut off the Bell. They can