Mexico weekly ledger., 1902-07-17
MUNICIPAL OWNERSHIP.


10 The Editor Of the Ledger,
MEXICO July ST. would like to say
q few words about the ~nondescript
articles that are being published by
you against municipal ownership.
These articles are Of a vague, uncer-
tain quantity, but nevertheless, COM
ing through the channels of a respect
able journal, they need some notice.
They defy location. They are neither
editorial nor authentic communica-
tions, nor credited to another news
paper. j would ask some expert to
take one Of them and analyze it and
see If be can decipher any earmarks
that win determine its parentage.
Some fellow is getting In an ingenious
piece OF handiwork on the unwary
public. The article of June 81 lets
the cat out OF the bag in the first lines
when be says" . the plant is
a red-hot political issue" and then
proceeds TO juggle figures very ingen-
iously. AS my article would prove too.
long, Twill not notice the figures I'M
less the author chooses to come out
from cover. That municipal owner
ship has proven a dismal failure in
Carthage is not made plain by last
Friday S article. The other purports
to come from Joplin and is said to be
receiving attention throughout the
State. 1t shows close kinShip to the
first named, but varies a little by
parading under the guise Of an inter
view from Or. Squires, the City
Clerk, who is identified in politics
with the Democratic Populist party,
which 6 years ago wrestled the city
government from the Republicans and
became responsible for the municipal
ownership ISSUE Politics, dear LED
GER, politics, fast and furious reigns
In Joplin and this article, IL 1T is Of
Joplin birth, emenated from a hot-bed
OF political agitation. The article
Is very misleading in that it beats
about the bush so persistently. II is
like the Irishman's pig-blg cry, but
little wool, Toward the last you win
notice this statement. 1.-THE plant
has fallen heavily in politics." 1t
seems that when q question gets into
politics, liars take 1t for granted that
the reins are thrown d0wn-for In
stance, notice the recent figuring on
our State school fund. Who doubts
that when red-hot politics dominates
q city government, corruption exists
and the revenues are wasted? There
is not a line in these doubtful author
ship articles that shows that the
plants IN themselves were not paying
investments. We have an abundance
Of testimony thata plant viii pay and
can be operated successfully by a city.
Taking it for granted that some cities
made a mess OF it-haye not
some cities made a mess Of other
things - contracts, franchise, etc.
Especially 50 where political bummers
gain control light plant might
not EaE@m badly managed, which
seems TO be the case with those under
discussion. And we would hardly ex-
pect it to do so. Neither could we ex-
pect any business badly managed to
yield good returns. Shall the posi-
bility Of mismanagement frighten us
a comotose state2 Shall we hang
our harp on the willow and invite
somebody TO administer on our af-
fairs? Mexico has never been under
the domination Of political buns and
never win be. There is too much en-
and integrity in u people.
and mysterious insinuations Of
the fearful responsibilities and I'M
pending dangers viii not cause US 10
hide our heads in the sand. We are
ret freemen and not afraid TO shoulder
/ responsibility that requires only
nerve and intelligence to save our
finances and increase our comforts
respectfully, ]. N. Cross.