The independent. [volume] (Lincoln, Neb.) 1902-1907, 1903-03-05
GROWING POPULISM
Dr.. yfctsr Resewater of tho Omaha Bee
Standing up for POpulism In
City Affairs

During the past year The lndepen-
dent has heard a good many popul-
lists speak in a hopeless sort OF way
about the death of the peoples par
ty." This sentiment is fostered by
great many republicans. socialists and
democrats who expect their respective
parties to profit by the dissolution or
the peoples party. To great extent
the party has by fusion lost it's iden-
tity as far as concerns mere abstracts
of votes cast; but this is an appearance
that deceives no one who wants to
know the truth. The state records Oh
Nebraska show a mid-road populist
vote of about a thOusand-but they do
not show how many of the hundred
thousand fusionists are popullsts.
But suppose it were true (Which 1t is
not that the peoples party organlza-
.tion is dead. What of it? The prln-
ciples of populism were never more
alive than today. They permeate eV-
cry political party. What are you
going to do next year." said we'll
known Lincoln man not long since to
the associate editor; "the republicans
are taking up populist doctrines and
will have stolen about all your plat
form by next year" "Oh," said the
associate, eff they do that Ill prob
ably do as you did few years ago
Join the republican party" (This man
was gold democrat formerly) But,
continued the associate, I'VE will still
have a choice, because the democrats
will probably adopt a socialistic plat
form" We'll" replied the Lincoln
man, 'T believe we will try socialism
whirl am against it, but I'm only
one and don't count. Nevertheless we
are going that road very rapidly; We'll
try it, I'm thinking, and then if we
don't like it. We'll try something
else"
Down at New York last week was
held a convention on municipal owner
ship and public franchises. The ques-
.tion of municipal ownership of electric
lighting plants was UP and the affirma-
tive was defended by DR.. Victor Rose
water Of the Omaha Bee. Think of
that, you the-mouth popul-
lists who are quite sure that populism
is dead" The negative was upheld
by Lieutenant Cahoon, secretary OF
the national electric light association
"a very natural position for him to
take.
The Independent is pleased to pre-
sent to it's readers the Bees
press report of the views of Victor
Rosewater, populist
In Mr. ROseWater's paper the fu-
tility of competition as regulative
force to repress the inevitable ten
dency of monopoly in electric light
ing and to prevent extorti0nate
charges was clearly pointed out
From statistics compiled by the COM
missioner of labor for the federal gov
ernmcnt he showed that the financial
saving resulting from municipal OWL
ership was substantial and verified by
the experience of many American cit
les. While admitting that the sta
tistics at hand are not all that is de-
sired, the superiority Of the municipal
1y owned plants over the private cor
porations in the matter of cheap and
efficient service, both to the public
and to private consumers Of electric
lighting, is supported by all the facts
and figures. AS to the contention that
municipal ownership would drag the
electric lighting service into politics.
he as)ed how the subject could be,
dragged further into politics than it
now is under the system of private
franchise grants. In all the disclosures
of municipal corruption in various cit
les throughout the country during the
last few years the most fragrant cases
of bribe-giying have arisen out of at
tempts to purchase franchises from
venal public officials, while no i'm
portant example of dishonesty has
been uncovered in anv municipal light
ing plant once installed The question
is no LONGER between municipal owner
ship and competitive private enter
prise. bit between municipal owner
ship and municipal control; but the
best terms enforcible under munici-
pal control are less effective and less
satisfactory than under municipal
ownership