Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1903-01-12
Webster City Socialists Would
Carry Public Ownership
Into Retail Business
SAY CITY SHOULD CONTROL 1T
Party Already Has One Member of the
City Council and They Are Making
Plans to Enter the Municipal Cam
paisn-some Fear They May Cause
Considerable Mischief.
Special to Times-Republican

| lIIIlGS-ElepuDllCdH
| Webster City, Jan. 12.-The socialist
party of this city has effected a tenn
porary organization and will meet to-
morrow to effect a permanent one.
| AT the meeting just held to effect
their temporary organization it was
unanimously voted to place munich
pal ticket in the field at the spring
election. A city platform was also
adopted. At the regular election last
fall the socialists polled more votes in
the Fifth ward here than did the demo-
Gratis. Walter Thomas Mills, one of the
party's famous speakers, gave an adj
dress in the court house just previous
to election which seems to have been
cast in the city. Oscar Donaldson is
the moving spirit of the party in this
city. He is member of the city coun-
Gil from the "Bloody Second" ward and
a radical Of radicals, tho his enemies
claim he is dominated by certain man
ufacturing interests. He has been per-
fecting his organization from small
nucleus for two or three years. He is
a young man of ability and stands we'll
in the community.
The platform adopted by the tempo
rary organization is radical in the ex-
IRENE and is causing much talk and dis
cussion about the city. One of its most
radical paragraphs relates to munici-
pal stores. Says the platform on this
question:
ITO avoid the monopoly of a merger
of the distributive business of this city,
which isinevitable,a and theenorrnous ex-
pense in maintaining from two to elev-
en- firms distributing the same goods,
the entire retail business should be in
the hands of the city. Under its CEN
trail management one establishment
would be sufficient to carry the stock
necessary for selection and display,
which with ample storage facilities
would greatly reduce the capital in
wasteful idleness (maintaining stocks).
This capital placed at the command of
the labor of this community would give
full employment to our citizens
This clause and the one referring to
1.-The employment of our citizens" is to
a more or less extent arraying the
masses against the classes-the wage
earners against the employers The
latter clause is as follows:
1.-THE employment of labor at it's full
power of productive and distributive
activity Is the real source of material
Instead of bringing enter
prises to our city to employ our labor,
we should seek for men skilled in the
work desired. The capital to be furn-
ished and the business owned and OPP
Grated by the city. No dividends would
be paid and the. entire returns OF the
business could be given the workers as
is given the patrons of other city en-
terprises in reduced prices. This should
be expended until no man would lack |
to work and each receive
the largest reward his labor can COM
mand."
The city now owns her electric light |
plant, power house, heating plant and |
pumping station. This includes all |
utilities except the telephone
system. The para graph on "Francnise"
meets with more popular favor sltho
no one favors the taking away OF the
Martin Telephone Company's franchise
except a few dlsgruntled ones. This
says:
"The wisdom of our citizens has been
displayed in the past by retaining all of
heir franchises, except the telephone
which should be reclaimed at its expi-
.ation March 10. 1909. These public
Abilities should be improved and ex-
ended until all our pepole enjoy their
advantages and every convenience or
opportunity which our civic organ can
afford be brought to our hunlblest
'esident."
1t is expected that the above plat
orm in its entirety will be adopted at
he meeting tomorrow night. The So
'ialists seem to be gaining ground
lere but hardly expect to elect city
icket this year.
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