Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1903-11-26

the word goes back that the ordinance
has been defeated and these bondhold-
ers have lost their last chance of max
ing good on their investments, have
no doubt whatever but that the works
will close down, as the greater mum
Der OF the bondholders will pocket
tional expense.
The Two Propositions.
''This leads me to believe that it is
impulse that has brought about this
feeling against the water company.
But | cannot see why after careful
consideration of this proposition with
it's safeguards, with it's reasonable
rates, which have been made the max
imum rates, and with the provisions for
purchase on one side, and with no wa
ter on the other side, any voter can
Reasons for Opposition.
Nov that is reason why it is
more necessary for individual work
and talk. Many people cannot be reach
ed through mass meetings or through
the newspapers and it is incumbent up.
on every citizen to hunt up every
friend and labor with him. That work
is being done on the opposite side ey.
cry day. Now have cast about to find
if there is any reason for this opposi-
ton and l believe that the principal
reason for the opposition is hatred to
the old company, another reason is the
feeling in the minds of many against
corporations, another is the result OF
furthering personal interests, antagon-
istic to pubic interests on the part OF
local. politicians.
Pledged to Municipal Ownership.
'Now l want to say this. These
people are not responsible for the sins
of the old company. They may have
at first assumed distasteful attitude
but they have come down to our
terms. We should not let small mat
tiers influence us nor antipathy to cor
porations. / want to say that the
only way to get waterworks is by
municipal ownership or through cor
poration as the cost is too heavy fol-
single capitalist, while the courts
have ruled against us on the only 9th
er plan of municipal ownership, aside
from the purchasing clause in the
present franchise. The city is pledg
ed to municipal ownership. This has
been demonstrated by vote and the
only way to get what the city has
pledged itself to get is by ratifying
the councils action in passing the
franchise.
81 implore you to take broad view
of this matter Do not let personal
animosities or dislikes enter into the
matter. The matter should be cere
fully weighed and the voter should
cast his ballot after first weighing the
consequences to the city should the
water supply be shut off,
Other Speakers.
Alfred Briggs spoke from the stand.
point of mechanic. He stated that
the argument that the manufactures
can get along as they are at present
forced to do with artesian water is
false, as he says every boiler in town
will be in the repair shop in few
days if conditions continue as at pres
ent. j. G. Meek spoke few words
from the audience in which he dealt
upon the necessity of lettering the
sanitary conditions. The closing adj
dress of the evening was made by J.
7. Hackworth. He brought out the
conditions of the franchise, which he
said We're all that in reason could be
asked.
A short after meeting was called for
the purpose of organizing in the vari-
Gus wards of the city, but the meeting
was adjourned owing to the lateness
of the hour, until this evening at 8
o'clock in the Y. M. C. A.. auditorium.