The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1904-05-15

Tn Tho details or municipal owner
ln ship. uB developed In these cit
k-s1 Ina OF Great Britain, 1t In well
INAXG to take n glance at the lnep
who arc ut tho head Of such enterprises
and to consider how many were selected
and what Is their reputation. Tho mo-
,nent a. suggestion Is made in the United
states that relief from corporate extor-
lion be sought In the public purchase
and operation Of tho offending monopoly
1he average citizen arises and objects on
Tho ground that such Il stcp Will serve
only to increase tho total or official tfier-
cry and corruption. IT Ia takor for grant.
ed that the mcn elected or appointed TO
take charge Of such utilities Will be
false to their trusts, and that they VIII
spend more time and energy In filling
their pockets than performing the public
service to which they were appointed
and for which they are paid from the
common treasury.
Mind you. am not making any such
charge against our Office holding class.
am simply sta ting It as a fact that the
average man In this,colntry opposes nl,is
,,icipal ownership on the ground that We
would BIO numerically robbed by the Of
ficlals In charge OF It. Submit the propo.
sitlon to one hundred business men and
nincty.fvc Of them Will respond 10 the
opportunities for the CRATER" and tbat
tho municipal ownership OF street rail
way or similar service would be the sig
nal for a successful raid by swarm OF
political corruptionists. Also that II
would add to the power and efficiency OF
Tho political machine"
have talked with hundreds OF business
men on this subject, and have never
heard one of them express confidence
a htv%f ,,
our larger cities. 1t would be possible to
select and maintain in Office honest and
capable men who would administer these
services solely for the benefit OF the COM
munity. Rightly or wrongly there Is
popular impression that the office holder
deserves to be an object of suspicion. 1t
is alleged that men OF unquestiohed In
tcgrity decline to accept public office. or
tfnt their selection Is practical impos-
stbIlty. To put It plainly and brutally
tho average citizen believes that our cit
les arc ruled by sets OF organized thieves
who Will steal everything In sight. and
holds that II Is good policy TO give them
tie smallest possible opportunity for
plumber. On this ground-if on no other
they oppose public ownership and this
fear of robbery Is nnquestionably the
most popular argument against II.
The citizen who fears that all hope for
take u trip to Great Britain. Those who
think that 1t Is human nature to be dis
honest, and who argue that corruption
has always existed, and Is, therefore. to
an extent condonablc, should spend a few
months searching for evidences OF Off
cial thicvcry in the great cities OF the
United Kingdom. Those who hold thai
public office is no place for an honest
man, should study the personality and
the life work OF the men who are at the
head OF tefi vast public utilities OF Lon
don, Liverpool, Manchester. Glasgow and
cities scattered from Lands End to John
O'Groat's.
l asked the question In Great Britain
hundreds OF times: '.Iave any OF your
officials been suspected. charged with OF
convicted of corrupt practices?" and al
ways received negative answers l put
the question to our American consuls,
ucn who arc In active touch with the
business and political life OF the leading
british centers, and they unhesttatingly
informed me that such 4 thing as NUM-
cipal corruption was practically unknown.
] talked with the commercial representa-
tyes of American firms which make a
specially of dealing with municipal gov
ernments, and these men informed me
that 1t was impossible to unduly influ-
cnce the sale OF their wares, or unfairly
10 secure the signing of contracts by
city officials.
shall not be offended IL you refuse to
believe this remarkable statement. 1t
was long time before the astonishing
truth finally dawned on me that there
was country on the face of the globe
where 1t was fashionable and in good