Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1904-02-03

ance. Refreshments consisting OF
frappe and waters were served from
two tables. In the decorations the
color scheme of red was nicely carried
out: this being the color of the
Willmar High School It was .
most or ioyable affair and proved to
be favorable opportunity for becom-
ing better acquainted. The visiting
delegation returned on the 1870 train,
carrying back home many pleasant
recollecttons OF the "good old debst-
ing time" and indulging in general
rejoicing of the victory won.
The two teams presented their argu-
ments in the following order:
CONSTRUCTIVE ARGUMENT.
ALBERT N. GILBERTsoN.
Mr.. Gilbertson, who opened the de-
bate, presented the financial side Of
the question mainly. He spoke of the
rapid growth of the cities of the un.
, ion. In the anxiety of the people for
every modern Improvement the most
costly franchises were recklessly
granted to private corporations.
Costly streets were given over to trac-
tion companies, gas, water and elec'
trio light companies, from which these
corporations derived immense dnan-
cial gain. He proved by statistics
that the old rates for street car, light
and water service, which in the earlier
years were not considered dispropor.
tionate, were generally retained at the
present time, and that these rates
could be easily cut In two and still
leave q wide margin of profit to the
corporations. He cited many in.
stances of the American and European
cities in which these franchises had
been taken away from private indi-
viduals and vested in the municipsli'
ties themselves with the most salts
factory results. Authorities were
quoted, declared BY the speakersto be
fstapti ikftddou ouAhese sub lI66cts, &nd tthaif
statements given in proof Of municipal
ownership. Charts were shown which
must have been prepared at a cost Of
an immense amount of labor, display.
ing the comparative values to the
cities named under private ownership
and municipal ownership, which was
q strong point in favor OF the afflrma-
tive.
LEON SMITH.
Leon Smith opened the negative for
Benson. His presentation OF the ar-
gument was by occular demonstration.
He displayed charts and charts and
still charts, on which figures in vast
array were drawn up like an army OF
sol liers ready to do battle and take
the crown Of victory. With the men,
tai legerdemain OF master mind he
wrestled with the long columns of sta.
tistics, ringing the changes on the re"
gret and the discomfort to the people
of cities which had tried municipal
ownership, all of which he said tended
to prove the negative OF the PROPOSE.
tion. His efforts could not be called
an oratorical masterpiece. Rhetoric
was not attempted. Flowers of speech
were deferred until the warm summer
time, but hard solid facts were hurled
at the judges like bullets from Mau-
ser gun. His efforts we're worthy OF
much praise.
VICTOR S. KNUTSON.
Mr.. Knuts0n was the first lieuten-
ant on the affirmative. He started In
by presenting figures showing the
enormous growth of municipal owner.
ship since 'S2, when there was only
one such plant in the Union. He took
up q line OF argument showing the
vastly improved service which muni'
cipal ownership developed, emphssiz
ing the disregard of public safety by
private corporations and calling At
tention to the large increase of bust
ness that had followed such owner
ship. Glasgow and London were
cited as having proved most favor
able to the affirmative side Of the ques
ton. The speaker declared, on tht
authority Of the fire marshal OF Chi
osgo, that few buildings were careful
ly wired, and as q consequence tht
number of fres In the city had more
than doubled.
| = HUGH McCUNE.
This speaker argued against mum
cipal ownership because he considered
such ownership disastrous financially
In the first place because of the waste
and extravagancs through the fac
that the officials and employees - 8
rule have little or no practical expert
ence in running the plants, and In tn,
second place because they have nj
personal interest in the result. An
other chief reason is that there is ,
constant tendency 70 rely on the :abtl
ity Of the municipality to make up de
fciencies BY taxation. Any business
enterprise dependent upon the fluctua
ton Of politics Il not on ! stkbl,
fouadation. The employees undel
! municipal ownership sre usually ~
. i