The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1905-03-04
B|GEL0W SEES SIGNS
Of HOPE IN THE Times
Holds That Waves of New Pub
lie Sentiment Are Mount
ing High.
Movement for Public Owner
ship in Many Cities Has
Good Effect.

Good Effect.
Abbotsford, WIS.,. Mar. 2-Herbert s.
Bigelow, the pastor af the Vine Street
Congregational church Of Cincinnati.
addressed large audience in this city
last Sunday evening. He chose as his
subject: "Signs of Hope" and spoke
as follows:
ITO one who enjoys the drama Of
human history these days are anything
but dull The waves Of new public
sentiment are mounting high. Az Low
ell sang Of another age, The time Is
ripe and rotten ripe for change The
magazine is waiting for the match.
"The late Henry D. Lloyd declared
that when the people came to under
stand the nature Of monopoly they will
no more endure it than slavery or the
Roman Empire. One of the hopeful
signs of the times is that the people
are coming at last to understand the
nature of monopoly.
If you are not pleased with the
milk you are getting, you can change
milkmen. If you are not pleased with
the gas you are getting, you cannot
patronize another gas company.
If you do not like your grocer you
can go to another, but if you do not
like the service of the street car COM
pany what can you do but walk?
A Good Example.
''The city Of Manistee, Michigan, some
six years ago, bought out their private
water company. The manager under
the private company was retained in
the employ of the city. Rates were
reduced 20 per cent. Besides this saw
ing to the city, extensive Improvements
in the plant have been made and paid
for out of current receipts, and sink
ing fund has been carried along which,
in a few years, will retire the bonds.
But the greatest gain is the fact that
there is now no private water company
which is interested in maintaining po-
litical machines and seducing council
men. The private water company has
been taken ont of politics. The opera
tion Of a water plant by city council
cannot be 80 bad as the operation of a
city council by private water compa-
ny. ~@'-.-..
;. !. H. Is Is 49, Why Not oas7 80.
= 49, Now somesof the people in Manistee
ire saying: why not take the gas and
electric and street railway companies
out of politics? What is the difference
between a water company and a gas
companyT You cannot have compet-
ing gas companies. Two telephone
companies. are a nuisance. Electric
lighting and street railway businesses
ture. Here the consumer cannot protect
himself against :extortion and maltreat-
ment by Withdrawing his patronage
Competition does not come into play
Moreover, the influence Of these pri-
vate monopolies, with their dependence
upon councils for their franchises and
valuable privileges, is the source OF
three-fourths OF all political corrup'
ton. Why not take them all over, az
companies? This would protect the cit.
izens from extortion and save the coun.
Gilman from temptation.
This plan. like everything human
would be liable to abuse. But the peo.
pie would be dealing with politicians
whom they have the power to remove
They would not be- dealing with com.
panies who could shake twenty-five Of
fifty year franchises in their faces and
say: What are you going to do about
it?"
But Conservatism says: If you be.
gin by owning gas and telephone an6
street railway plants, where will yor
stop? You will want tthe city to gt
into the grocery business next
This same argument might be made
against government, post-offlce. Il
might be urged that government ought
not to be permitted to carry our letters
for fear it will want to make our shoes
Low Rates and Ne Rebates.
''The limit that should be set to gov
ernment ownership is obvious. There
is no need for the government to &c
into the shoe business, for in this busi-
ness, competition protects the public
from unfair treatment.
1T is the duty Of government to leave
as wide field as possible for private
enterprise. But IL a railroad or street
railway or gas or water. company is an
inevitable monopoly; IL these monopo-
lies are found to be the chief sources
Of political corruption; and If their
monopoly power enables them to plum
der a defenceless public while grant,
ing favor to a few and thus creating q
host of secondary monopolies, It is not
only the right. 1t II the duty Of govern
ment to take these monopolies out 6f
private hands and administer them In
the interest Of the public: with equal
rates to al and special rebates to none.
"'Bright years Of hope and life
Are on the wing. Yon glorious bow Of
{ freedom. -... 80. s,.r..sss
Bonded by the hand Of God, 10 spanning
times dark surSes. .@