The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1905-04-01
Some Novel Arguments Used
by Opponents Of Public Own
ership to Defeat Purpose Of
Meeting - Speakers Boldly
Declare that People Should
Be Restricted in Their Right
of Government.
Oscar Mitchell, Former Public
Ownership City Attorney,
Still on a Tangent and Fear
full Lest the Private Electric
Lighting Plant Should Be
Made Old Junk by People.

ed in self government. He referred to
the city charter which he and Mr..
Phelps with some others helped to
draft and mentioned restrictions there
in, but the people ratified the charter.
The charter, too, contains some provi-
sions which places certain powers
wholly in their hands. On one Occa-
sion since the adoption Of the charter
amendments have been referred to the
people, and they were defeated because
the people did not believe in them.
One of these was fathered by Mr.. Nit
chell, and was turned down at the last
election. It provided for the abolition
! Of the Board of Public Works, but for
political reasons, best known to Mr..
Mitchell, the amendment was not to go
into effect until 1906. The people did
not like this kind Of political sugar
| coated pill and they very properly
turned the whole proposition down.
Why Mitchell Loses Confidence.
We presume that after such a re-
buke Mr. Mitchell has lost confidence
! in the people, because they do not agree
| with his line of thinking. He should
not labor under the halucination that
government. We know how easy it is
get into a certain train Of thought.
Mans environments and associations
have much to do with his opinions,
and so Mr.. Mitchell, performing legal
services for people who are opposed to
the advance of democracy, and associ-
ating at the club and elsewhere with
them, where they discuss questions Of
the day from their own standpoint, has
permitted himself to fall into cham
mel of thought which is very much at
variance. with the teachings in the
public schools from which he received
his education. We have wondered since
last Saturday evening if Mr.. Mitchell
has preserved any OF his essays In his
civil government class at school. We
have few stored away and when we
drift little we often dig them up and
go over them, just to see how closely
we are keeping to our early teachings.
It would not be bad plan for every
person who interests himself in gov
ernment to do the same.
Where Some Good Thoughts are Stored
If Mr.. Mitchell wants to get some
science Of government we would be glad
to take him to the homes of a number
of workingmen we know Of, who have
no study room except cosy corner
in a comfortable sitting room. There
he can sit at the throne Of an Amer1-
can king, who is little in touch with
the trickery and scheming Of practi
cal politics, but who knows that he and
his class are being plundered because
of the iniquities of a restricted gov
ernment that permits greed and special
privileges to wax fat, and at his foot
stool he may receive some honest
thoughts on the question Of popular
government Tell us then that this
class of men are irresponsible? Tell
us that these men are not capable Of
deciding whether or not they want their
city to go into the electric lighting bus
mess? No, we know better. You have
MT a leg to stand on, Mr.. Mitchell.
Your argument is stripped Of all its
logic. You are left to argue your case
to a less intelligent people.
A Word to tho Commercial Club.
Now one word to the Commercial
Club. We expect much from this great
institution. The people have placed
confidence in you because Of the high
character Of your membership. But you
| cannot afford to permit yourselves to
be used by private interests at the ex-
pense of the people, and because you
took the stand that you did Saturday
evening you are going to be supported
by a greater number Of independent
citizens, who are truly interested in the
welfare of the city and who have no
axes to grind. This character of cit
| izenship is needed to boom this city,
and the more you get of it, the longer
| will be your lease Of life. The club can
be Of much good or harm to the city.
| It is our duty ii treat such an institu-
| ton kindly, and it is our hope that it
will ever follow the path Of righteous
ness, always trying to perform the
greatest good for the greatest number.
MORRlsSEY PLEASED.
Minneapolis, March 30.-Patrick
ADorrissey, twin oity business agent