Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1905-12-09
Public Sentiment in Favor Of Speedy
Solution Of Traction Problem Has
Palpab|e Effect.
If Still Undecided by Spring EIec-
ton Voters Will Quickly
Settle It.


question and opposed to any further
parleying. humbug and buncombe over
the impossible fad. immediate mu-
nicipal ownership" is now plain to
all who have eyes To see and ears to
hear.
That prospective candidates for the
Council in next springs election. as
we'll n the party leaders on both sides
who are possessed VI wisdom. discrc-
ton and the ability to get in touch with
the public pulse. are aware of this il
evident from the preparations already
being made for that election.
If the traction question should by
any policy of delay and dilly dallying
be- still unsettled by the time the next
Aldermanic election is held. that cleo.
ton will show conclusively what a ire
mendous revuision In public sentiment
In regard to this question has taken
place since the last Mayoralty cam
paign.
The people have had their eyes open
ell since last April
They have witnessed the pitiful cf-
forts of an honest but misdirected and
lily Informed man whom they elected
on the platform of immediate munici.
pal ownership Of the street railways
to keep pledges which he made In good
faith. but which he found himself alb.
solutely unable to carry out.
The people have found that the trac.
ton question has been played with
simply to make campaign buncombe.
that they have been hoodwinked. that
they have been made to suffer physi.
cal discomfort and untold financial loss
10y being kept chasing after will o.
the wisp held mp to their gaze by
scheming politicians. Office seekers and
demagogues.
Hence II Is not likely that very many
of thirty-five candidates for Alderma.
ME honors next spring will run upon
an immediate ownership platform. II
any should try II they will have cause
10 rue lt.
II Is the opinion Of every man on
both sides Of the political fence that
hardly "A single candidate Of the thirty
tn he elected Aldermen will be an i'm.
mediate municipal ownership man.
These views are shared by scores
of others. a prominent Republican
leader had this To say:
should the traction question be un.
settled 10y next April. the people will
turn ont at the polls and sweep from
tile field every candidate who has the
temerity 10 run upon the ridiculous I'M
mediate ownership platform"
Another. speaking through the col.
umns of n contemporary. said
II believe that the Republican candI.
dates for Aldermen next spring will all
stand upon the same platform In rcla.
ton 10 the most important question
now confronting the city voters
IL would he wise for the Republic.
greatest certainty Of producing early
and satisfactory reforms In the street
car service, II Is now we'll understood
that the party of municipal ownership,
SO called. really cares for the owner.
ship of the streets only as 1t can ma.
1llDllliIf illf rlltfl 'llI'l's W w w
litical purposes"
This has the right ring to IL; 1t truly
expresses the general condition of pub
lie sentiment today, and is gospel
truth. every word of II.
What Is true OF the Republican par
~ Is true also of the Democratic party.
Leaders and candidates on both sides
will do we'll To remember next spring,
should the traction question be then
unsolved. that what the people want Is
not n lot Of nonsense about immediate
municipal ownership, but immediate
settlement of this question.
To all thinking persons. all ut least
who have followed the progress and
development of this question, there
really seems to be no reason why II
should not be settled even before the
aldermanlc campaign Of next spring,
There j. nothing that the people
have demanded either In public mass
meetings "a through their representa-
tiyeS In the city government that has
not been conceded by the traction com
panics.
Universal transfers, up-to-date street
ear service, comfortable cars and plen'
IS Of them, rapid transit handsome re.
muncratiOn 10 the city, courteous and
careful treatment Of the public by the
companies employees, streets along the
right Of way ,prinklei and swept IN
summer, and the snow and slush re-
moved In winter; all these ana other
advantages which have been cnumer-
ated IN previous editions Of this paper
are guaranteed the people in return
for a franchise Of reasonable length.
Evcryborg who has given the mat
Ter any study or attention knows that
IL the city could own the street rail
way companies tomorrow IL could not
give the public any such service as
this, nor could il do 80 In the course
Of twenty years to come, II ever ar all.
The enormous expense Of acquiring
the property aud rolling stock OF the
companies would simply swamp the
city, and then II IL ever did get the
system into working order Il Is ten
chances 20 one that II would be IN the
hands Of a lot Of hoOdlum hangers on
Of political parties who would give the
people the kind Of service they have
hon uzal IN far Vears M tho CitV Han