The Caucasian. (Shreveport, La.) 1900-192?, 1905-04-16
MUNICIPAL
OWNERSHIP
SIGNIFICANCE OF THE ELEC-
TION IN CHICAGO.
CLEAR.CUT PRINCIPLES
The Victory Nindication of William
Randolph Hearst-An Index to the
Spirit and Temper of the People,
By JOHN Temple Graves.
Editor Atlanta News

WE'LL the Democracy OF Chicago has
sounded bugle note, and unfurled an
economic banner which will ring and
wave throughout the country.
Nothing more important and nothing
more significant than this Chicago cleo
ton has stirred municipal and economic
politics in the generation in which we
live. 1t officially sets in motion a force
which will aamor at the American bal
lot box until it has a definite and salts
factory answer.
The second city and the real 1netropo-
lis of the greater part of the Republic
has. by an overwhelming majority, COM
nittei itself to a trial of the mighty
principle of municipal ownership. The
incident is worthy of the vital interest
and attention of every American who
thinks and votes.
There was never an issue more clearly
made The selfish capitalists owning the
| franchises of the Chicago street railway
| system have for forty years abused the
confidence and liberality of the people.
| Graft. greed and watered stock at enor-
NOUS profits have swallowed up all con-
sideration of public service, and the cor
porations enjoying the public franchise
have compelled the great city of Chicago
to submit to the most execrable street
railway service in America. The selfish
ness and greed of the corporations have
| been the instruments of their own un-
| doing. and the outraged sense of the
people thundered in the ballots of the
4th Of April. ..~-- -
| A majority of about 25,oco citizens
emphatically declared: First, against
granting any more franchises to the cor
poration, and, second, in favor Of the
immediate establishment by legal means
of municipal ownership of the great
street railway system of Chicago.
There has been much squirnling by
Republican and corporation organs over
the result, and some rather frenzied
haste in proffering explanations of this
remarkable vote outside of the great is
sue upon which it was cast. With due
regard to these partisan protests, and
with the trivial and inconsequentia]
swept away, several great central facts
loom definite and clear.
First-Chicago went Republican in the
last national election by nearly 10000
majority.
Second-Carter Harrison, personally
the most popular Democrat that Chicago
has known in twenty years, carried the
last municipal election against COM
paratiyely weak Republican competition
by only 1900 votes.
Third-That in this campaign the Re-
publican party had in John Maynard
Harlan the most picturesque, popular
and powerful municipal candidate thai
it has presented in this generation! and
| Fourth-That, in the face of thest
conditions, the Democratic party, after {
thoroughly discussed and deliberate cam
paign, has just carried the city of Chi
cago distinctly and purely upon the issue
of municipal ownership by sweeping
majority of $4,000 votes!
There can be but one explanation o
this result under these conditions, ant
that is that the people, speaking in th'
majesty and might of majorities, arr
determined to give the great principle o
public ownership of utilities a free, fai
and practical trial.
+ And the Democracy of Chicago have
scored great and far-reachlng triumph
in making this issue and carrying it t(
| the honest test of experiment.
Now, if this experiment of municipa
Ownership is successful in this great cit,
of Chicago-if, after intelligent applica
ton and reasonable probation, it work
we'll to the betterment of the public ser
vice, and to the comfort, convenience ant
economy of the people-it is simply
matter of common sense to see that tll'
movement inaugurated by the Chicago
tDemocracy-an to be credited as ;
Democratic n1ovenent-will sweep tn
country and solve the problem that in
wolves both cities and states in scanda
| and injustice.
II That this experiment will be success
full no man of reasonable intelligence
| will permit himself to doubt. 1t ha
i been splendidly successful in some of tn
| greater cities of Europe, where condi
i tions are exactly similar. The prineipl'