The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1905-04-11
Spoke at Cooper Insti-
tute on Municipal. Z
~ 40 y
Ownership. s
ENTHUSIASTIC CROWD

New York, April There never
was a larger assemblage of people
around Cooper Institute than that
which gathered there tonight to in
dorse the suggestion of municipal own
ership. Thousands crowded the spa
cious hall and three times as many,
falling to gain admittance, blocked the
streets in the immediate vicinity.
Shortly afttr z O'Clock Congressman
William Randolph Hearst appeared on
the platform and after he had explain
ed the object of the meeting, he
wound up his brief speech by saying
"our sister city--Chicago-has just en-
dorsed municipal ownership over
whelmingly and | believe New York is
ready for such movement. / am sure
some strong and able man will spring
up here to fulfill every promise for
the advancement of the ideas for
which this meeting has been called"
The speaker, amid vociferous cheers
then introduced the chairman, ]. G.
Phelps Stokes and after some old
speakers had addressed the meeting,
Mayor-elect Edward F. Dunno of Chi
cago addressed the meeting.
When the newly elected mayor of
Chicago made his appearance on the
platform he was greeted with tumul-
tous enthusiasm and 1t was not until
many minutes had been occupied in a
rousing welcome that the distinguish
ed visitor was able to make himself
heard. Judge Dunno spoke in part as
follows:
Addressing the vast sea of upturned
faces as men of the east" the Chica-
go mayor-elect said:
I'VE bring you tidings of great joy
from the men of the west. The ex
ploitation of public property by pri-
vate capital, with it's attendant greed,
eXtortion and corruption, has had it's
day in American cities, but that day is
about to end. Fully half century ago
the citizens of Chicago drove from
control of our water system the pri-
yate capitalists who were then plum
dering the public. Ten years ago they
dislodged the coterie of private capital
which was exploiting our streets for
the sale of electric light to the city.
Next Monday Chicago starts upon her
mission of dislodging private capital
from the control of our street car sys-
TEN. She has succeeded in the opera
tion of her waterworks system in pay
ing some $4,000, 900 for the equipment
of that plant, has loaned $5,0O0O 600
from that department to the sewer
system, is today giving the cheapest
water of probably any city in America,
and has cash surplus of nearly
81 000,0 900. She has so managed her
electric light plant that she has re-
duced the cost of arc lamps from $125,
charged by private companies to the
city when she first constructed the
plant, to about $54 for arc lamp per
annum. She is operating and has been
operating, both departments as well as
her police. fire and educational depart
ment without scandal, graft, or cor
ruption besides cheapening the cost Of
utilities that she is furnishing to the
public. She will have the same record
of success in relation to her street car
system. You men of New York may
surpass us in wealth, any it may be,
in culture, but Chicago, in our judg-
ment is the nerve center of America
and the leader in economic thought
and action. Chicago is the only city
in America that has declared by an
municipalization Of her street car sys-
TEN, and what Chicago Wills she
does"
Mayor-elect Dunno then traced the
history of the fight for municipal own
ership in Chicago saying that private
capitalists "by most shameless and no.
torious corruption" have fought the
people at every turn.
The speaker gave an interesting ac-
count of the workings of municipal
railways and electric light plants IN
foreign countries and their beneficial
results to the people and their finan-
cial betterment Of the city's Golfers.
Concluding, he said: los.
"The movement in favor of munich
pal ownership of all public utilities
has taken deep root among the intelli-!
gent people of this country. 1t is no
passing sentiment 1t is here to stay.
Municipal ownership and operation of
these utilities and governmental own
ership of the railroads, telegraphs and
express transportation, is a practical
question upon which the people must
pass within very short time, and the
politicians and parties who ignore this
sentiment must be prepared for a
short lived career before the people" I"
Carroll County Republican Committee.
n .