The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1905-04-01
Phase of Proceedings of Com
mercial Club Meeting Not
Discussed in the Daily Press
and Thoroughly Analysed by
Labor World Without Fear
or Favor.

chise Holding Corporations
Who Vote Their Private In
terests.
The action of the Commercial Club in
endorsing the enabling act giving this
city the right to issue bonds for the
purpose of purchasing or building it's
own electric lighting plant by one ma
jority was complete surprise. It was
thought that the proposition would be
endorsed by a large vote. It's close call
however, will in no way damage the
chances of the bill. 1t will in no way
operate against the success of public
ownership. Only the Commercial club
itself will suffer for the use that sell
fish interests are attempting to make
Of it.. When the good citizens of Du-
luth learn that it's institutions can only
thrive by advancing correct principles
they will see to it that they are put on
a better basis. Principles, not private
interests, should govern in the Com
mercial club, and any departure from
this plan will eventually bring the club
into discredit.
This is not the first time that the
popular and unrighteous position. Men,
supposed to be broad minded, conser-
vative and public spirited, who vote
their private interests in such semi
public institution are doing the city
q great harm.
Who Supported the Bill.
Fully one hundred people attended
the meeting In question. Among those
who advocated the passage of the elec-
trio lighting bill were George Spencer
and Watson Moore of the Spencer
Moore Co., one of the largest grain
institutions Of the city; Harvey H.
Phelps, A. e. McManus, T. T. Hudson,
John A. Keyes, Frank Crassweller.s
Porter ]. Nen and Judge w. A. Can't
some Of the most leading members 81
United States Steel Corporation and a
score Of other public spirited men who
thought only of the public good, and
whose friendship for the interested
parties was no barrier against doing
a public duty. We know that it is
hard to stand between personal friend
ship and public duty. We have been
put to the test ourselves, and know
something of the inward rebellion that
causes much pain and uneasiness up
to the time of action. We know, too,
something of the pride and satisfac-
tion that follows, even after losing
friend, when one has honestly and
conscientiously discharged duty un,
der the most trying circumstances. So
for these good men who have been put
to the test, and who have not been
found wanting we have nothing but
praise and congratulations for their
courageous position.
Who Opposed the Bill.
Opposed to the endorsement Of the
bill were the representatives of every
franchise holding corporation in the
city, most of them mighty fine fellows,
but all Of them voting their private
interests. Eliminate these men from
the opposition and scarcely g. corporars
guard would have voted against the
proposition. These are the men who
voted against the bill: c.. M. Mauseau,
manager Of the Duluth Telephone COM
pany; Herbert Warren, general man.
ager Of the Duluth Street Railway
company; o. c. Hartman, c. E. Van
Bergen and Thos. Marks of the Du-
luth General Electric company; Alex
McDougall, A. H. Comstock, A. NJ.
Marshall and Oscar Mitchell of the
Great Northern Power company; J. l..
Washburne Of the Zenith Furnace COM
pany; o. H. simonds of the Mime
sofa Canal company; D. D. Crowley and
r
company and bidders for franchises in
the smaller cities Of Northern Minne-
sofa, and such citizens as H. B. Knud-
sen of the Knudsen-Ferguson company
Harvey A. Wing, former municipal
ownership alderman; c. A. Luster Of
the Clyde Iron Works, L. M. Willcuts,
Henry Nolte, E. c. Little, w. B. Sill
vey, o. H. Clarke and some others.
Some Very Odd Arguments.
Eliminate the representatives of the
private interests above named. we re-
peat, and the proposition would have
carried the club by vote of to l. But
the result of the vote was not so sur
prising as the argument that were
used. ". B. Silvey referred to the
cranky(?) notions Of Duluth citizens.
and mentioned the silver craze (?)
Of 1856, claiming that the judgment
of Duluth people was not always the
very best. O. H. Simonds talk
ed to the point, and 1t is belived,
would have canged his position,
were other interests not involved,
because his argument was fully ans
wered by such men as George Spencer
and Watson Moore. Charles Haines
was fearful lest he would be made
bankrupt because of excessive taxes
due to an increased bonded indebted
ness. J. L. Washburne referred to the
fact that the Zenith Furnace company
had enabled the city to decrease the
cost Of gas, and would have made d
splendid speech in favor Of the muni-
cipal ownership of an electric lighting
plant which will secure it's power from
the Great Northern Power, company,