The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-07-02

home, the above statement appeared
in some of the big papers and was
widely copied. If Mr.. Dalrymple had
made the statements attributed to
him, he would have struck municipal
ownership a blow from which it would
not soon recover. 1t was published,
moreover, as he was leaving America.
Happily, reporter of the New York
World saw him en- route to Canada,
showed him the words attributed to
hfn, and invited MIR. Dalrymple to give
his views more fully. The Scotch
man was astounded at the views at
tributed to him, and in the course of
an interview this statement was made
to the World:
~ would like you to make it clear
and emphatic that l return to GlaS,
gov as firm a believer in municipal
ownership of franchises as when 1
came to this country. 1t may be that
my views as to the success of NUM-
cipal ownership in America have been
somewhat modified, but | see no rea-
son why the system should not be APP
piled here successfully
Now. 1 have been quoted as saying
that your political system over mere
would prevent the successful operation
OF franchises by your municipalities.
That is a mistake. What | did say,
and wish to reiterate, is that your
political system presented difficulties
that are unknown to us at home.
While, of course, we have polucS
there, it does not enter into the queS-
ton of municipal ownership. Every
man sinks his politics and is imbued
only with civic pride. In this connec-
ton all our citizens are one. They
take pride in the operation of the
tramways, and practically every one
becomes an inspector as it were. We
really have no need for inspectors, as
everybody in Glasgow feels that he
has an interest in the tramWay ANA
everybody does his best to make its
operation a success. This is so because
the municipality does not operate Tor
a profit, and SO benefits everybody, ana
the people, approaching this, do all
In their power TO make the service
perfect.
why should this not be so in your
country? Civic pride should dominate
Americans just as much as 1t does
Scotchmen. Once your people expert
ence the great benefits that will come
to them from the public ownership OF
utilities, l feel certain that the ques-
ton of politics will be lost sight of
and civic pride alone VIII rule.
This effectually disposes of the fake
interview, and leaves to the advocates
of municipal ownership the weight oil
Mr.. Dalrymple's views. and puts upon
them the burden to improve American
municipal government. The first step
TO that improvement is to end private
monopoly in public utilities.
Since the above was written a
strong and able article on Private
Ownership and Public Graft" by
Francis w. Parker, in The World To-
Day, has appeared. From this inter-
esting and convincing article, the fol-
lowing extract is taken:
Private ownership of the public
utilities and municipal corruption are
at least great friends and boon COM
panions. 1t may be helpful to examine
closely their relation. The public utlli-
ty corporations usually begin their
operations with the employment OF
cminently respectable attorneys who
appear before the Legislative bodies
and sometimes are members of them.
They sit at the tables of the rich, are
classified with the important, and bold
ly justify their conduct by the asSer-
ton that the legislators and councillors
are venal. They are the willing and
plant tools of the great corporations,
because of their profound respect for
and belief in the sacredness of private
property. They are always, whether
members of the body or not, shielded
by their character as lawyers They
work for fees, not for brides. They
descend into the muck of franchise
granting or protecting campaign
check by jowl with the boodling poll
ticians, and when the work is done
they change their raiment, like the
physician after a visit to a chamber of
contagious disease, and move serenely
into the highest social circles, SNUG
and round, SIMULTANEOUSLY damning
the legislature or council which they
have corrupted, and regretting to
their intimates the necessity of doing
SO, while they blandly pocket the
proceeds of their infamy. Probably
there has not yet appeared in Amer1-
can politics anything quite so horrible,
so offensive in the sight of an honest
man, so incompatible with free institu-
tons as these men who represent the
public utility corporations in their
franchise grating operations in con-
nection with city councils and state
legislatures II satan lives in human
form. he is certainly to be found in
this slick oily, well-groomed. we'll
educated lawyer. politician and boo6tcr
whom you find on the dOorsteps of
your club in your political party con-
vention. in reform movements, at the
altar in your church, and frequently
in the highest public position"
Is this powerful Indictment true:
To the letter. 1t is a strong arraign
ment of a gigantic evil that not only
robs the many for the enrichment of
the few but debauches municipal poll
tics and make improvement difficult
1t is not necessary to go to Chicago
to see the influence of the franchise,
owner, not guilty of corruption, but
using the weight of his position to inn
pose a burdensome tax upon the peo-
pie for water, or to compel the city
to pay them dollar for wind for the
water works. The Raleigh Co.'s fran
chiSe expires in November, 1916.
Mayor Johnson was elected on q plat
form in which he declared for city