The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-09-15
Supporting the M. o. Candidacy in the
. Democratic Party, but Baking at
Bryan's Theory Of Government
Owned Railroads, He WaSls City
Prepared to Buy the Plant.

the public ownership Of the railroads
of the countrywide Bryan idea-nor
was he particularly impressed with any
plan to take over the local street rail
ways. He does favor preparedness to
meet the situation that will arrive in
the property of the gaslight company
at its actual value, exclusive Of the
franchise, or by failing to do so is
bound to continue the franchise Of the
company automatically for another
tWenty-Year period. ~
IT believe" said Mr.. Winston, that
the city should not be led astray by
other issues that can be settled at any
time, when this issue must be met in
1910. or not at all. do not say that
L advocate the, purchase Of the gas
property. What | do earnestly desire
and what l shall. work for is this: that
the city be prepared in 1910 with suf-
ficient credit to make the company
come to it's terms, and, if necessary, to
to buy the plant, and # we are we e@e ean
make our own terms as to rates If the
company wishes to continue to ope-
Winston IS Stand.
Few recent political announcements
have created more interest than that
MI. Winston would take the stump in
support OF a candidate on the munich
pal-oWnershlp platform. In dignifed
M manner Mr.. Winston stated his atti-
tude with reference to the candidacy
OF W.. Il. Williams for mayor and the
methods OF the gas company. He said:
"What l esteem the paramount is
sue IN the present campaign is this:
In 1910 the franchise of the Minneapo-
lis Gas Light company expires, and the
people must be- prepared to exercise
their rights at that time. It cannot
pc put OF. 1t must be settled in 1910.
S OF the siadS FIVE can candidates for mayor on
has announced his ST position o w on tRat
question. He says: take over the
property of the gas company, and don It
allow ,o,the other issues to divert the atten-
Mr.. Winston said that he was. per
haps, not in favor Of complete munich
pal ownership, especially of railroads,
giving as his reason the opportunity
that would be afforded for the building
OF huge political machine based on
the political appointmentaof employees
on large traction lineg or railroads. y
4HFhe gas plantt however, said Mr..
Winston, mis- lin ofne5 with the water
works. Nobody Would dare suggest to
the city; that it sell its waterw orks.
L believe it but fair to say, take the
gas property also If you do not do
1T, at least be in position with suffi-
.cient credit to dictate the terms on
which it shall be renewed.
Corrupt, He Charges.
1.-THE gas interests Of this city have
exerted the most corruptings infu e
nH "a
influence in the city, today. I know
what l am saying. It wants no man
in office on whose shoulder it may not
put it's hands to direct him. It wants
to dictate nominations and is still not
satisfied. It goes outside the city to
use it's influence with the tax boards
Of the state. I refer to the state board
of equalization. = 60. = - - 3 3
"Two years ago we elected John A.
Johnson governor of this state. He is
an honest man and I stand for him.
There are some people, however, cute
% til s fool e an 6d honest man a. and
Governor Johnson.
"There are in the state Of Mime
sofa eighteen judicial districts, from
each of which the governor appoints
one member to the board of. equaliza-
ton: As was his duty, the governor
appointed eighteen men and all were
democrats. Here I will digress mo-
ment. We all know that two and four
years ago City Assessor Minor ap-
peared before the state board of equal
ization, and abused it for raising the
Minneapolis, saying that Minneapolis
was Disseminated against. Now wait
minute. @4
~ a;.gs The Equalizers. s@.iSs j.. ~
Gas I said moment ago, eighteen,
board members were appointed; From
the. Minneapolis district Titus Mareck.
man, was appointed. From the Month.
cello district, just north Of us, another
good democrat was appointed. Then
what happeneds Mr.. Mareck an
nounced that for business and other
reasons he could not serve. Now fol-
low me closely. When Mr.. Mareck re-
signed somebody got busy and the gov
ernor was Influenced to appoint Lester
B. Elwood Of Minneapolis, a brother
in-law Of the head Of the gas company.
Then what happened in Monticellos
other broSAer-in-law. Mr.. Tip"
Mealey, was appointed to take the
place. Two vacancies on the board
from the entire state and both filled by
brothers-in law. The board met and you
know what it did.
Now, Mr.. Minor-and I say moth
ing against him personally--comes back
to Minneapolis and this year increases
the assessed valuation Of the city $685.
100000 but the gas company not a
cent. He does this in spite Of the fact
that for four years he has been abusing
the, state boards for raising Mime
apolis.
"TAe state board Of equalization or
ganizes with one Of the gas brothers
in-law as chairman Of the: committee
on corporations. There are three bro
anS here the third IL Mnna
apois, the third brother-in-law, an
estimable gentleman and attorney, as
lawyer for the gas company, appears
before one Of the brothers Jaw az
chairman Of the corporations commit
tee to argue the, case, Of the gas COM
pany, the common brother -in-laW Of
both, to show why the company should
not be raised.
Will Take the Stump.
Gentlemen, if one brother-in-law
Of that company shall appear before
another as final Judge, to compel the
city Of Minneapolis to stand the burden
of taxation for that company, and it
is to be allowed to 90 on, / for one
will take the stump and oppose every
man on the ticket from the governor
down am democrat, but first ] am
for the city Of Minneapolis. advise