Arizona republican. [volume] (Phoenix, Ariz.) 1890-1930, 1906-10-31

put them under one central manage
ment inaugurated a complete trans
fer system renewed and improved the
equipment. and as a result, immeasure-
ably improved the service.
The population of Seattle is now
officially estimated at 10000. and the
trackage of the electric company a
mounts TO ia miles. or one mile for
every 1910 persons. a trackage far
above the average to residents of Amer
lean cities. The service is as nearly
perfect as the rapid growth of the city
will permit. 1t was not difficult there
fore. to show that Seattle might be a
good deal worse off in its street car
service than was actually the case.
But the opponents OF municipal
ownership had TO combat a sentiment
in its favor which had been fostered
for many years. This sentiment had
crystalized in the nomination for mayor
in January of this year of William
Hickman Moore, a democrat and a
prominent lawyer. The platform on
which he stood was devoted exclusive
" to the advocacy of municipal owner
shin and operation of the street rail-
ways in Seattle. The platform de-
clared that no new franchises or re-
newals should be granted, except after
submission to the direct vote of the
people: that no further grants should
be made to the company now opera
ting in Seattle except for minor con-
nections and necessary extensions TO
residence districts, and that there
should be submitted to the people at
the earliest date practicable a plan for
! a system of municipal lines TO be con-
strueted from money raised on bonds,
based on the credit of the system and
its revenues. Mr. Moore was elected
so that when the referendum was pre-
! scented the opponents of municipal
Ownership had to start with the initial
verdict of the people already appar-
/ emily against them.
! OPPOSITION GETS TOGETHER,
| Thus handicapped, the first step was
to organize the opposition. This was
/ done bv the formation of the Seattle
/ Economic League, J. NJ. Fink, former
mayor of Seattle. and a man Of wealth
and high standing, was elected presi-
dent with John H. McGraw, formel
/ governor of the state of Washington
as right-hand man The league de
cided on a campaign of education, ant
although it was late in the field i
pressed its work with great vigor. IL
plans and methods We're decides
unique.
1t first issued an address to the vot
ers in which it clearly set forth tn
reasons of its opposition to the stree
railway proposition. Enclosed wit
the address was a postal card address
ed to the league. This the recipien
was asked to sign and return. Abou
20. 900 of these were sent out; an
500 favorable responses were re
ceived.
! A statement of the financial condi
ton of the city was prepared. shown
) this debt which it already carried; tn
debt which it would have to carry
order to have adequate water facilite
! and the debt which was proposed
I fix upon the city in addition, for an VI
:, necessary experiment. The tremenC
; Gus increase of Seattle's debt with
l three years was set forth by this del
I statement, which was mailed to
registered voters of the city
The league next secured the serVlc
! ! of several competent speakers, ar
> these it furnished to local improve
ment clubs and other bodies conside
! ing the municipal ownership probler
: a pamphlet was prepared shown
the improvements which the city
: growth rendered imperative and it w
pointed out to the voter that becau
!. of the debt limit choice would have
be made between these and the mum
cipal railway experiment, This W