Fergus County Democrat. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1904-1919, 1906-04-03
The People of Livingston Turn Down
John |. Bri0ht's Light Franchise
BY a Startling Majority.
MUNICIPAL OWNERSHIP WIN OUT
Mr.. Bright Will fxpend no More
Money in the Yellowstone
County Capital.
And it was a glorious victory"

And it was glorious victory"
Livingston people are not for fran
chses All doubts upon this question
We're resolved Monday The voting
freeholders of the city lit upon the ap-
plication of John L. Bright for an
electric light franchise like noun
tain eagle upon a defenseless barn
yard chicken. They voted down the
application by a majority of almost
two to one. The following figures tell
the story.
First Ward-For, SO; against los.
Second Ward-For, 61; against "a.
Third Ward-For, 26 against, 5S
Total-For, 123; against, 237.
Majority against application ia.
While the vote cast at MONDAYS
election was a small one the figures
do not begin to tell the story of the in
terest that was taken in the proposf-
ton before the people. The election
was an exciting one. Little crowds of
people stood on the street corners all
day long, and numerous impromptu
speeches were made by the proponents
and opponents of the measure John
r. King, reformed franchisist, held
the boards at numerous street corner
stands during the day and lent his
voice and presence to the opposition
Other distinguished citizens talked in
quieter, but perhaps more effective
manner. The proponents of the appli-
cation We're not idle. The field mar
shall, Won Moltke, worked hard and la
boriously. Quite lot of money was
wagered upon the result, and of the
money thus risked, a gentleman whose
wool sales during the past two years
have been large, carried off the greater
portion.
Monday morning the gentlemen who
have been leading the fight for the
franchise felt that their prize was Slip
ping away from them. However, they
refused to give up hope, and they even
Wagered their money on the success
of the franchise, hoping by some sort
of telepathic influence to stay the tide
of votes with a dam of wagered money.
Skidoo for them.
When the votes were counted there
was no balm in Gilead, no nepenthe,
no surcease from woe. 1t was, in the
vernacular of the street, simply fierce
The size of the plurality cast for the
opposition surprised even the most ar
dent workers against the franchise. 1t
lo,,
son had an idea it would be.
The franchise people expected to
make an even race in the Second ward,
and asserted their belief in the First
and Third wards going for the propo-
sition. They based their hopes in these
last wards upon representations that
had been made to them by voters
whose primary principle is: No fran
chise. These voters played a game that
would make Brete Harte's Heather
Chinee' ashamed of himself.
They talked blandly, even lovingly,
to the franchise managers: but when
the came to vote-oh, Lord!
1t were idle to attempt an analysis of
the vote cast against the measure.
There We're great many arguments
advanced against the granting of the
franchise, many of which We're selfish
and put forward by people who are not
primarily against franchises. The
bulk of the vote, however came from
people who are converted to the idea
that any franchise is bad thing. Mu-
nlclpal ownership adherents unques-
tionably Were large factor in the de-
termination of the question. The So.
clalists apparently voted against.
The vote cast for the franchise came
from people who think that Mr. Bright
haNlng shown his good faith by the
expenditure of large sum of money
was entitled to credit when he sald
ne would spend much greater amount
II the franchise carried. There are Ia