Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-04-03

only Democrat outside Of aldermen
elected was John L. Traeger, candi-
date for city treasurer. The indjCa
tions are that ne will be elected by at
least 800 plurality.
The issues in the campaign have been
largely based upon the Improvement of
local traction systems. Both parties
agreed that present conditions are in
tolerable but differ as TO the best meth
cd of revising them. TIL" Democratic
party, headed by Mayor Dunno, stood
for immediate municipal ownership
through condemnation Of the street car
property if the result could not be OBJ
tanned in any other way. The Rcpub-
lican party favored ordinances which
were recently passed by Democratic
CITY council over the veto of Mayor
Dunno.
These ordinances provided for 20-ycar
franchises for the street car cqmpa-
MICS, the city retaining the right to pur-
chase the systems for $j0,C00.000 plus
the amount to be spent for immediate
rehabilitation of the lines; six months
notice Of the city's intentions to &C
uuire the property being necessary. The
ordinances also provide for universal
transfers throughout the city, q 5-ccnt
fare and 81 per cent. of the net i'roiit OF
The companies to be paid to the city
These ordinances were approved today
by q majority of about 10000 The Vote
generally showed Il decided reversal OF
nublic opinion of municipal ownership
compared with m2yOralty campaign
two wears ago. At that time Dunno re-
ceived 163. 1879 votes against 13S.61 Tor
John M. Harlan, the Republican leader
The Prohibitionists' ticket received
22el votes and the Socialists 23,O24. ihiS
wear the Republican vote was close 70
165. coo. and of the Democrats close 70
las. 600. The Prohibition vote ran slight
II above that Of two years ago while the
Socialist vote fell off heavily, it being
more than 1000 less.
The campaign has been The mos
vicious the city has ever known. charges
and counter charges have been hurled,
the nersoual lives of the candidates nav
been discussed and speakers on hoth
sides have INDUCED in trades filled vita
invcctive and abuse.
Tho most disaGrcrabic feature OF tEc
campaign. which became to pronounced
In its latter part. commenced when Mayor
endum vote on the traction proposition
He and his followers announced that they
had secured 15l.OO0 signers to this petl-
ton, $4,000 being necessary TO place ''''
matter before the voters. Charges were
made by the Republican party mat
thousands of these names had been forg-
Ell ard that the list had been padded III
every conceivable fashion. These aSscr-
lions were vehemently denied by me
Democrats and the followers 81 Mayor
Dunno. who were i'll favor OF immediate
municipal ownership.
William Randolph Hearst came person
ally from New York to take part III me
campaign and brought with him cartoon
lists and editorial writer's. His papers
were the only publications. i'll the city
supporting Mayor Dunno, all other news
papers being for Busse ana Tic orul-
nances. The papers favOring Busse maze
much of the cry that Chicago was aht'
to manage its own interests without re-
ceivinE Instructions from Now YORK Ihi
Hearst papers claimed that Mayor Dunno
was acting for the best interests OF en-
cago and that it was, therefore, their
duty to support him.
The first returns received Indicated ma,
Busse would be elected by about -0'oo'
plurality Later these figures were GU
down and Busse apparently lost ground
throughout the evening, retaining all the
time, however, a strong and sure piura!i-
ty.
Mayor Dunno abandoned hop" WITHIN
two hours after the polls had closed. lie
sad: 1T looks as though the money
power has overwhelmed Us, hut orr Gauss
is not lost. Municipal ownership and
governmental ownernsi9 will win in the
end This election has merely acted as
a check: 1t will retard us for while
but the movement will so on and will il
the end be successful.
Mr. Busse, who is postmaster of tho
city, was confined to his home during
the campaign because of injuries received
in a recent wreck on the pennsylvania
Continued on Page Three.)