Rocky Ford enterprise., 1907-04-26
GIN E II
s MA p S
BY
G.. HI

| sAsu.GiRo BouC oh AhN-
nicipal ownership" policy in the last
city election. i could only answer
at the time that did not consider n
proposition to pay the city 55 per
cent of the net earnings OF the street
car lines and the right to purchase
the traction system on six months
notice and at a fixed price, very
serious surrender OF the inherent
principle OF municipal ownership.
This with the added proviso OF uni
yersal transfers, on five cent fare,
to the extreme limits OF the big city
and immediate suburbs, did not seem
to me an altogether poor string to
keep on the peoples rights OF their
own streets.
I'm not an ardent advocate OF mu-
nicipal management OF municipal mo-
nopolics. Ii the rights are reserved
| so that nothing but fair interest on
the capital invested goes into the
pockets of the capitalist, there is de-
cided advantage in leaving large un-
| dertakings to private management.
We have not become so virtuous yet
that an cmpioyc will necessarily give
more honest returns to municipal-
ity than he will to a private employ
err State socialism is an excellent
thing in theory. but have to confess
that 4 goodly percentage OF the So
cialists | have met are OF the wing
less variety. with no more scruples
abou, beating their feliowmcn out OF
n dollar or days time than the ex-
ccratcd capitalist. who takes the risk
and supplies the executive brains for
furnishing him employment. ! like
theory that is workable with hu-
man nature as il is today. and rs 1t
seems likely to continue TO be for
several generations to come. So
think the swing OF the populacc PEN
dulum in Chicago. from the $4,000
majority in favor OF immediate and
complete municipal ownership OF two
years ago 20 n $1,000 majority. in Ia
vor of n limited franchise to the irac-
tion company. is not such painfui-
ly cratic movement rs frequently
marks the jagged line OF our human
progress.
Bu, when my friend taxed me with
this citation OF wha, some OF the Chi
eago papers define as a return to
sanity" ON the part OF Chicago's
electorate. had no, got informed
much on tho subject. The returns
were not all in. so TO speak. was
sorry 20 see that Mayor Dunno had
been turned down. for l regard him
as ono OF the sincere rcformers in
political life. But have since learn
cd wha, leads me to believe that the
traction interests still have good
pull ou, of the deal they have made.
else i, would not have been necessary
for them TO put up such desperate
fight.
The hgh, strongly resembles the
Denver end OF the state campaign
VIC had in Colorado last fall. Great
''finaneicrs." not OF Chicago. alone.
bu, OF New York also. put UP cor
rup;ion fund OF gigantic proportions:
Ward bosses and party hcclcrs OF
both political parties and OF the
wors; type our large cities afford.
placed ,ha; frnd. 80 ,ha; thugs. gam
blcrs. divc-kcepers and brokers IN
prosti;u;ion-aii the pathetic mass
Of degraded humanity tha, makes
wha; VIC arc pleased TO call "the I'M
dcr-world--was fused with the cS-
elusive eotcrics OF the boulevards.
And with these were the pfc;cn;ious
business Interests. many OF which
have no business but legaiised games
Of chance and incorporated hold-ups.
All this fused into a corrupt and cor
rup,ing mass of hoodlumism. high
society and low finance" Is the
thing that put Postmaster Busse IN
Mayor Dunnc's place, and is dcserib-
cd as a return to sanity by the Chi
easo Tribune. i, may be interesting
to note that the criminal wards fur
nish some indication OF where the
hccicrs went in search OF the san
i,y" with which they defeated Mayor
Dunno. In the ist ward he lost a.
iot from his vote OF two years ago:
in the 9th his loss was 1900. in the
| 18th. i.6o,. and in the sist (miScd
criminal and aristoera;ie) i.sot. The
Republicans gained. over their vote
OF two years ago. S,7 in the ist ward.
7is in the 9th, Sii in the 18th and
LOO in the zfsi. The tst ward is
known as "Hiuky Dink's" (Aidcrman
| Mekcnna) and tho 18th as Convict
Brcnnan's- 1, was surely interest
ing fellowship. under tho mcllowing
influence of which "Hinky Dink" the
dreadful became "Mr. MeKcnna" and
"Bathhousc John" rose over night TO
the dignity of plain alderman
Coughlin."
How thoroughly in keeping all
that is with the late Denver mclangc
put up by Bill Evans and Bob Speer;
with the Rev Bueh;cl for a figure
head. And tho. big talk that is now
being made about the return of Col
orado to safe and sane" field for
business investments. That safe and
sane" was truly fine phrase til
the bunch Of Democrats in the ST Louis
Gown with privileged interests. gave their
friends the Republicans. And the
latter arc working il with all the