The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1908-02-13

snbiect ourselves to unknown conditions
that may bring in there train greater
ills of which we do not know.
Our investigation has determined with
certainty many heretofore mooted ques
tions. 1t indicates the probably correct
answers to other mooted questions.
Where the facts are clear and the con
clusion evident our task has been to sum
Marie and indicate Where there is
remaining uncertainty as to facts and
conclusions are evident we have made
an effort to determine the probabilities
This has resulted in arguments based on
such facts as our in vestigators have re-
corded and on our own experience as op
orators and observers,
We believe no intelligent reader OF
the yoluminous record Of this commits.
sion's work will fail to conclude that Il
clearly proves municipal ownership TO
be productive Of many and serious Ills,
with little or no compensating good.
The writers of these chapters, agree
ing, we believe, with the other members
of the committee Of twenty one, that
public service companies should reason
ably be regulated and afforded the pro.
lection that comes with regulation and
approaching that the committee WAS
not appointed or constituted to consider
methods of regulation nevertheless de-
sire TO record their opinion that some
form of regulation of private companies
should be- adopted in each of the United
States. What that form should be this
commission is not prepared by any IN
veatigation or any study it has made to
suggest
Finally, we who stand in opposition
to municipal ownership, speaking, we
believe, for all individualists, arraign
the arrogance of many Of its advocates
in assuming that they exclusively occu-
py the field of reform in dealing with
| the problems concerned and that they
are the sole promoters of measures of
economic Improvement in municipal
affairs. We assert that the opponents
Of municipal ownership and operation,
firm and consistent supporters OF justice,
are the class seeking the public welfare
inteligenty and in accordance with
American principles. On this point we
do not yield to any body Of men.
We seek, rs a first principle, to insure
every uan his own In doing 80 and in
endeavoring to protect the public again
st oppression and error we find it our
duty to demonstrate the errors in the
schemes Of municipalities and Social
ists and to warn against the oppression
that they threaten. We are resisting
efforts to put burdens on the backs of
the A American people. We cannot and
will not remain silent while the attempt
is made to thrust costly and impracti
cable projects upon customers Of public
service corporations and upon the pub.
lie at large.
We know the truth vii. oJt. We are
confident that ultimately the American
people must appreciate at their value
the uusoundness Of the arguments of
the municipal Socialists. We shall aid
in Fastening the day when our fellow
citizens will know through discussion
what the public of London have been
taught by bitter experience London
has awakened to the perils e mnnicip"l
ization ~ is evidenced by IL verdict .
the recent borough and county elections.
In thai great city tie muuicipalizer-
have led their fellow citizens astray,
and their dupes finding ii out, have nd
ministered TO their false guides an over
whelming rebuke.
We individualists are not seeking to
lead the pc pie in strange paths Our
aim is to keep them IN the paths they
have heretofore trod-paths well known
along which the American people have
marched to heights of prosperity and
civic development not known heretofore
to the civilized world Along these
paths have been stumbling blocks. Our
opponents are endeavoring to persuade
rs the sole responsibility for these stumb
ling blocks rests upon our public service
system to be remedied only by chang,
of system. This we deny. We are pa
tiently studying the ways of Justice
Municipalizers advocate experimenting
AT enormous cost with public funds
with the principles Of liberty and witt
the institutions Of our country. In THU
we stoutly refuse to take part.
We are conservatives in believing tina
II IL better to adhere TO old and trie,
! methods based on our accepted nationa
1 principles, but radicals in the determi
nation to discover and to sternly rebuk,
and rectify any injustice which may hav,
, been developed by the present system
As II has always been the function ant
, inty Of government to insure that indi
yiduals shall deal justly with their tel
Ows 1t IL now the function and dut
. If government to protect the governed
! ,gain-t Injustice on the part Of these n
-ociations Of individuals working Jude
the name Of public service corporations
' Any government that IL too feeble 0