The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1908-10-24
JOHNSON WILL NOT
COME TO DETROIT
TILL NEXT WEEK
PROMISES TO ADDRESS TWO
THOMPSON MEETINGS THEM
SENDS PETER WITT TO AD-
phEss ToNioHT's GATHERING.

Tom l.. Johnson. mayor OF Cleve-
land, will not speak In the Democratic
mass meeting in the Light Guard arm
DRY. Saturday night.
The rotund chief executive OF Cleve-
land. Is busy working out solution
OF the tangled situation left by the
defeat of his security franchise. John
son will be here for at least two meet
ings next week, he has assured Mayor
Thompson.
Peter Witt, city clerk OF Cleveland
and one of Johnson's gablest neuten-
ants. will speak In his CHIEFS stead
and will remain here until election
time.
witt knows as much about the
street railway question as l do and
talks better?" Is Johnson's recon-
mendation.
Mayor Thompson will have a gay
evening OF IL, taking in number or
dances beside the Democratic meet
ings.
The speakers in the Light Guard
armory meeting are: Peter Witt, OF
Cleveland: VIM. &. Maybury, T. A. E.
Weadock. James II. Pound, VIM. Van
Dyke, Herbert 8. Bigelow. OF Cincin-
natl; John McVicar VIII preside.
Peter Witt gave his story OF the
Cleveland franchise election In talk
In the mayors Office Saturday morn
ing. Here Is how he sums 1t up:
The $4,000 people who voted
against the grant were made up or
the political opponents OF Mayor
Johnson. aided and assisted by the
beneficiaries OF privilege. and thou
sands OF Mayor Johnson's most earn
est supporters, who maintained that
three-cent fares were not only prac-
teal thing but a paying enterprise
even though he were compelled 10 pay
$1,000 a day interest on watered stock.
which he had to assume when the set
Element last April was made. These
parties voted down the present Sc
curity grant In order that the Cleve-
land Electric be compelled to accept
another grant with seven for quar-
ter as the rate OF fare.
1T is contended. by very able law
yers, that the lease Of the Cleveland
Electric Railway company to the city
of Cleveland, through it's holding COM
pany, holds Notwithstanding the fan
OF the grant Should the election be
decided against us. should the lease
fan and the property pass to the hands
or the Cleveland Electric Railway
company. then this corporation, taking
possession OF its legal rights. refuse
10 urn-back- TO the Forest City Raii'
way company its franchises. which
were absorbed by purchase. deed &c
which Is held In escro by Mayor
Johnson and Mr.. Con. IL will be COM
PEELED to operate two.fifths of the ell
tire railway system in Cleveland un-
der franchises that call for three-cent
cash fare, and universal transfers,
with the right of the city to redeem at
ten per cent above the physical value.
The balance OF the system they can
charge Ave cents. How the benefi-
Charles OF privilege can gain any conf
fort out OF the Cleveland situation is
beyond me. II is either municipal
ownership through a holding company
OF seven-for-a-quarter security grant
and three-cent fare, or three-cent fare
with private ownership operating two
flfths OF the system where the fran
Chises may be revoked at any time
and the balance OF the system running
under franchises that expire within
three and one-half years on an aver
age"