Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1908-01-22

were not fully aware until this con-
ference ofthe advantageous contracts
they held. The editor Of the Trib-
une was member Of the executive
committee which made this investi-
cation, he was present at the meet
ing when the president made the
statements above noted, and by his
silence at the meeting and lack of
editorial comment in his paper,
practically endorsed all that was
said by the president. 1t is fair
presumption, therefore, that all of
the hollering of the Tribune in
years past as to the unfair advan-
tages taken of farmers companies
by the local company was for effect
only and to vent personal spite on
the officials then in control Of the
company. 1t is doubtless humiliat-
ing for the Tribune editor to eat
crow but there is no escape for
him"
We did not attend the meeting
when the adjustment was made with
the farmers lines. We were told
by farmers who did attend that
concessions were made to them that
they might now name any parties
in the city whom they wished to
talk free over their lines and their
request would be honored. The
mere fact that concessions were
made disproves the above statement
entirely. The farmers are not so
ignorant that they cannot read their
own contracts. The Gazette mis-
represents the remarks of the presi-
dent of the Commercial Club in the
above to certain extent, which
does him an injustice with the
country readers. The Tribune has
never complained Of the treatment of
farmers lines, except when such
complaints have first reached us
from the farmers, and we stand
ready to voice any reasonable COM
plant at any time in the future.
| What significance the granting of
the permits to the long distance
lines has in this controversy we do
not care to discuss before the stand
of the company in the matter be-
comes a matter of public record.
| The Gazette concludes as follows:
| IF any plan can be evolved by
which reasonable yearly fee can
be obtained from the present own
ers Of the Willmar Telephone Elk
change, that plan should be put in
to effect. But no settlement is
likely, through such tactics as the
Tribune uses, and the befuddling Of
the public mind by taking the ques-
ton into politics every spring is
| harmful as it attracts attention
away from more important matters
and stirs up i'll feeling that is en-
tirely uncalled for.'
/ Here is the milk in the cocoa
NUT of the Gazette article. Who
is there that is afraid to have the
telephone question discussed at cleo
ton time? And why should such
parties be afraid? The question is
certainly one of local Importance.
more so than the tariff and the gold
standard which the Gazette until re-
Gently believed should mark the d.
vision in city politics.
The issue with the telephone com
. pany should be pushed with all pos
sible speed, but we see no reason
why the question need be lost sight
Of at the city elections until full
justice is done the city's interests.
, The present council will no doubt
approach this subject with their
eyes open and not be caught in any
snap settlement which does not fully
safeguard the city. The right of
5 the city to control rates and tax the
franchise should never be surrend-
cred, if it takes a dozen elections
to decide the matter.
/ A