The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1908-10-14
CITY OWNERSHIP
!. IF DUR. REFUSES
SCENT FARES
MAYOR THOMPSON MAKES
cLEAR-cUT STATEMENT OF Po.
sITIoN ON TRACTION PROBLEM
SAYS ALDERMEN Oppose HIM

Municipal ownership was the topic
chosen by Mayor Thompson for partic-
ular emphasis In his speeches Tues
day evening. While confessing him
self not believer in municipal own
ership OF street railways ur
less there Is no other alternative
for cheap fares. he declared that he
would not oppose IL. IL a majority OF
the people wish to settle the problem
In that way. He pointed out, however,
certain things which must be done.
in his opinion. before municipal own
ership can become effective.
His talks were also notable for the
bitter attack which he made upon the
common council. accusing IL Of thwart-
ing him and preventing him from get
ting three-cent fares. The first stop
was in Sokolowskis nall, over the sa-
loon al No. 156 Thirty-fourth-st. More
than 200 Poles, We. altered here.
Il want everybC. become work
ers, politicians" So mayor. Your
vote, no matter how poor you may be,
counts as much as That of the richest
man in the city. There are other ways
TO get three-ceut fares besides taking
what this company Is willing To give.
Some people think that the only way
to get three-cent fares Is by a munich
pal ownership plan such as Cleveland
Is trying to carry out. I am not going
TO say Those people are wrong. am
willing to let them have 1t II a major
ity of the people desire 1t.
lone year ago induced Mr.. Hally,
Mr.. Ingram and Mr.. Merrell to go to
the constitutional convention to work
for municipal ownership provision
in the new constitution. | wrote let
tiers to every union asking them to
indorse the principle. went to Lans-
ing and told the committee that we
wanted to be able to furnish some
competition for the d. u. r. even II
the city of Detroit furnishes the COM
petition.
Now I am going one step further.
1t Is all right to talk about the beau
ties of municipal ownership, and what
1t would accomplish but there are
some things that must be done before
II can be put into effect.
Preliminary Work Necessary.
I'VE must first 60 to the legislature
and get law allowing US to condemn
the tracks OF the present company
when the franchises expire. Then we
must get law giving Us the right OF
way over the balance Of the COM
pany's tracks on the payment OF .
fair pro rata rental.
Il want to go on record as favoring
both these laws. Then we will not
have to stand idly by and take what
the present company will offer. We
can say Well go into the business for
ourselves
81 would be for municipal ownership
as business matter only. II the city
can run cars under municipal owner
ship and give three-cent fares while
the ID. u. r. wants five-cent fares,
then would favor letting them do
SO.
Some think that municipal owner
ship is cure for all Ills. am not
going to dispute them, but my expert
ence In municipal affairs would make
me say that the company had better
run the cars unless we can be shown
a saving the other way.
There are several ways to get
three-cent fares. II you elect me, l
will guarantee to give them a fight,
and II / can't get three-cent fares one
way, will another
Mayor Attacks Council.
The mayor then turned to the sub
ject Of aldermanic opposition and
said:
who Is responsible because the
city has not won out in it's contest
for three-cent fares-who but the ma.
chine politicians who are now sup.
porting Mr.. Breitmeyer? These same
men have for two years been holding
up my measures In the common coun-
Gil. casting doubts upon them and
practicing all kinds Of delays. Does
1t come with good grace from such as
they, or for their candidate to shout
that three-cent fares have not been OBJ
tanned when II was due solely to their
treachery that three-cent fares have
been delayed-these men who have as
ISOLATED with my opponent, and who
have, at all times. given aid and COM
fort to the Detroit United railway az
against me, instead OF standing by
me as stood by Pingree when he was
lighting the street railway octopus
II Mr.. Breitmeyer likes the company
OF these men, he IL welcome to It, but
to join hands with them and then gloat
over the fact that they prevented me
from accomplishing what set out to
do for the people, is like Joining hands
with Benedict Arnold to gloat over
the fact of having prevented Washing.
ton from sooner winning the war OF
the revolution"
The mayor addressed other meet
ings at No. $40 Russell-st., No. 773
Canfield-ave., No. 1874 Gratiot-ave. and
Mo log Tnwnaand.aua