Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1909-12-09
THOSE WHO FAVOR THE CITY
ACQUIRING PUBLIC UTILITIES
IN MEETING.
COMMITTEE OF TWENTY-FIVE
WILL PRESENT THE PLAN
1t Is Also Expected to Perfect the De-
tails of What May Be Known as
Municipal Ownership Party-F. G.
Pierce, Who Presided, Delegated to
Select the Committee.

The movement for municipal owner
ship OF at least the gas and electricity
branches of the Marshalltown Light,
Power and Railway Company, and per-
haps also the street railway line of the
same company was formally launched
by its hackers at a meeting of about
a. score of men, held in the council
chamber Wednesday night. The meet
ing was called by Frank G. Pierce. who
has been active in inau gurating the
movement
Preliminary to Organization.
The gathering was intended espec-
tally for those who favored the city's
ownership OF the public utilities men
toned, and the presumption is that
most of those present were either in
favor of such ownership or were cur
lous to investigate
The meeting was purely preliminary
to others, which will probably be held
later, and which will be the means, so
1t IS claimed of placing this movem ent
squarely on its feet and bringing it
more forcibly to the public's notice.
The results of the meeting were that
Mr.. Pierce, who was chosen temporary
chairman with John Crellin, as secre-
tary, was delegated TO appoint a COM
mittee OF twenty-five members, five
from each ward, to formulate a plan
of organization, of what will doubtless
be known as a municipal party.
Will Perfect Organization.
Not only was this committee given
authority to work out the details of the
plan OF organization, but in it's hands
was placed the selection of per1nan ent
officers, and the naming of the commit
tees and electing their members. The
idea of giving this committee such al
most unlimited authority came from
the suggestion OF Mr.. Pierce, who
shrewdly saw the chance of having the
plans miscarry if permanent organiza-
ton was left to a mass meeting, which
might inadvertently attract others not
favorable to the movement who might
take matters in their own hands at the
expense Of municipal ownership.
Mass Meeting Later.
Mr.. Pierce's idea prevailed, it being
accepted as the better scheme to allow
those friendly to the movement to per-
feet the organization and prepare the
plan of procedure, which will include
the method of going about to acquire
possession of the property. When this
is done the general public viii be in
vited in, it being the idea to make an
effort at mass meetings and otherwise
to secure a popular endorsement of the
plan.
Mr.. Pierce announced at the meet
ing that he would have to take a day
or two to select the committee, but
promised to make it as representative
possible.
Denies Personal Motive.
| During the meeting Mr.. Pierce said
| that he believed that he had figured
out how it was possible for the city
| to take over the gas and electricity
branches of the local company, but be-
cause he believed it was for the best
interests of the movement, he had not
made them public in detail. His rea-
son for so doing, he said, was because
he had been accused Of having an am
| bition to become "the whole thing
This he denied, and said that he wa
solely interested in seeing the ciey ac-
quire these public utilities.
Councilmen George Gregory and
George Herman, who were both pres
| ent. We're asked to speak The formel
said that ne came thru curiosity, ans
that he was not we'll informed on the
subject, but he was willing ito hi
shown"
Herman found cause for Directing t.
the plan in the status of the city's in
debtedness, which he thought pre-
Guided the possibility Of the city sue
cessfully carrying any such a projec
involving such an amount of money
would be required. However, he sale
he also was willing to be shown.
Others Are Favorable.
Among the others who spoke briefly