The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1910-09-27
NACEL DEFENDS
VIM. B. THOMPSON
Former Deputy Controller Produces
Records to Show Ex-Mayor n
Sound on Public 0wnership.

Proctor X. Owens, the Republican
candidate for mayor. has finally sue
ceeded In drawing the fire Of the
Democrats. UP to now, friends Of
eu-MayOr William B. Thompson
Owens opponent, have taken little
notice of anything the Republican
candidate has said. but when. In his
recent keynote" speech, he charged
that Thompson 10 insincere In bis ad
vocacy Of municipal ownership. he
went a step too far, the Democrats
say.
Former Deputy Controller William
J. Nagel has come to the defense OF
Mr.. Thompson in vigorous style. and
he does not hesitate to call Mr.. Owens
liar.
II had not intended to mix In poll.
tics to any extent this fall said
Nagel to The Times, "but some Of tile
statements made by Owens In his
Eighth ward speech. are such palpable
lies. that simply could not sit back
and see them go unchallenged. Mr.,
Owens said, for instance. that Mr.
Thompson took no interest In the con.
stitutional convention, and made no
effort to secure anything for Detroit
In the way Of home rule. Under date
OF Nov. IL, 1907. the records show, Mr..
Thompson sent q communication to
the common council, asking that a
delegation be sent to Lansing to dis
cuss the questions OF home rule and
municipal ownership before the con-
vention. The council did send COM
mittee to discuss home rule only.
Mayor Thompson went along with the
party and was the only man in the
delegation who discussed both home
rule and municipal ownership.
IF anyone has any doubt as to
where Mr.. Thompson stands on the
question of municipal ownership, II Is
only necessary to turn to the journal
OF the common council for 1907 and
1908. In his second annual message
to the council, Jan. IA. 1908, Mayor
Thompson said:
-. believe. and 30 stated to the
constitutional convention, that
every municipality ought to have
the potential right to construct
and own its public utilities. With
out this power reposed In the
city, II Is forced to negotiate at
disadvantage; with It, We could
deal with these corporations as
men do in their private affairs. It
is unfortunate, indeed, that our
courts have seen At to deny us
this privilege, and It would be
great misfortune II the constitu-
tional convention should similar
ly decide to hamper the municip-
ality In its progress.
In his first annual message to the
council, Mayor Thompson, said: In
any ordinance to be submitted to the
people of the city OF Detroit for their
approval, which Is not revocable at
the will Of the common council, there
should be included q reservation to
the city of the right to acquire the
property for the purpose Of municipal
ownership at valuation which would
exclude the franchise and good will
value and be arrived at In a manner
fixed by the terms OF the ordinance
itself, and to become operative when
the law OF the state authorized mum.
cipal ownership and the people, by a
popular vote. approved it.
These statements would seem to
leave no doubt as to where Mr.
Thompson stands on the question OF
municipal owenrship, and give the lie
to owens charges. don't know who
wrote owens speech, but whoever did
had better brush up bit on the
facts"