United labor bulletin., 1910-09-08
orx1czns OF TIE UNION LABEL
LEAGUE.
LEWIS AND THE BONDS.

The people of Denver-the taxpayers
have declared for municipal ownership
again. This time they have voted for
the issuing of $S,000,O00 of bonds for the
building of municipal water plant.
What great victory for the people
and how easy when the people wake up
and when the big newspapers remain
fair to the interests of the public
Again another judge comes to the
rescue of the corporation. Federal Judge
Lewis the day before election issued an
injunction restraining the utilities COM
mission from selling any bonds for the
building of new municipal water plant.
The decision had nothing to do with the
election, but the Injunction was handed
out at a time when it could be used to
intimidate, disgust and deceive the vot-
ers. Following on tht heels of the in
junction the water company agents sent
broadcast the announcement that the
election was declared off, and in other
ways deceived the taxpaying voters. Not
withstanding all this conniving, the
bonds have been voted and the next step
will be the fighting in the courts for the
right to construct and conduct city
owned water system.
In delivering his decision Judge Lewis
went out of his way to attack the initia-
tive, referendum and recall. In review
ing the decision, George Creel has this
to say:
The initiative and referendum had
nothing to do with the case before him,
yet Judge Lewis delivered himself Of
bitter attack upon these reforms-these
great measures designed to protect
people against corruption and betrayal
and went out of his way to declare that
the Few must think and act for the Many
if the country is to remain in a state of
peace and prosperity.
This may be true. Perhaps the people
are lot of silly asses, and all intelli-
gence is vested in the federal judiciary,
corporation attorneys and venela repre-
sentatives Anyway, it is on that as
sumption that our affairs have been con-
Quoted for the last few decades. But
where has the Intelligent Rule of the
Intellectual Few taken us? What is
there in present conditions to make us
content with the established order?
Could things be much rottener?
And SO the people are going to take
whack at running things" and it is to
this end that the initiative and referen-
dunn and recall have come to be the
great and important issues of the day.
OF course there will be opposition. Did
ever hog leave trough without squeal-
ing? OF course the courts will be against
the people in the majority of cases, for
most of the judges come from the coun-
Gil chambers of the great corporations.
But what If the odds do seem to be
against the Many? What if the Few
force us to play with loaded dice? Look
back over the history of the world, and
one will see that the People have al
ways won. Since the earth rolled black
and bare. the human race has never
taken a forward step without furious
fight. But the step has always been
taken, and the forces of greed, oppres-
sion and rapacity have never failed of
ultimate defeat. 1t is this wonderful rec
ord of victorious struggle that should in
spire the people with splendid confidence
in the present struggle. We will win
as we have always won.