The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1910-10-29
STRONG EFFORT
IS MADE To
DEFEAT
Eleventh Hour Canards
Sprung to Fool Voters
: Mu n i C i p al Light
Plant Brings in $780,
600 a Year to the People

Ii looks good for the municipal
dock.
The ballots are falling today in
the contest between private greed
and public welfare and indications
are that the dock will carry.
That means the city will have
1000 feet of waterfront between
1 Fifteenth street and Ninth. It
will be a starter and in time this
city will own everything from
Fifteenth street to Old Town.
Interest in the election Is in
tense. Every polling place was
open at 8 O'Clock this morning,
something unknown In former
special elections. The bitter fight
waged by the special interests
that desire to control the docks
of Tacoma for private selfish ends
has aroused the people to the
danger of this policy.
Eleventh Hour Canards.
Eleventh hour canards are be-
ing sprung by the special inter-
ests to try to beat the dock. One
big poster this morning declares
a vote for the docks is vote for
the \. p. railway. That circular
was printed and paid for by the
men who are trying to beat the
dock to fatten their own pocket
books.
They base the circular on the
section in the option of the n. P.
given to the city on the dock site,
which calls for REIMBURSEMENT OF
the viaduct in the depot franchise
ordinance.
The special interests say this
means saving 100000 to the
y. p.
AS a matter of fact it means
nothing of the kind. That is SIM
ply a scarecrow the private dock
fellows have erected to try to
frighten voters from the munici-
pal dock.
The depot franchise ordinance
does call for a viaduct but does
not say what kind. 1t may be of
wood and would not cost then
over $4,000. But the city can
still demand a viaduct If the busi-
ness there demands it whether It
is in any ordinance or not. The
state railway commission could
order it built any time or the
council could do so and force 1t.
The whole canard is misleading
and intended to deceive the vot-
ers.
A public manifesto by a group
of "business men" was also issued
this morning against the dock.
1t is conspicuous for having
practically only those men who
are tied to special interests and
who have a finger in the present
dock pie. OF course they are
against city dock for they want
to make the money themselves at
the public expense.
Public Spirit Aroused.
All of this activity by the spe-
cial interests put the public spirit
of the people to work and they
are out for victory this afternoon.
Practically every business house
in town Is enlisted In the CAM
paign. The merchants want the
dock to bring more people to
town. The manufacturers want
it to facilitate trade with the
neighboring communities and
make a market for their wares.
The people want it to facilitate
the bringing of country produce
to the city, thereby making living
cheaper.
The only fellows who do not
want it are a few who oppose
everything looking to public good
and who are always out to utilize
public utilities to fatten their
own purses.
The people are making $780,
900 year on the light plant.
They will make a good profit on
their dock. Private cliques that
have been gouging the public will
have to take a back seat.
WEATHER FORECAST.
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