The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1911-10-04

and foot to monopoly. But the skies are bright and the chance for es- cape, excellent. Municipal owner ship of electric light and water is not very distant"
 Thus the genial editor of the Bridgeport Farmer.
 The psychological effect of his clar- ion whistle upon the mind of the small boy, who diverts narrowed at tention from the eerie elves and gnarly ghosts who accompany him on his lonely walk, is matter of universal knowledge.
 Optimism is most commendable trait but it isn't wise to place too much confidence in the intelligence of the average voter. If MT. Average Voter could only be made to realize the inestima ble value to him and to his family of municipal ownership of electric light 'and water, not to men tion gas. street railways, cold stor- age plants and, abbatoirs, municipal ownership would Joe compelled from unwilling legislatures by overwhelm- ing majorities.
 The problem however, is to ed ucate the intellectually lazy and cor stituDonally indifferent average vot- er-hrst as to how he is being f1eeced and betrayed by the legislative Ju- dases who for 30 dirty pieces of |sil- yer sell him into bondage to the highest bidder.
 Secondly, to teach him that bet ter grade of gas than that for which he is now paying s1. or $1.10 is sold to the citizens of the fmunicipally own ed and operated cities of Glasgow and Edinburgh for 34 cents thousand feet. Next drive the truth home with all the Demosthenean eloquence and Spartacus- to- the -gladiators ve- hemence of which we are capable that there is nothing new or novel in this movement for municipal owner ship. The Intellectually whopper-
 
 this point so adroitly have the inter- ests concealed the real truth that the progress of economics is toward public ownership. Like vice, familiar with her face, we first endure. than pity, then embrace.s'
 It follows logically upon the aboIi- tion of toll gates and the establish ing of collectively owned schools and post offices and so the rule extends into the natural scheme of what should be until the wonder is that the farce of private ownership of pub- lie utilities has continued to flourish like the, green bay tree as long as it has,
 And while we have his free waving ear forget not to whisper the glad Ytidings that San Francisco is the lat est one of the cities to awaken from its Rip Van Wrinkle sleep, bat it's eyes and demand to know "where are We att And having ascertainesl that 1t was scarcely in the tentacular coils, of Pat Calhoun's octopus, call- ed by courtesy the< San Francisco Traction. Co.,, it felt around until it found nice half of brick called direct legislation with which it pro- ceeded to eliminate the protuberaat features of Pat Calhoun from the franchise map of Frisco.
 f.- This bxr uoU If MT. Average Voter. The English na- Wy who regards 'shillings to the good las the state of a bloated bond holdership has refrain to the effect that '.we have the ships, we have the men and we have the money too.''
 This the patriotic owners of fran chises paraphrase thusly: We have the courts, we have the chips and &e1 have their money, too, which is al- most true.
 But fellow citizens, countrymen and lovers these franchises belong to you whenever you see fit to take pos session of them. When you can spare a few hours from the arduous men tai exertion of Kelly pool. football and niekelodeon shows to study the fngen- ious system to which you nay per- sonal tFibute. The genial optimlst who occupies the holy of holies in the sanctum of the Bridgeport. Far. mer may well say, 4I told you so. And with owed head and humble mien the penitent who is scribbling this prophecy will say. Thou saidst we'll Oh son of the sun and moon. The people do indeed rule. They are gods in the germ But there it is, voters. Its glorious prize and we'll worth the effort it costs to secure it. Take the current when it serves. Seize it!