The Caucasian. (Shreveport, La.) 1900-192?, 1911-05-04
THE TRACTION COMPANY
From Its Defeat 1t May Be led to Real
ize Its Obligation to the People.

at Tuesdays election was unexpected by
its officials and those directly connected
with it. Indeed, during the day they
had boastfully announced that their Sue
cess was certain by a decided majority.
If the Traction Company failed in its
anticipations it was not because anyone
OF its connections or allies failed i'll the
urging of their friends to go to the
polls and vote
The Traction Company could not have
been more active nor persistent in dl-
recting their best and most intelligent
efforts to the securing of a majority, but
they failed Notwithstanding, and retired
overwhelmed with the chagrin of defeat.
If the Traction Company was active
with a full organization, its opponents
were simply prompted by a sense OF
duty in voting against, duty which was
emphasized and made plain by the Cau-
casian in its issue of Sunday morning,
reinforced with thousands of copies OF
the article distributed freely throughout
the city 1t was a reminder which was
effective, as indicated by the final re
suits, and yet a large percentage OF the
opponents of the Traction Company S
proposition refrained from voting, while
the Traction Company received the full
vote of their friends and those favorlng
their proposition.
Had the against been organized
and had some of the men who had
promised to be in evidence in active
work on the day of the election, the
majority against" would have been as
it was in January 1910,
However, the verdict is satisfactory
to the majority. 1t emphasizes the de
termination OF the majority Of the pco-
pie to resist every demand of the Trac-
ton Company, which is not plain and
direct and which is without an cquiva-
lent in value for whatever the Traction
Company may want from the city.
In the years past whenever the Trac-
ton Company wanted anything from
the city, they were assured Of such
grant simply for the asking.
And what has the Traction Company
ever conceded in return for such grants
as it now possesses which are estimated
to be worth several hundred thousand
dollars.
The proposed universal transfers
did not appeal to the majority Of the
voters, and while an Improvement in the
transfers proposed in January 1910, still
the construction in the operation of such
transfers was somewhat delusive.
If the company had specified in plain
and direct words that by universal
transfers" it was intended to let any one
on the payment of the required fare of
FIVE cents transfer at any point on the
FIVE cents transfer at any point on the line
without restriction instead of at ter
minal points," the people perhaps would
have been impressed favorably, but as
provided, the universal transfer was
viewed with distrust. 1t was self-evident
that only minority of the people would
derive any direct benefit from such
transfers.
In the proposition of fares for school
children the stipulation provided could
not appeal to the great majority of par
IaH oh ~
school to receive the privilege of half
fare must have coupon book, purchase
able from the company and mot trans
ferable" In a family having several
children a book of fares must be had
for each child going to school. And if
the child having misplaced its book OF
fares or if the parents of the child had
neglected to buy a book of fares and
sent the child to school with a nickel
the child would not be entitled to hall
fare. On presenting the nickel it would
be taken by the conductor and the child
having no coupon or evidence of having
paid its nickel, must walk home.
The half fare proposition would have
been viewed with favor if it had beer
stipulated in plain words that on paying
to the conductor nickel it would re
ceive in return some evidence. of al
equivalent, coupon or check, whicl
would entitle it to return to its home.
The Traction Company, after two de
feats within sixteen months, shoulc
realize that it can not obtain from tn
city valuable grants, as in the past, TO
la song.
The company must realize that tn
citizens of Shreveport, guided by tn
experience and the success of other. com
munities, will not sanction nor approx
the grant of franchises and privilege
without suitable consideration.
If Dallas requires, besides transfer:
Ihalf fare for school children and othe
concessions, the payment of 4 per Ger
of the gross receipts of the street raj
way operated in that city why shoul
Shreveport not insist on being paid
i reasonable and ADEQUATE percentage fror