The Detroit times., 1911-11-10


Mems association. one OF the most In
fuential OF the civic organizations In
Detroit, by representatives OF The
Times, Wednesday afternoon develop
ed the fact that these men are not
as keen for Mayor Thompson's fran.
chise as the franchise organs OF the
city would have the public believe.
While II is true that the membership
Is divided on the proposition, nothing
could be farther from the truth than
the statement, coming from one OF the
franchise organs, that the majority
of the members indorse the Thompson
plan. On the contrary, the weight OF
sentiment is unmistak eably against
II, and In favor OF REAL municipal
ownership.
There is a marked tendency on the
part OF the membership OF this as
ISOLATION to look with suspicion on
any proposition in the way of set
tlement that the Detroit United Rail.
way Is willing TO accept; feeling
that, II there 70 to be a settlement,
the city should dictate the terms In
stead of making valuable concessions
in the way OF paving, special taxes,
etc. which were demanded by the ID.
u. r. and granted by Mayor Thomp-
son In the present instance.
II think the majority OF our mem
hers is opposed TO the Thompson fran
chise." said z. j. Willis, president OF
the association TO The Times II
think, too, that the resolution declar-
ing against the proposed settlement
would have carried in our last meet
ing. but II was not put TO vote, be-
cause we were not familiar enough
with the details Of the plan.
Bound to Favor Company.
oI look at the matter just this way,
and | am sure there are number OF
others who take the same view: Any
proposition the d. U. r. offers TO &C
cent Is bound to be In favor Of the
coInpany. and the company would be
foolish TO propose or consent to any
thing that was not advantageous TO
IL. We realize that Corporation Coun-
scI Hally Is a very bright lawyer, but
there are a number of bright men on
the other side and Mr.. Hally Is not
iu,allibie Isn't 1t just possible that
the company might try TO slip one
over on him?
'"rhe natural conclusion. from the
cxbressions In the meeting the other
livht. ia that the sentiment OF the
association Is against the franchise.
IL will no doubt be brought up again
AZ the December meeting, when,
think tho association will take a
definite stand against the franchise.
BY that time. no doubt, II will have
been submitted to the council.
d. A. Yocum, vice-president Of the
association, can see no merit In the
+. proposed grant
1T doesn't look like a good thing
&c, me-" he said. II don't believe We
want TO tie up to the ID. u. Il. for
Is years more. II we are going to
grant any more franchises let them
he of the indeterminate kind, but per-
sonally, would prefer municipal
ownership"
"'The association will be against the
franchise unless the members are sat
isfied that the option clause will real
IN open the way to municipal owner
ship" said Neil w. Murray, secretary
Of the association. I'VE are disposed
10 withhold judgment until after We
have seen the franchise itself. When
n Is finally submitted. we Will study
IL carefully, with particular reference
10 the option clause, and we will not
be satsfieC TO accept Mr.. Hallys word
alone as 20 the merits of that clause,
-Lut will get the opinions of disinter-
ested lawyers. II we are then salts
&. hed that the option clause really
amounts to something, have no
doubt but that the franchise will be
Endorsed by this association. The fare
provision is satisfactory and we GER
talnIy need the extensions out here"
William Stephens, grocer at No.
1249 IL Grand River-ave., a member
O; the association, is strongly opposed
to the franchise
II think there is something behind
that scheme," he said. The Thomp.
son plan isn't nearly as good as what
Mayor Codd offered The people turn.
ed that down, and I'm pretty sure |
shall vote against the Thompson Of
fer. II locks TO me as though the
mayor were trying TO ride two horses
aud that the whole thing is political
move. I am in favor OF municipal
ownership II II will take the street
car question out of politics,
Friend OF City Ownership.
DIR. Frank r. Pitcher, one Of the
hardest workers in the organization,