The Caucasian. (Shreveport, La.) 1900-192?, 1911-09-28
AN ADDRESS
To the Property Taxpayers Qualified
Vote at the Election on Tuesday,
October 17-Municipal Ownership
Electric Lights Is the Issue.

Electric Lights Is the Issue.
The proposition which is to be de-
termined at the election TO be held
on Tuesday, October II, is plain.
II is simply: Shall the city oil
Shreveport incur debt by an issue
of bonds to the amount of $4,000
to run for period of from one to
forty years, bearing interest at the
rate of 4 l-2 per cent per annum, for
the purpose of building and con-
lstructing and operating an electric
light plant, for lighting the streets
and public buildings of the city, and
for the sale of electricity to private
consumers.
There should not be and there can
not be any misinterpretation or mis-
understanding of proposition so
clear, but, Notwithstanding, the in
terests in opposition are eoncentrat-
ing their best efforts to its defeat by
linterjeeting the problem Of water,
which is not now and may not be
submitted for active consideration
by the qualified electors for several
years.
ERlfOrt at Confusion.
In this effort at confusion may be
noted the activity of Commissioner
Rives, who, while claiming his right
10 exercise his personal prerogative
IN an explanation of his position, is,
if not directly yet indirectly con-
tributing his influence unsolicited to
the defeat of this bond issue by his
strenuous advocacy of water.
And it may be observed that while
the election for this bond issue was
ordered without a dissenting vote of
the Council, the proposition as pre-
sented to the taxpayers may have at
the election on October II the ap-
proval of only one of the Council,
which is Judge Fullilove.
Our Purpose.
II is not our purpose to be per-
sonal, or to impugn the motives or
the intent of any one, or to criticise
without cause or warrant, but we
hold ii TO be our right, indeed it is a
duty to the citizens we represent as
committeeman to meet and to con-
tfadict such misstatements as may
prove to be detrimental to the ac-
quirement of a municipal electric
light plant as designed for the city
and the people.
With this statement we would em-
phasize with all the power of plain
English words that now is the time
20 vote for the bond issGe for the
proposed municipal light plant
which certain interests are striving
to defeat.
The Opposition to the Bond Issue.
In an address signed by number
OF citizens who are our personal
friends, it is attempted TO discredit
the proposed municipal lighting
plant with the view of its defeat, in
which there is presented some start
ling statements which will not stand
the searchlight of unbiased facts.
It is not and never has been the
intent to disturb the Shreveport Gas,
Electric Light and Power Company
i'll any of its rights, are embod-
led in its charter of ninety-nineI
years dating from its Incorporation.
We are not warning on the Shreve-
port Gas, Electric Light and Power
Company, nor its service, but we in
slst that the right of the people to
acquire their municipal electric
light plant can not be denied nor
abridged.
To intimate or to say that it would
be unwise and bad business at this
time to experiment in municipal
ownership of an electric light plant
is ridiculous.
Not bad Business
IF il be bad business to become en-
saged i'll munlclpai lighting, how can
such bad business" be approved and
recommended when it is applied to
the question of water?
Why not be consistent? But pos
slbly in such pleadings the moral of
The story of the OK and the goring
may be logical in explaining the OPP
position to municipal ownership by
the lighting company and its friends.
Equally nonsensical is the state
ment that we should not "enter upon
a policy of driving capital from us
in order that we may take up the
uncertain and dubious experiment Of
municipal ownership of an electric
light plant
The purpose of this statement is