Evening journal., 1911-05-19
FRIDAY, MAYIe. 1911
THE SLEEPING CzARS?


A N ADROIT effort is made by one Of the
"A local newspapers TO entrap the Public Ser
vice Corporations Of this city into a bad political
box. That this powerful influence (the Public
Service Corporations) acting body can deter
mine whether DR.. Howell the Republican candi
date for Mayor, or the Democratic candidate who
will be chosen at the primaries shall be elected
goes without saying il says
What delightful confession this is that in
the belief of the Every Evening, the Public Ser
vice Corporations could be our real rulers that
whatever they say must be done, that it must be
accepted as a matter of course goes without
SAYING that the fate and destiny of the city rests
upon the nod of the Public Service Corporations
And isn't il an invitation TO DR.. Howell and to
the Democratic aspirants for Mayor to rush to
the headquarters of the Public Service Corpora
tons and plead with them for their support7 We
feel sure that Or. Howell will not do so, and we
hope the Democratic candidates will not do so. If
they do they will 60 in through the back doors.
They would not make their supptications 10 the
Public Service Corporations when anyone is
around who might be able 10 tell about it.
We are not ready yet TO believe that the fate Of
Wilmington rests with the heads Of the Public
Service Corporations. that they are sleeping
Cars and the real rulers of the city, that the peo
pie are so blinded by their partisanshp that they
would permit a condition by which the Public
Service Corporations could be able TO play both
parties as with a doll and get what they wanted.
If we we're in that condition, there would be- no
in having elections
We don't believe that the Public Service Cor
porations will accept this cunning invitation to
trouble, this invitation TO have them turn in as
solid body and for business reasons support this
or that candidate for Mayor. If they are wise,
they certainly will not do so.
And it must be said in justice to the bright men
who have recently come to this town and identified
themselves with Public Service Corporations that
they have shown little interest in political mat
ters They have not tried TO dictate and so long
they pursue this wise course they will avoid
trouble.
For what does this powerful influence" acting
unitedly imply? II means but one thing, that in
order to exert the powerful influence" the Pub
lie Service Corporations acting unitedly would
have to coeroe their employees into supporting one
candidate for Mayor. Their efforts at coercion
would fail The day has gone when employers
can ntimdate their employees or coerce them into
voting for any candidate any one party.
A long list Of the powers Of the Public Utilities
Commission is printed in the hope of stirring the
Public Service Corporations into political activity,
10 make them believe that they should decide to
support one candidate for Mayor in the hope that
he would pledge himself 10 nulhfy the intent the
Public Utilities Commission by appointing weak
men on the commission. Is il an invitation 10 the
Democratic candidates to knock al the door of
the Public Service Corporations? If so, how do
the thousands Of Democrats of this city like it?
The Public Service Corporations have nothing
to fear from the commission. Why should they
fear system which the president OF the great
telephone company oommends and accepts as a
matter of course? Does any sane man believe
that the local telephone interests, for example
in view Of the attitude Of the directors Of the
company on the Public Utilities Commission sys
tenn would be part of any Public Service combine
TO boss" the city of Wilmington? Not bit o
IT. The Public Service Corporations know very
well that there is nothing in the square-deal com
mission. which should stir them TO enter foolish
combination which would end only in disaster tc
themselves
The corporation fly will not be caught in the
spiders web, we think