The Detroit times., 1911-11-25
OPEN LET7ER ABOUT AN OPEN DOOR

To Hon william Thompson. of the City of Detroit;
Dear Sir: Five weeks ago you gave public through the
the results of your negotiations with the Detroit United Railway
for a settlement of the traction problem
At length forth the agreement reached with the
representatives the best compact Obainab through
months of stubborn battling for the citys interests
was given nothing but dress the ordinance
n correct legal garb electors The ntmaon
that this for the council to upon the fruits OF
Your executive Tuesday, October Sls
Then you sailed away up leaving the outlines of the pact
with look into bit
As result the document 1--WE avoid franchise in
Difference your discovered by The Times and other advocates
of public ownership negotiations with the u r. once announced
as completed, been re-opened
At least draw from the failure OF the corpora
tOn counsel to produce the ordinance and from public
made by yourself Ha that the document will
forth a pure public ownership plan or nothing
being and also being apparent that privacy did not
work as well general publicity it entirely pertinent to
ask why efforts apply the criticisms to the task OF pecng
the plan put forth in secretf
newspapers and others taken into confidence upon
the eve the people several weeks you explained
that the prodgu and arduous and the R. so
ctant to talk ALL that premature would
be fatal to the whole undertaking
apparently the insisted being protected against so
cac appraisers too intent considering the cy side
Of the bargan)
Then You took it for granted unwngnes of the public
ershiu their judgmentSohwith
against your the outcome of several months bOous con-
sderatn and unqualified assent all that
you had accomplished
All this resulted in failure of
Then where is the justification wisdom continuing the star
chamber method dealing willy and resOurceful
that the public just have made plain just what
YOU are out to for the city!
yu will recall Mr. Mayor that your campaigns
was aimed the u Office into too close proximity
with city hall
The matn something the
that negotiations with the corporation and that time
to m the light
All this applies with equal present situation that
this great and delicate enterprise point nothing
to fear finsofar possibility reaching fair agreement is
cerned) general knowledge that negotiations
wide the corporations side There is no limit
to legal array liberty and furtherance OF Its
determination to keep the city tied up can We all know oesp
aey anxious its privileges streets
Why shouldn't the peoples advocates and spokesman be permitted
fory s of the caseO bring bear upon the strength
springs multitude of counors the strength that was lacking
in the stage of the negotiatons'
And why be permitted present detail
from day progress of the peoples auso which you are com
mitted by pledge repuaonnow that is understood that pub
% the the surest guarantee OF square oea
for ALT
This demand imply of faith the desire
self or Mr. fulfill your promises to the people
Il does imply lack of yourself MI
Hy aked political prestige and fortunes
upon securing straight municipal ownership without
shoulder conference well as in campaign OF
people with the Detroit United Railway
Let us have open all that pertains the
perfectng of public ownership compact
Publicity demonstrated the necessity Of revision.
Publicity can Transforming into
peoples
With assurance of esteem with thought
assisting you serving people, invitation to send
reporter your with the Detroit United Railway
Very respectfully,
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