The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1911-11-25
FIGHT FOB ! !
Three GENT
!. LIGHT RATE j
cLEvEEAND,s MAYOR Is WALKING
IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF 1.-THE
LATE TOM L.yJoHNsoN. II

CLEVELAND. Ohio, n Nov. rs. =.
Three cent light Az I, 4
What does that mean2 - Il
Think Of "three-cent fase.g and you
have the answer. "a
Newton D. Baker,, apostle. Of the
late Tom L. Johnson, Is the standard
bearer of the "three-cent llght" slo.
gan just as johnson was the leader in
the finally successful war for cheap
street car fares In this city. =. 3, Z
Baker, who was recently elected
mayor by the greatest plurality ever
given candidate in this city, is to.
day one of the most Interesting figures
in municipal politics.
He. is thin. why little man, with
bright eyes and a soft voice. As the
city's legal expert he advised his close
friend and teacher Johnson through
out the low.fare fight. Though heN is
properly called Tom Johnson's politi.
cal heir, Baker Is man OF lurser men.
tai capacity. originality and fighting
courage and Cleveland today regards
him as n force in many ways equal to
that OF Johnson.
In special interview Baker out.
med his public service Intentions in
these words: Efficiency and honesty
i'll the administration Of the ordinary
uhairs of the city; justice in the rela-
tons between public service corpora.
tons and citizens"
Sald he: Those were the city gov
eminent ideals Of Mr. Johnson. I
shall strive to perpetuate them. You
might say that the general idea Is an
ideal municipality. Mr.. Johnson
dreamed and fought for Cleveland as
ai'city setiupon.a high hill. He meant
that Cleveland should provide for its
citizens, not merely place in which
to work apd live, but place for rich
enjoyment of LIES comforts. general
health, equal opportunities; free edu-
cation and general prosperity. His
tRree.cent fare fight was merely one
phase OF n general ideal"
: The platform upon which Baker was
elected pledged his administration 10
again take up the fight for honest gov
eminent where johnson left of. Ba-
ker's first move will be to take up a
fight for three cent light" through
the erection OF "a municipal electric
light plant, -. ~; !; !,
1.-THE people as dSwholesSare apro-
gressive in spirit" said Baker, and
II is not to them that arguments must
be made. 4, The fight comes from the
other side. Our working out OF the
plan for municipal lighting plant has
Just begun. A study must be made
Of the costgof production and the bust.
ness for the city run on an honest. ef.
fcient basis. What we expect to nc.
complsh through the municipal plant
Is to furnish lights for the homes OF
the rich and poor like at a minimum
cost OF production, with maXimum"ef'
fclency at minimum price to the con,
sumer. Then the city can compete
with the present monopoly and high
prices."< 5ila N7Hs ~ ~
1t was suggested to Baker that per.
sons outside OF Cleveland believed the
city,,was working out its problems In
a Socialistic way, but without regard
to party. 'sgT' IS
mot at ALL" replied the mayor
elect. Socialists are In favor of mu.
nicipal ownership, but every one that
favors municipal ownership Is not ii
Socialist. Every city has its prob.
lens to solve In It's own way. We will
take up the ssubject%of water filtra-
ton In Cleveland! along the same lines
that the lighting question must be
handled. if3ijiss3,
"Tf 1t is shown. that the water reach.
ing the city's residents,ls impure then
We must find a way OF filtration; and
again dealing honestly, with the, great
est efficiency and at amlnimum cost
When Johnson ran for mayor the
last time and me defeat, Baker was
the only Democrat on the ticket elect!
ed. 1t is said heiwished to'resign his
post Us city solicitor, but his chief4in'
sisted that he remain'in Office. IS
Bakers admiration for. Johnson and
his principles Is unbounded.siHe has
appointed former Johnson lieutcn.
ants to office iH his city cabinet and
the Johnson ideals will rule the city
hall. II
TON l.. Johnson was the greatest
executive any cityiln America ever
had" said Baker. 81 do not regard
my election as a personal victory. 1t
was a complete endorsement. the last
word of the people Of Cleveland on
Johnson's life and, work" ~, t;y---sSi. :. Fl