The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1911-11-27
THREE CENT LIGHT FOR
 CLEVELAND
Mayor Baker Will Make Electri- city Cheap For Use of the People of Lake City = To Filter Water

Cleveland, O., Nov. 27-"Three cent 1ight.'' What does that mean?
 Think of three cent fare" and you have the answer.
 Newton D. Baker, apostle Of the late Tom l.. Johnson, is the standard bear CT of the "three cent light slogan just as Johnson was the leader in the finally successful war for cheap street car fares in this city.
 Baker who was recently elected mayor by the greatest plurality ever given a candidate in this city, is to- day one of the most interesting figures in municipal politics.
 He is a thin, wiry 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 he is cal heir, Baker is man of larger mental capacity, originality and hght- ing courage and Cleveland today re- gards him as a force in many ways eQul to that of Johnson.
 In a special interview Baker out these words: Efficiency and honesty in the administration of the ordinary affairs of the city;. justice in the re- lations between public service corpor- ations and citizens."
 Said he: '"rhose were the city gov ernment ideals of Mr. Johnson. I shall strive to perpetuate them. You might say that the general idea is an ideal municipality. MT. Johnson dreamed and fought for Cleveland as a city set upon a high hilL' He meant that Cleveland should provide for its citizens, not merely a place in which to work and live, but place for rich health. equal opportunities, free edu- cation and general prosperity. His three cent fare fight was merely one phase of a general ideal"
 The platform upon which Baker was elected pledged his administration to government where Johnson left off. Bakers first move will be to take up fight for "three cent light" through the erection of municipal electric | light plant. ''The people as whole are progress sive in spirit said Baker, land it is not to them that arguments must be | made. The fight comes from the other side. Our working out of the plan for a municipal lighting plant has just begun. A study must be made Of the 1 cost of production and the business for the city run on an honest, eff l cient basis. What we expect to ac- complish through the municipal plant l Is to furnish lights for the homes of 1 the rich and poor alike at a minimum | cost of production, with maximum eff fciency at a minimum price te the | consumer. Then the city can com | pete with the present monopoly and | high prices"
 It 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.
 .'Not at a1l," replied the mayor-elect, | ssSOPiQIiStS iy1 fa c1 ! ownership, but everyone that favors municipal ownership is not a Socialist. Every city has it's problems to solve l in it's own way. We will take up the
 subject of water filtration in Cleve-
 land along the same lines that the | lighting question must be handled.
 "If it is shown that the water reach I ing the city's residents is impure then | we must find a way of filtration: and
 again dealing honestly, with the great | est efficiency and at a minimum cost. q
 When Johnson ran for mayor the 1 last time and met defeat, Baker was | the only Democrat on the ticket elect ed. It is said he wished to resign his post as city solicitor, but his chief
 insisted that he remain in office. l Bakers admiration for Johnson and | his principles is unbounded. He has | appointed Johnson lieutenants to of l flee in his city cabinet and the John
 son ideals will rule the city hall. "Tom L.. Johnson was the greatest executive any city in America ever had', said Baker. 'T do not regard my l election as personal victory. It was | a complete endorsement. the last word of the people of Cleveland on John, | sons life and york;