The Detroit times., 1912-01-09
URGES EVERY WOMAN
TAXPAYER TO CAST VOTE
AGAINST FRANCHISE
Mayors Plan Is Admirable For
the Detroit United Railway"
Says Mrs. Sellers.
DOESN'T SETTLE PROBLEM.
AS City Grows Two Rates of
Fare Inside the Limits Are
Possible Under Terms.

Mrs. Susan Macklem Sellers, for
years a prominent worker for equal
suffrage and well-known club wo-
man. who is outspoken In her con-
demnation OF the Thompson-Hutchins
franchise, has been carefully studying
the provisions OF the proposed ordi-
nance and has the following to add to
the statements made by her 10 Inc
Times few days ago.
The more | read up on the street
car question, the more | am convinced
that II is not safe proposition Tor
the city to adopt. | have examined
the proposed ordinance, section by Sec
tlon, with view 10 pointing out, par
ticularly to women voters, few OF the
hidden dangers concealed beneath the
surface OF this very prolix document,
called the Thompson-Hutchins fran
chise But find so many clauses con-
tanning hidden stings Ito sting the
people), that II is impossible TO con-
slider all of them.
First, we should carefully note
that the ID. U. II. has seen TO 1t In
sections and that the ordinance So
called is carefully limited In Its provi-
sions with a special reference to con-
ditions as they existed In the year
1911.
Now the life OF this franchise is
twelve years al least What Is going
TO happen in the next twelve years.
Has II not been conservatively esti-
mated that the city OF Detroit VIII
have one million population in the
year 1920? Will this immense popu-
lation be contained within the present
city limits, or will the city have ex-
panded many miles beyond It's present
limits?
What provision does thins admir-
able plan admirable for the d.. U. r.,
make for the great cosmopolitan
growth OF the city during all these
years? II the proposed grant Is
adopted, what will be the result? Will
not the ID. U. r. extend its lines In
every possible direction beyond the
present city limits as they have al
ready done In Highland Park. and long
before the franchise will have expired
the city will have expanded, takins IN
at least q. part of those lines, We Will
then have two street car systems with
in the city. one scent system, oper-
sted within the city limits as In 1911,
the other system extended beyond
the city limits. the ID. Y. r charging
whatever fares they choose. the city
Eeing helpless 10 prevent ft.
Thus we will have the same old
trouble and the same old octopus with
us. Indeed, this purpose OF the d. U.
r. is very clearly shown in section
with reference to Its interurban cars,
any one OF which that operates for
more than Ave miles beyond the pres
cnt city limits. can within the present
limits charge a scent fare
Nov, under the present pan, the
company's terminals are within the
present city limits. and will continue
so for the next II years What then
Is to prevent the ID. L. from label
ing many OF it's cars which run over
its lines extended FIVE miles beyond
the 1911 limits, interurban cars and
charging a five-cent fare within those
limits, and another scent fare or more
II II chooses, over It's extended lines
which Mll probably be included with
in the city long before this proposed
plan would expire? Thus II will be
seen that the present plan provides
no method for guarding the citys in
terests as TO its future growth and con-
ditions, and gives the ID. u. X. a splen-
did opportunity to tie the city's hands
and TO make il impossible for the city
to ever secure municipal control OF
its railway system.
1T would seem that the above
suggestion as to the undue advantage
given the ID. u. X. by the Thompson
iutchins plan is sufficient to condemn
IL, especially in the minds OF those
who are honestly desirous OF settling
this yexed question, for instead of a
settlement our troubles will multiply a
thousand fold in the future IL this plan
is adopted. urge every roman tax
payer to cast her ballot against It,
IF we as women wish tee eeassist at
municipal housekeeping. we must use
our best Judgment and look to the
future. We must lay the foundations
broad and deep on which to assist In
building a better government, and on
which TO establish perfect social
condition. Let us show that our claim
to right to the ballot is well-found-
ed by our united 0ffort in opposing a
scheme which is as tyranncal as IL
is unjust. and is not only destructive
OF the rights OF the people, but Of
future peace and happiness"