The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1913-03-08

opposed to the renewal of the street
lighting contract with the private
company, and further that he will
pledge himsel4 to take Immediate
steps to either ibuild or acquire at
reasonable pri& the present plant.
The candidate ho trims on this ques-
ton will not a safe man to vote
to foEs Or to- elect 49,
; &a'sS r. ~ Relieskss%in It-But &7s
Some candidates have already" de-
clared that they believe in municipal
ownership, provided when it is shown
to them that a private company
makes exorbitive charges to the peo-
pie for service. If SUCH candidate
were honest with the people, he would
state outright that he is opposed to
municipal ownership and. is in favor
Of renewing the contract with the
private company.
The real acid test of candidates s
position on this question is his record
as public official that is, if he has
heretofore served the public in any
capacity. If, in the preliminary work
for municipal ownership, a public
official has voted right he can usually
be depended upon to do the right
thing if elected. OF course, there
are several candidates who have new
er held public office who are firm
They have not had the privileges of
officially representing the people, But
they have performed valiant service
as private citizens.
Pardon Personal Reference.
w. E. McEwen, the editor of The
Labor World, is one of the candidates
Tor mayor. He dislikes very much
to "toot his own horn in his paper,
but as he is somewhat handicapped
for money to pay for advertising
space in the other newspapers, he is
forced to use the columns of his own
paper to tell the readers of The La
Dor World and the people of this city
of his attitude on public questions
In doing so, it is not his purpose to
belittle the candidacy Of other men
who stand with him on such questions
as municipal ownership, and a. de-
cent and economical city governme ent.
Mr.. McEwen served as an alder
man in this city for six years. His
record is an open book. An examina-
ton Of that record will convince the
most critical that he has stood right
on every question affecting the moral,
social and economic welfare Of the
people of Duluth that came before the
city council during the time he was
one of its members.
A Native of Duluth.
He was born in Duluth. He at
tended the Adams school in the West
End and graduated therefrom. He
left school early in life to become
plumbers apprentice and worked
at the business until he became owner
and editor of The Labor World.
In the old gas and water fight,
while but very young man.; he made
speeches throughout the city for the
purchase of the water and lights plant
| and always fought side by side jat all
times with Henry Truelsen, T.. +.
Hudson, Fl. II. Phelps. S. r. Snively,
j. H. Crowley and such other, patrio-
tic citizens who We're responsible for
the birth Of municipal ownership in
Duluth. sz..s.,Es.
Saw Into Future.
From that day to this Mr.. McEwen
has been an ardent consistent and
unfiinching advocate of extending
municipal ownership in this city. In
1902 he introduced an amendment to
the ordinance granting the franchise
to- the Great Northern Power com
Spany which, IS passed, would have