The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1914-01-23
EDWARD E. A. JOHNSON OPENS HIS
CAMPAIGN With R0USlNC MEETING
HE DEPL0RES FACTI0NAL STRlFE

navian. I am proud of my American
citizenship, am proud of my an
cestors who had a hard won living in
the rock-ribbed hills Of Norway. I am
proud Of the grandest flag of the
grandest country on the face of the
earth, the stars and stripes. We are
all one, we are all Americans. The
nationality issue is out of place in
American politics."
Candidates Subject to Criticism
He said that candidates for Offices
were subject to legitimate criticism
and he did not expect to have an ex-
ception made in his case, but that be-
cause a man was candidate for office
his private character should not be
attacked.
Municipal Ownership Issue.
Discussing the municipal owner
ship issue he said it had been con-
clusively settled when the electric
light, power and water plant was
taken over by the city of Virginia.
One thing, however, he said had been
overlooked and that was the payment
of the bonds. He said the people had
been promised and should receive a
reduction of rates and especially in
the water rates There should
be a still further reduction. These
reductions would mean that the earn
ing capacity Of the plant would be
substantially decreased and that some
other medium must be found to take
care of the bonds and finance extern
sions necessary to the best service
consistent with the growth of the
city. Mr.. McGhee he said had been
chairman of the water and light COM
mittee at the time the plant was pur-
chased, but he had failed to see that
adequate arrangements were made to
take care Of the bonds. He endorsed
the charter amendments providing for
the issuance of certificates of indebt-
edness to pay the bonds. The bonds,
as they stood at present, he declared,
were mortgage on the plant and in
directly a mortgage on every piece of
property in Virginia = and affected
every taxpayer. .:
Municipal Gas Plant. =.
Discussing the municipal gas plant
he declared his belief that it was
good thing. It would be of much be-
nefit to him in his private business.
He declared it was up to the people
and that if they indicated a desire to
have it established he stood as firmly
for it as anybody. He declared also
that he was for a municipal heating
plant if it could be proven to be a
business investment, but declined to
positively commit himself on it until
he had further opportunity to investi-
gate. The city needed a new city
hall and some day it must be built.
He said he was emphatically for the
public market place and had advocat-
ed it's establishment while member
of the council. He deplored the fact
that certain newspapers Of the city,
affecting black headlines and a gen.
eral disposition to be sensational were
doing nothing worth while for the
city but where a potent agency in
stirring up strife and discord and at
this juncture was interrupted with the
most pronounced applause of the even
ing. He said he and Mr.. Bailey were
not political friends and that he and
w. H. Eaton had never been political
friends and that following the recent
school election himself and: Directors
Hawkinson. and Stewart had decided
that in the best interests of harmony
on the board and the schools of the
city Mr.. Eaton should not be chosen
chairman when the board was re-or-
ganized. Director McGhee had
agreed with them and had said:
McGhee Played Politics
eyes, yes, you're right" Later
Eaton had declared TO him that he be-
lieved he was being made the victim
of frame-up and had gone to Mr..
McGhee and promised his support to
him for appointment as clerk Of the
school board and Mr.. McGhee had
stood with Eaton, his reward being
the clerkship of the board, which pays
a small salary. Mr.. McGhee had ex-
cused his change of front by saying
he thought it was for the best inter
ests of the schools.
Civic League Grilled.
Mr.. Johnson next grilled the Civic
league. He characterized it as 9
political organization and said it. had
mo useful purpose as such in a city
the size of Virginia. He said he hac
opportunity to affiliate himself with
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