The Detroit times., 1914-08-22
DEMOCRATS TO
aid M'VICAR
In PRIMARIES
With No Mayoral Contest in Own
4 Party, Will Support Marks
Opponent
LATTER GIVES HISTORY
OF M. o. MOVEMENT
Began 20 Years Ago, When Pe0-
pie Declared For Plan,
Four To One

Supporters Of John Mcvicar for the
Republican nomination for mayor as
sert that the prospect OF u considera,
BILE shifting OF votes OF Democrats
from their own to the Republican
ticket In the coming primary will cut
large figure in the final result on
the mayoralty contest. Mr.. McVicar
himself said. Friday morning. that he
had had many Democrats tell him
that 1t was their purpose to give him
their votes In the primary.
Some OF them say frankly" he
said, that they are going to vote for
Mr.. Ingram In the general election,
but that they want to help me out
and to register protest against May
or Marks administration. Most OF
these people are advocates Of munich
pal ownership who place II above par
tisanship In municipal affairs"
Mr.. Mcvicar gave out, Friday morn
ing. short history Of the municipal
ownership movement In Detroit. II
comprises the material which he has
been using in his campaign talks. II
follows:
I'm November. 1894. the people OF
Detroit. by a vote OF four 10 one, de-
clared In favor Of municipal owner
ship OF our street railways, though at
that time the city did not possess le-
gal authority to either own or operate
street railway. Prior to that vote,
when Hazen s. Pingree became may
or, In 1890, he began series OF re-
form movements which required the
cleaning out Of corrupt gangs Of poll
ticians, contractors and boodlers, and,
owing to the politically adverse coun-
Gil. had great trouble In securing
proper men to aid him In his work,
because of the councils refusal to
confirm his appointments.
Early in his mayoralty career Mr..
Pingree began his fight for lower
street car fares and lower gas rates.
In the latter he was quite successful,
but net so much so with the former.
He attacked the franchise extensions
granted in 1879. on the grounds OF
unconstitutionality, claiming that the
franchises should expire In 1892 In.
stead of 1909, as Nov. "a. 1892. COW
cred the 80 years limitation.
There were lawsuits galore. and
at last the case was heard by William
H. Taft, then United States circuit
Judge, who In a clear-cut and exhaus-
tive opinion sustained the claims
made In behalf OF the city. Appeal
was taken, however, ana Judge Taft
was overruled by the United States
appeals court OF the circuit.
"Still the fight for better service
and better treatment OF the people
compelled to use street ears went on,
and any who were residents of De.
troit between 1890 and 1897 will re-
member II was q very bitter war.
Mayor Pingree stood Loyalty by the
people all through, Notwithstanding
conspiracies to wreck his financial
standing as manufacturer, and pet
ty attempts at social ostracism and
meaner efforts, emanating even from
church circles to turn him from his
purpose.
There had. up to the close OF 1898,
been no move toward municipal own.
ershIp or street railways, but IN his
message to the common council In
January, 1894. Mayor P.ngree sub
mitted the draft of street railway
franchise that had been prepared fol
him by me, and which he asked be
adopted and submitted to the street
railway company for acceptance. In
that document was the first sugges
ton OF municipal ownership Of ouI
street railways ever officially made
II was adopted by the common coun'
Gil. but the company failed to accept
It.
The struggle proceeded, every i'm
provement secured, such as safety
lenders, vestibules, sale OF working
mems tickets on the cars-in fact
every Improvement of every kind
having to be forced from the company
through lawsuits carried to the su'
preme court and won there by the
city.
II insisted to Mr.. Pingree that the
people favored municipal ownership,
as | gathered from my movements
about the city as "a commissioner OF