The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1915-01-16

with all people, are, prone to forget
the battles which have been waged
in their behalf in the long war against
selfish interests. The old fight Of
the people against the old Duluth
Gas and Water company, carried
through many bitter campaigns at
the polls and in the courts is we'll
nagh forgotten save by those persons
who were active in that fight against
greed and corruption. The people
have even forgotten the exhorbitant
rates which they formerly had to pay
Tor the poor gas and the disease
carrying water, and the subservient
city officials which the old private
corporation furnished to them.
But the present fight of the people
against the Duluth Edison Electric
company. is many years old also, and
1t is we'll that the people should re-
call the important milestones of the
long fight for the municipal owner
ship of our electric light and power
plant. It has been long and bitter
contest. 1t is now up to the people
for final decision.
The Vital Issue.
1t has gone through four sessions
of the state legislature, through every
municipal election for over 10 years,
and has been fought out twice before
the people and decided both times
against the company Overwhelmingly.
This election will decide the question
whether the people shall continue to
control their own city council as they
now do Or whether the Duluth Ed
~ison Eleetrict com apany shall bob III
at every future election with it's list
Of subservient candidates for COM
missioners so that the people will be
compelled to fight them again and
again to defeat, or else surrender to
their extortions.;
This election will also decide
whether the people of Duluth will
pay six cents for their light and power
to the Duluth Edison Electric COM
pany or pay three cents to their ow,,
plant.
What are you going to say about
it?
Is the Duluth-Edison Electric COM
pany bigger than the people?
Shall the Duluth Edison Electric
company run the city of Duluth or
shall the people of Duluth run their
own city, including the Duluth Ed
ison Electric company?
: Will you decide this question in
your own interests?
Or will you let the Duluth-Edison
Electric company and it's mercenary
following decide it in their interests?
THIS IS THE STORY
1900, The People Betrayed.
The people of Duluth voted, more
than two to one to issue bonds to
construct a municipal lighting plant.
But the city officials of that day
betrayed their trust and the plant
was not built. 's:,s''
1905 Legislature Against Duluth.
The people Of Duluth went to the
state legislature for permission to
vote on the question of issuing bonds
for the purpose of owning an electric
lighting plant. - The people were
beaten and their bill defeated by the
Duluth. General Electric company
now the Duluth Edison Electric COM
pany. r. =
1907. Duluth- Edison Busy.
The people of Duluth again went
have permission granted for the right
to vote on the question of issuing
bonds to buy or build. an electric
lighting pl'.nt. The Duluth Edison
Electric company again defeated the
bill and the peoples wish.
1911. People Win. ,'
Again the people of Duluth went
before the legislature with their hum
BILE request. Again the Duluth Edison
company and it's allies fought the will
of the people, but this time the peo-
pie triumphed and the bill passed.
The people were given the right to
vote on the question of issuing bonds
for the purpose of buying or building
an electric lighting plant .r- z H.
Council Forced to Act. =
The city council. after being forced
by the enabling act passed by the leg
islature to do so, called special cleo.
tion'~on Feb. s, 1912, on which day
the question of issuing 500, 900 wortl,
OF bonds for the building Of an cleo
trio light and power plant was sub
mitted to the people Of Duluth.
On Feb. s, 1912 the people OF Du-