The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-01-11
Agitation Against Franchise
Develops Into Municipal
Ownership Campaign
Planning Big Mass
Meet For Wednesday
Workingmen Protective Asso-
citation Invites Former Mich
igan Congressman and tx
pert To Speak

For municipal ownership and ope~
ration OF electric ttgt1r aud power
plants and of the street railway sys-
TEN was the declaration of the Work l.
ingrnen's Protective Association, at a
meeting in Labor Temple yesterday
afternoon.
After declaring opposition TO The
grant OF Il thirty-year blanket IRAN
chise To the Virginia Railway and
Power company on its petition now
before Council, the resolutions call
take over and operate all properties
OF the company as the several fran
chises expire paying for them at a
legitimate physical valuation. were
adopted.
Several speakers were heard dur
Ing the afternoon in opposition to the
granting Of franchise 10 the trolley
company and in favor OF city owner
ship, and the standing arrangements
committee was authorized To arrange
for the holding az a big public meet
ing in some suitable hall "Wednesday
night. At this time \. NJ. Todd for
mer member of Congress from Michi-
gan. aud representative of the Nation
al Popular Government League, will
deliver Il lecture. i'lustratA4s by steae-
sPhatti AEttF~. S}IN6biE S0I%rNAA4s hsA~
nicipal operation OF street railways
and electric transportation lines.
The movement started by citizens.
and worktngmen's organizations in
Richmond few weeks ago to OPP
pose the granting or new franchise
70 the Virginia Railway and Power
Company has developed into the de-
Inand for municipal ownership Of
public service corporations.
The resolutions adopted yesterday
are:
Value of Public Franchises.
The people of our City have been
very slow to appreciate the value
Of public franchises, The shrewd
capitalist, on Nae other hand, has
been quick to note the growing values
and future possibilities of such fran
chises. He has been on the alert to
get the aid OF politicians to secure
privileges which belong to the gem
eraI public.
The city being the condensation
of ages: city government IS the prob
lem OF the age. IL contains all that is
best in civilization as we'll as the re-
naming remnants of barbar!sfn. II
comes in contact with our daily lives
dozen times while the state or Ma
tional Government touches us once.
The problem Of the city Is the
problem OF the future--it is the prob
lem Of monopoly. Diffusion In the
ideal of Observation-Disclosures OF
wealth and power. intelligence. cul-
ture and conscience. Instead OF this
We have private monopoly OF wealth,
private fntnopoiy of government, prt-
waite monopoly of education, private
monopoly even of morality and the
conditions OF its production. Combi-
nation. migration, union are most
excellent II tsaeir benefits are justly
distributed. Indignation plus difru-
sion or union for me good Of all Is
the problem Of the twentieth GEN.
tury.
Whereas, the Virginia Railway
and Power Company. operating the
street railway lines, as we'll as being
the sole dispenser Of electric light
and power for commercial purposes.
at time when other cities OF the
country are curtailing the powers and
privileges of public service corpora
tions. has petitioned the City Council
OF the city OF Richmond fer fran
ch'se 70 run FOR a period OF thirty
years. covering all the various street
railway lines Of the city, and virtually
giving sail company a monopoly OF
the electric transit and power bust
ness In the city OF Richmond, in lieu
Of the numerous franchises under
which IL is at the present time ope-
rating; and
Whereas. the granting Of said fran.
chise would greatly curtail the rights
and privileges of the citizens of Rich
mond. increase the antagonism OF In
terest between the owners and the
public; ana
Service NJ Low Cost.
Whereas. the interests Of the
working people. citizens and .taxpay-
ers are vitality affected by the pro-
posed franchise. In that private mo
nopoly aims at profit. while the pub.
lie desires service at low cost: there
fore.
Resolved, by the Workinxmen.s
Protective Association, representins
the workingmen and women or Rich.
mond and vicinity:
Il. That We are unalterahI and
uncompromisiugly opposed to thu
granting OF the franchise asked FOL
In Its present. or any other. form.
~ That We favor inunicipat own.
ership OF the street raiiwAi lines In
the city Of Richmond aud operation oi
same by the city Of Richmond.
-. That we call ON our representa-
tives in the City Council tn reject ali
propositions for the sale Of any and
all franchise rights for street railway
-
fContinued ON SECOND slaraN