Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-01-11
Workingmen Call Upon Council
to Reject Franchise Applica-
ton in It's Entirety.
EX-CONGREssMAN TO SPEAK
A. M. Todd, of Michigan, Will
Address Mass-Meeting
Wednesday Night.


lutions declaring openly and without
compromise for municipal ownership
of all street railway and light and
power utilities in this city.
Richmond labor organizations had
before this registered their opposition
to the form of franchise asked for By
the Virginia Railway and Power Com
pany. Objections to the thirty-ycar
life and other features of the grant
suggested by the power company have
been raised also by quasi-political or
sanizations in the East End and on
the Southside. Tho resolutions adopt
ed yesterday by the workingmen, how
over. are the first to oppose any form
OF franchise and TO declare in its
broadcast form for municipal owner
ship.
WANT CITY TO CONDUCT
LIGHT AND POWER PLANT
A note sounded in no other resolu-
tions that have 30 far been adopted
favors the Immediate purchase of the
light and power utilities owned in this
city by the Virginia Railway and
Power Company, at their present esti-
creasing OF the capacity OF tho munich
over the present demand.
Speeches were made by Joseph w
Stewart. James f. Dickerson, John
Iiirschberg. L. c. Dawson, H. T. Colvin,
Jesse Duke and c. X Kelly. Mr.
Iiirschberg confined his talk to neutral
matters. urging the workingrnen to
qualify themselves to vote, in order
that they may be In a position better
to enforce their needs. He did not
discuss the franchise application
The body voted to hold mass
meeting either in the City Auditorium
or In the auditorium of the John Mar
shall High School on Wednesday even
Ing. The feature of the meeting will
be an address by former Congressman
A. NJ. Todd, of Michigan, on Municipal
Ownership of Street Railways" The
lecture Will. be illustrated by 'stereop-
ticon slides.
Mr. Dawson told the meeting that
Mr.. Todd has made an exhaustive study
OF municipal traction utilities in Eu-
rope. and is n recognized expert The
speaker Will come TO Richmond under
the auspices OF the National Popular
Government League. Mr.. Todd is at
present in Washington. and arrange
ments for the lecture were made last
night by long distance telephone.
MAY BRING SENATOR OWEN
HERE FOR ADDRESS
y meeting scheduled for Friday
night In Fulton was ordered can
celed as soon as arrangements were
made for the address by Mr.. Todd
The association took under considera-
ton Il plan to bring to Richmond at
an early date, for addresses on the
franchise and municipal ownership
questions. Congressman Crosser, of
Ohio. and Senator Owen. OF Oklahoma
Both OF these. according to Mr.. Davi-
son. have promised to speak in Rich
mond AT any convenient date.
jesse Duke, who is secretary Of the
state Socialist organization. told the
meeting that hc was prepared to prove
In any court OF law that the Virginia
Railway and Power Company Is at
present supplying corporation with
electric current at the rate Of cent n
kilowatt hour. The residence and in
dividual consumers rate is 10 cents,
less 10 per cent discount for payment
within ten days.
The resolutions adopted by the
,Workingmens Protective Association
'Ni piSpaiCu Wy d COIlT1lltee COM
posed OF r. b. Greenway, president of
that BODY, who presided at yesterdays
meeting; y, w. Sheppard, ii. B. Fair
cloth and II. # Colvin. They were
adopted unanimously.
MUNICIPAL. OWNERSHIP
CRJISD APTLY SUMMARIZED
The document Is prefaced by a pre-
amble which summarizes aptIy and
with considerable point the municipal
ownership creed. 1t reads:
The people of our city have been
very .slow TO appreciate the value of
public franchises. The shrewd capi-
talist has, on the other hand, been
quick to note the growing values and
future possibilities Of such franchises.
lie has been on the alert to get the
aid of politicians to secure privileges
which belong to the general public.
The city being the condensation Of
ages city government Is the problem
OF the age: 1t contains all that is best
In civilization as well as the remain
Ing remnants Of barbarism. It comes
In contact with our daily lives a dozen
times. while the State or national gov
ernment touches us once
The problem Of the city is the prob
lem Of the future; 1t Is the problem Of
monopoly. Diffusion is the ideal of
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. OF wealth and
power, intelligence. culture and con-
science. Instead OF this. we have pri-
vate monopoly OF wealth. private mo-
nopoly Of government. private mo-
nopoly OF education, private monopoly
even OF morality and the, conditions
OF Its production. Combination, In
tegration. union are most excellent IL
their benefits are Justly distributed
1ntegration plus diffusion or union for
the good Of all Is the problem of the
twentieth century.
TEXT OF RESOLUTIONS
ADOPTED ny yyORKINGMEN
Whereas. the Virginia Railway and
Power Company. operating the street
railway lines. as we'll as being the
sole dispenser OF electric light and
Continued on Fifth Page.)