The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1916-08-07
The Peoples Rights
The Jitney Bus
ny EDWIN J. BROWN

Last week / wrote on The Peo-
Pies Rights and the open 81 ops&-
My article was refused by the se-
attic Post-Intelligencer without CIV
ing any reason other than that the
Psi would not print anything for
me on the open shop or en- political
questions, and | have no fault TO
find II my friends on the P.-L have
become so ossified and straight
laced that they have decided 10 take
n stand on labor and political qucs-
tons and close their mind and re-
fuse TO hear further evidence or gfvss
any other view. or side. 20 the p-.s-A
pie but II. after taking their stand.
they are compelled to use their time
and energy in maintaining their po-
sition regardless of facts, the P.-r.
not down, even by the P.-I., and the
truth Is that the open shop in reality
means closed shop. and a blacklist
against all union men. and 1 here
bate the question before any aud
fence or In any newspaper In So
attic: Resolved. that dock work
ers' union or closed shop on our
water front would benefit business
and the merchants In Seattle" II
my position is wrong and weak. why
do they fear TO meet me7
THE JITNEY BUS
The jitney bus has demonstrated
that Seattle could get along nicely
without street car transportation.
In case OF our street cars being
course Il would take a few days for
readtustment but IL is great source
Of satisfaction not to be at tho
mercy OF one institution. The jitney
bus has also demonstrated what can
be done in giving the public service
by individual common carriers and
the time viii come when the titneys
Will accommodate all who live with
in a three emile limit from the down
town center. and street cars will
carry all who live beyond a three
mile limit. and give them through.
rapid service.
WANT THE JITNEY nus STOPPED
IL We look TO the economic basia
upon which our institutions are
founded. and the material interests
Of the individuals who operate them.
we can best account for the acts OF
men (even the P.-D We all know
our Masters voice" meeting
was recently held In the Chamber
of Commerce rooms by what was
supposed 20 be the presidents of all
Improvement clubs in Seattle for the
purpose OF considering municipal
transportation. IL was about the
rawest thing ! ever witnessed. be-
cause nine out OF every ten who
TO represent any club, and IL became
very evident that the meeting rep
resented the Traction Company In
an effort 10 further burden and har-
ness the jitney bus carriers of Sc
attic.
one gentleman complained be-
cause jitney bus had charged
somebody 500 for hauling them out
TO the university when the snow
was three feet deep and there were
no street cars, and walking was
impossible. Another wanted jitneys
10 run to the end of the car lines
and give service for the same prices
given by street cars.
II finally developed that the Trac-
ton Company had put petition
before the city Council advocating
n city ordinance that would drive
the jitney bus out OF business. The
Legislature when a bond was re-
duired and promised for $4,000 per i
year, then raised to $4,000. This
stopped over half OF our jitneys. and
$4,000, the job will be finished, and
our old friend, the Traction Com
pany. will smile. II the people OF
Seattle desire the convenience OF the
jitney bus. they had best look we'll
whom they send to the next legisla-
ture.
The jitney bus is the most modern,
convenient and rapid transporta-
tion in the world 1t affords COM
petition for the people, and il IL
municipal transportation. When a
titney tnickeD is paid 20 the Trac-
ton Company II leaves Seattle. but
when paid 10 the Jitney bus driver
It stays IN Seattle. When money 10
paid To the steamship company for
freight the only part OF IL that stays
in Seattle is what is paid out to
men as wages. am patriotic. and
would sooner see the money stay In
Seattle than to have II so TO the
Stone a Webster Co. In Boston or
the Hetty Green estate In New York
Next week | viii write an open
letter TO the Commercial Club. pr.
and Judge Thomas Burke
ON the Open SHOP"
EDWIN J. BRoWA