Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-05-05

! MO GREATER mistake could be made by
| ~ the people now than to size up the opposi
tion to the transit loan and the big enterprise
it makes possible as the expression of con.
| servative thoughtfulness, or even as STUPID
standpatism. 1t is not to be dignified by such
a description. They are up against a con.
spiracy that Is now thoroughly organized with
the machinery of ward and division politics
as we'll oiled ever 1t was in the DAYS of
Ashbridge
1t is true that there was a time when the
people had to cry Wake upl" to the political
leaders OF all parties and factions. But let no
man think that those leaders have not been
awake from the first moment they realized
that the people were in earnest about transit
They have been wide awake, and they kept
awake after the people had begun to doze
again.
The political leaders and the corporate and
private interests with whom we have to deal
did not turn sleepy and Indifferent eye upon
the plan for a straight scent fare. They were
wide awake to the peoples interests In this
matter-wide awake to betray those interests
and serve their own. This Is not a matter of
policy with them-it is matter of money
1t is money in the pockets of the privileged
few and the little politicians who serve them
preservation
the Scent exchange tickets and of the jam.
ming of the aisles in slow surface cars They
see loss for themselves-not loss of any.
thing to be dgnified by such a phrase as their
political prestige-a loss of nothing more COM
plex than dollars and cents in the prompt put.
ting through Of the subway and elevated sys-
tenn with its immeasurable gain for the people
who would have this swift clean and nerve
saving method of transportation to and from
their work.
The time has come to count noses The
arguments have all beea made and the enemy
has admitted the truth of all the arguments
for the loan and the Taylor plan. He has ad.
mitted them indirectly by drawing one red
herring after another across the path-the red
herring of higher tax rate bugaboo the red
herring of City Hall that might fall down,
and the rest of them.
Now that the time approaches for a show.
down, for count of the votes, there is to be
no discouragement because one faction Is
against the loan and the other lying low.
What If both factions were against the loan
the people could beat them both. The influence
of the political leaders is strong--the mistake
must not be made of belittng the power of
the trained heelers to get out the vote. But
the bosses do not control the majority of the
more than 100000 voters. They come in con-
tact with and directly control a remarkably
small number of persons. It is never by
assured numerical support that the bosses VIM
1t is always by superior organization. There
were Just as many independents in Philadel.
phia in 1901. when the Independent cause
looked hopeless, there were in 1911. when
the independents won. The only difference
was that in the decade they had learned
something of organization.
From this hour and continually for the next
ten days the cry in the wards and divisions
must be "Organize-hght the devil with fire
wrestle with organized obstructionists for a
majority of the vote in each voting precinct
with an organization which will make up in
vigor and enthusiasm for what It lacks in |
facility and guile.