davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1916-01-09
WOMEN PLEDGED
TO THE PRESIDENT
Will Take Active Part in Cam
paign for His Re-
Election.
DEMOCRATIC LEAGUE
ENDS ITS CONVENTION
Resolutions Are Adopted Pointing
Out the Achievements of the
Present Administration.

Pledged to the support of Woodrow
Wilson for reelection and loaded down
with great amounts of data on the ac-
complishments of the democrats and
fulfillment of promises. delegates to
the fourth annual convention of the
Woman's National Democratic League
will go out into the country and get
actively into the campaign, according
to plans made before adjournment late
yesterday afternoon.
The women will organize constituent
bodies in every doubtful state and dis
trict. will get speakers and take the
stump themselves, will obtain automobiles
to get the democratic voters to the
polls and will run card parties to de-
fray the expenses of a part of the
campaign.
And another organizati launched
just before adjournment will make a
special appeal for reelection for Will
son because of his efforts to keep the
country out of war. The organiZa =
ton, to be called the Wilson Home
Guards, was Matched out of the mind
of Mrs. Marie Keough, statstician of
the sanitary district of Chicago and
vice president of the organization for
Illinois
Evening star., 1916-01-09
'HIKERS'" LEAP YEAR SOCIAL,
Man Wanderlusters Guests of the
Woman Pedestrians

Woman wanderlusters rendered the
man wanderlusters leap year social
last night at the Northeast Masonic
Temple, Sth street near F. Mrs Nellie
Brosnan and Mrs. Brooks were in
charge.
Dancing was one of the features OF
the evenings entertainment. Between
dances a program of musical and liter
ary numbers was given. Refreshments
were served.
The hall was prettily decorated with
American flags and wanderlust ban.
ners OF brown, green and blue A new
pennant bearing the word wander
lusters" was added to the other wan
derlust banners.
Evening star., 1916-01-09
Negroes Held for Grand Jury.

Frederick Yates and William Red
mond. coiored. were held for the action
of the grand jury in $1,000 bonds each
yesterday in the Police Court on a
charge of housebreaking. The defend
ants are charged with breaking into
the store of Morris w. Waters, 1874
Wisconsin avenue, and with stealing
S10603 and bottle of cologne.
Evening star., 1916-01-09
ONCE MENELIK'S ADVISER.
Dead Swiss Engineer First European
to Hold Abyssinian Post.

BERLIN, January S. by wireless to
Sayville.-A Zurich dispatch to Ehe
Overseas News Agency reports The
death, at the age of sixty-two years. of
Alfred Zig, for many years the princi-
pal adviser of King Menelik OF Asys-
sinia. Herr Ilg. who was a Swiss en-
gineer. VAS premier OF Abyssinia for
tweuty-siN years. lie WAS the first
European to serve as confidential sd-
wiser at the Abyssinian court.
Evening star., 1916-01-09
Meeting of the Home Guards.

There will be a special meeting at the
New Willard Hotel at 2:30 o'clock Mon
day afternoon to formally organize the
body. The organization. as outlined
by Mrs. Keough yesterday afternoon,
will go before the women of the coun-
try and plead for the man whom they
feel has protected their homes by keep
ing the country away from strife.
Resolutions were adopted pointing
out the accomplishments of the demo-
cratic administration and pledging the
support of the organization to Wood
row Wilson for reelection.
The election resulted as follows: Mrs.
Woodrow Wilson. honorary president;
Mrs. William A. Cullop of Indiana,
president: Mrs. Edward T. Taylor Of
Colorado. first vice president: Mrs. Ma
rie Keough of Chicago, second vice
president: Mrs. John E. Baker of Califor-
MIA, third vice president; Mrs. William
~; Mrs. Randolph D. Houkins of this city
corresponding secretary; Mrs. Mary C.
Adams of this city, treasurer; Mrs w.
F. Hancock of this city, auditor; Mrs.
Charles E. Steinrneyer of Riverdale.
Md. historian, and Mrs. Joseph Kerr
Maxwell of this city. national chairman
of press, and the following directors
Mrs. William Jennings Bryan of Ne
braska, Mrs. James Pryor Tarvin of
Kentucky Mrs. Henry l.. Edmunds of
New Jersey. Mrs. F. Berger Moran of
this city. Mrs. Edward NJ. House of
Texas. Mrs Frank. s. White of Ala
bama. Mrs. Louis Bennett of West
Virginia was named as delegate-at-
large. "
Mrs. Cullop, in her inaugural address,
outlined the plans of the organization
for participating during the coming
year in the campaign to re-elect Wood
row Wilson. She said that organiza-
tons would be made in all of the
doubtful states and diStricta the
country. In order to pile up a large
Evening star., 1916-01-09
TO REPORT ON YEARS WORK.
Woman's Evening Clinic Will Meet
Tomorrow Afternoon.

The annual meeting Of the Woman's
Evening Clinic, formerly the Woman's $
Clinic Auxiliary. Is to be held at $50
o'clock tomorrow afternoon, at the
home of Mrs. Samuel Spencer. e012
Massachusetts, avenue northwest. Mrs.
John Hays Hammond of New York and
Washington, president of the clinic, is
to preside, word having been received
that she will come from New York
especially for the meeting.
The principal speaker at the meeting
Evening star., 1916-01-09

at date near the middle of next Jan
uary, to be fixed later
The officers of the organization last
night held a reception in the New Will
lard Hotel. All of the officers of last
year. with the exception of the second
vice president, were reelected.
Evening star., 1916-01-09

is to be DR.. Rosalie Slaughter Martin,
superintendent of the Polytechnic of New
York. Mrs. Kate Waller Barrett also
is to speak. and reports of the work
done by the clinic during the past year
are 10 be presented.
Evening star., 1916-01-09
Leaves 5000, 900 Marks to Berlin.

BERLIN. January s. via London, 1910
a.m.-Wilhelm Ehrecke, Berlin
merchant, who died recently, be-
queathed his entire estate of about
5000, 900 marks to the city.
Evening star., 1916-01-09

favorable report and Senator Thomas
excellent Endorsement Is certainly sig
nificant of the great advance in the po-
litical importance of woman suffrage
and is the most hopeful indication of
the vote our resolution will receive"
Prospect Favorable in House.
Members of the union say that the
situation in the House, as they have
discovered it through their lobbying
with the judiciary committee, though
less favorable, is very encouraging.
The suffrage resolution is now in the
hands of a subcommittee. of which, ac-
cording to their information, Mi. Car
lin of Virginia is chairman; the demo-
cratic members are Gard of ONO and
Taggart of Kansas. and the republican
members are Volstead of Minnesota
and Morgan of Oklahoma.
Miss Elsie Hill, one of the lobbyists
with this committee, states that she
finds special qualification in the fact
that Chairman Webb has introduced
the prohibition resolution. thus, accord
ing to the expressed opinion of mem
bers of the House themselves, burning
the bridge of the states rights plea be-
hind him.
With the situation thus clearly de-
fined, the members of the union be-
lieve that it will not be long before
they will be able to secure action in
both houses. One fact that leads to
hope among the suffragists as to the
coming vote is that, as they point out,
with the increase in the number of re-
publican members, if they get the same
proportion of republican votes this
year as they did last their amendment
is won.
Mrs. Florence Kelley of New York,
who for several years was chairman
of the congressional committee of the
national association and was in the
gallery when Senator Thomas reported
the resolution. is enthusiastic over its
early appearance and made the follow
ing statement in regard to the prog
ress of the federal work:
THE federal amendment for woman
suffrage seems this year for the first
time to be sure to be referred to the
states.
Amendment Proposed in 1875.
"The first federal amendment for
woman suffrage was introduced by Sen
ator Sargent of California in the Sem
ate in 1875 and by my father in the
House of Representatives in 1877. I
was chairman of the congressional
through two congresses and never
succeeded, as none of my prede-
cessors had ever succeeded, in get
ting any broad national backing.
This year, for the first time,
am filed with hope that the amend
ment will pass because at the latest
election. for the first time, the Presi-
dent of the United States voted for
suffrage. And at the next election four
million women will votefor a President
and a million men in the east have now
expressed their will that women shall
vote. No such conjunction as this has
ever existed in the history of the re-
public. and no such nationwide ably Or
.aV.f1 TnV-t II hAR@ %
present to the members Of Congress
the wishes of their constituents that
this amendment be submitted to the
legislatures at this session"
Evening star., 1916-01-09

favorable report and Senator Thomas
excellent Endorsement is certainly sig
nificant of the great advance in the po-
litical importance of woman suffrage
and is the most hopeful indication OF
the vote our resolution will receive"
Evening star., 1916-01-09

vote. she continued, automobiles and
other vehicles will be made available
to take the voters to and from the
polls on election day. To defray the
expenses card parties will be given. In
addition to getting speakers for the
many gatherings which will be held,
the women will take the stump them
selves.
Evening star., 1916-01-09
Reports Are Optimistic.

Reports, all of them bearing opti-
mistic views for the success of the
democratic party at the coming cleo
ton, were heard from the officers, and
Mrs. Charles Fl. Spinks. vice president
for California; Mrs. Thomas S. Talia-
ferro, vice president for Wyoming, and
Mrs. E. J. G. Roundy, vice president for
Titan. The report from Mrs. Spinks
was read by Mrs. Mary T. Gamage of
California. Mrs. L. C. Ramsey of Ala
bama read the report of the state vice
president for that state, Mrs. Joseph
Kerr Maxwell. A letter of greeting
was read from Mrs. ]. w. Phillips, vice
president from the state of Washing
ton. who expressed regret at her in
ability to attend.
Activities of the organization in New
York and Riverdale, Nd, were explain
ed by Mrs. Harry Hastings of New
York and Mrs. Stinemeyer of River
dale.
The organization adjourned to meet
Denver labor bulletin., 1916-09-02

should force them. But Legislators
who carried annual passes and who
acted as pass brokers became even
more sheepish than the judges-a pret-
ty strong statement, / am aware, but
l guess l will let it stand.
Then there came a day when the
people, sick at heart over the faithless-
ness of those whom they sent year
after year to represent them in the
Legislature, demanded and received
the power to legislate directly and
to veto legislation they did not ap-
prove.
The initiative and referendum was
the beginning of the end of "the-peo-
ple-be-damned" dispensation.
Government Ownership.
l am as sure that the government
or the people will own all public util-
tiles (a) transportation, OBJ tele-
phones, (c) telegraphs, Cd light
plants, (e) water systems
1. AS was that senators would be
chosen by direct vote of the people;
2. AS ! was that we should have a
parcel post and a postal savings sys-
TEN;
g. AS l was that we should have
lished;
A. AS | was that we would have wo-
man suffrage and prohibition in Colo
RADIO;
5. AS | was that we would nominate
our candidates for state, county, legis-
lative and judicial offices at the ballot
box instead of in packed conventions;
6. AS / am that we shall yet have
an eight-hour law for the six million
laborers that do not now enjoy that
blessing, owing to their own short
sighted conduct;
Z. AS | am that we shall have an
old-age pension;
s. AS ! am that we shall have a min
imum wage scale;
9. AS ! am that the four-fifths of
our labor population which is now un-
organized will yet learn that the
trades unions are fighting their bat
ties and will join the one-fifth and do
the manly thing-help carry labor's
burdens until they can be lightened
The Three Omitted Sections.
AS the public utilities act was orig
inally drawn and passed the Legisla-
ture, it contained three sections, to-
wit: Sections 35 SO and 81, which
were referred to the people, and, thru
misrepresentation made by inter
ested parties, the people were lead to
defeat these sections at the polls.
Word was sent out over the state that
they were designed for the protection
of the public utilities and would act
Denver labor bulletin., 1916-09-02

which formerly prevailed of obtaining
franchise for little or nothing and
then capitalizing it for millions of dol
lars and then insisting that this wa
tered capital stock must earn divi-
dends.
Furthermore, under this section the
commission may.require utilities COM
panies to account for the disposition
of all moneys coming into their hands
from the sale of bonds or the discount
ing of their notes.
Stock. bonds or notes issued without
would become, once this section is
adopted, void, and agents or officials
who knowingly aid in the issue Of
notes, bonds and stock contrary to the
provisions of this section become
guilty of felony.
In most states we now have Public
Utilities Commissions and public util-
tiles statutes. These statutes lack but
one step to accomplish the object of
government ownership of public util-
tiles.
In my judgment we are now on the
last lapse of private ownership of pub
lie utilities.
The public utilities act or statute of
this state which you have asked me
to discuss, consists of some sixty-nine
sections, many of them long, contain
ing several lengthy sub-sections. Man
ifestly it will be impossible for me, in
the time at my disposal to more than
refer to this great act. The first
twelve sections you will perhaps not
be greatly Interested in and / will give
digest, in the most condensed pos
sible form, of several of the succeed
ing sections, simply in order to convey
to the mind of those who have not
read the entire act with care, the
sweeping power over public utilities
which the people have lodged in the
hands of the three gentlemen compos-
ing the Public Utilities Commission.
Section 13 provides that charges for
services by all public utilities shall be
just and reasonable; unjust and un-
reasonable charges are prohibited and
declared to be unlawful.
Section IA gives power to the COM
mission to adopt, regulate and enforce
rates, charges and taxes; to prevent
discrimination and extortions by these
companies.
Section Is requires the utility CON-
panies to file schedules of rates and
tolls with the commission and keep
printed schedules of their rates open
at all times to the public. These sched-
ules must set forth all contracts and
privileges these companies have, or
grant, which may in any way effect
tolls or rates.
Section 16 prohibits changes In rates
or tolls by any company without first
giving thirty days notice to the COM
mission and to the public.
Section II prohibits the issue OF
franks, free passes or free service, ex-
cept to employees and certain public
officials and representatives of char
tiles and religious organizations. This
section makes those who use. as well
as those who give, free passes that
are prohibited liable to penalty.
Section 10 compels telephone and
Denver labor bulletin., 1916-09-02
Public Control of Public
~ Utilities ~
BY JUDGE LOUIS w. CUNNINGHAM
Colorado Springs
Utilities
BY JUDGE LOUIS W. CUNNINGHAM
Colorado Springs

To begin an article for labor on pub
lie utilities, it might be well to take
a text from the Scriptures, and /
therefore read from Ecclesiastes
fourth chapter, verses to II, as fol-
lows:
Two are better than one; because
they have a good reward for their
labor
For if they fall, the one will lift
up his fellow: but woe to him that is
alone when he falleth; for he hath not
not another to help him up.
Again, if two lie together. then
they have heat: but how can one be
warm alone?"
And he said, THE people be
damned" and they were damned.
As the historian reckons time, it
was but yesterday, late in the evening,
when a great American despot of
transportation framed the celebrated
phrase which have just quoted. The
attorney who then served this mon
arch and his corporations misrepre-
sented the greatest state in the Union
population considered-in the Sen
ate of the United States; was offered
the first place in the cabinet of one
of our Presidents, whose election he
had made possible, and aspired to be
himself President-indeed, received
ninety-nine votes for that office in a
national convention. Those words of
contempt-"the people be damned'-
are justified by the conditions which
nen prevailed not morally justified,
but justified by the laws that then
served as an armor for organized cap
ital in its contest with disorganized
labor. But things have been happen
ing and happening rapidly since Mr.
Vanderbilt thus voiced his contempt
for the people.
The transportation kings then sup
posed they owned the railroads of the
country in the same sense, and to the
same extent, that the individual owns
the horses and wagon he drives along
the public highway. They had not yet
learned (or the people had not yet
learned) that transportation is a gov
ernment function and that the bust
ness of transportation has only been
delegated by the government as a rev.
ocable privilege or permit This per.
nit, or privilege, was always, just as
it is now, revocable. The trouble was
that the people did not realize this
fact. There never was a time when
preferential rates and free Transports
ton was not unlawful. But there was
a time-a very long time-when courts
were sheep and the people were the
goat. Before the courts would act, il
was necessary-they insisted-that
the legislative branch of government
Denver labor bulletin., 1916-09-02

telegraph companies to transmit and
deliver conversations and messages of
every other such company with whose
| lines a physical connection can prac-
| ticably be made.
Section 81 prohibits the charging by
| street or interurban railroad com
panies of more than cents for one
continuous ride in the same general
direction within the corporate limits
| of any city and county, city or town,
except upon a showing before the COM
mission that such greater charge is
| justified.
Section 22 requires utility companies
to file written answers to all ques-
tions propounded by the commission
and gives to the commission authority
to require monthly or special reports
of earnings and expenses. Such re-
ports must be sworn to.
Section "a gives the commission
power to investigate and, II necessary,
| order changes in rules, regulations.
equipments. service or methods of a
| company where such methods are un.
just, unsafe or inadequate.
Section 25 authorizes the commits
sion, when they find it necessary, to
order extensions, repairs, improve
| ments, changes etc, in buildings and
structures. And, where new buildings
or structures are ordered by the COM
mission, the selection of the site for
such structure shall first be approved
| by the commission. When such
| changes or new structure requires
| joint action of two or more companies
and these companies cannot agree
upon the apportionment of the cost
therefor the commission has authority
| to fix the proportion of expense to be
borne by each company.
Section 26 gives power to the com
mission to order railroads and street
car companies to put on more cars or
trains; or increase their motive
power; or to order changes in sched.
ules of trains and cars; or fix stopping
| places "or to make any other change
the commission may determine to be
reasonably necessary to accommodate
and transport the traffic, passenger or
freight"
Section 27 gives the commission au-
| thority to compel non-competng tele-
graph and telephone companies to con-
| meet their lines where such physical
! connection can reasonably be made
and public convenience will thereby
be subserved. / think competing lines
might well be brought under this sec
tion. When such physical connections
are made, the commission will appor.
tion the joint tolls, If the companies
fail to agree upon n division.
Section 28 provides for use by one
company OF subways, tracks, wires.
poles, pipes, conduits or other equip
ments of another company. Where
the commission finds that public con-
venience and necessity requires such
use by one company of the property OF
another company, the commission is
authorized to fix the contribution or
damage which the company so using
the property OF another shall pay
CONTINUED on Page 81
Denver labor bulletin., 1916-09-02

against the interest of the people,
hence many voters voted against all
| amendments thru instructions from
newspapers, and, no campaign of edu.
cation being conducted and the Pub
lie Utilities Commission not having
begun its work yet, these sections
were, as | say, defeated. | am of
opinion that they will ultimately be
restored and, in my judgment, they
ought to be restored. | am advised
by the chairman of the Public Utilities
Commission of this state that after
careful study of the various public
utilities laws in force in the various
states of this country he has yet to
find one that does not give to the COM
mission of the state the control over
and regulation of the issuance Of
stock, bonds and encumbrances put
out or issued by public utilities COM
panies. These three omitted sections
were designed, as you will soon see,
to give power to the commission to
control issuance of bonds, stock and
notes.
Section 35 provides that utilities,
such as are designed ordinarily to
serve towns and cities, may not be
constructed without a permit from the
commission. Steam railroads do not
seem to be included in this section;
why | do not know. Extensions of
such utilities must also have permits,
except under certain circumstances
which l will not take your time to
enumerate.
The object and purpose of this Sec
tion 35 is to prevent wildcat ventures
in public utilities and the construc-
ton of so-called competing water,
light, heat and transportation systems
where the field is already occupied or
where the public convenience and ne
cessity calls for no such improve
ments.
Competition between public utilities
has always proven disastrous. 1t is a
sort of commercial blackmail, but
much worse than blackmail in that
1t disturbs, if 1t does not corrupt, the
entire community in addition to injur-
ing one or both of the parties directly
involved. No good reason occurs to
me for not including in this Section
35 interstate railroads.
Section SO forbids public utilities
from selling, leasing or mortgaging
their property; or merging or consol-
idating with other similar companies
without permit of the commission.
This section also forbids one utility
company from acquiring any part of
the capital stock of another such com
pany without the permission of the
commission.
Section 81 declares that the issuing
of stock. bonds, notes and the Great
ing of liens upon their property by
public utilities companies is special
privilege vested in such companies by
the state and hence at all times to be
under the control OF the state
This section 81 forbids the capital
ization by utilities companies of their
franchises or permits in excess of
the amount actually paid by such
companies for such franchises or per-
mits. Even the utilities commission
may not permit the vicious practice
Denver labor bulletin., 1916-09-02
DIDN'T NEED ICE.

Young Mrs. Green Ito neighbor)-
I'm having such trouble keeping our
food. ! bought real nice-looking re.
frigerator. .'but 1t doesn't seem TO work
well at all.
Neighbor-Do you keep ice enough
IN It?
Denver labor bulletin., 1916-09-02

Mrs. Green-Ice? hope you don't
think. after spending all that money
on refrigerator. we'd go to the addr
tional expense OF buying ice.-Boston
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