The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1918-11-15
QUIT RUNNING THEIR CARS THEY FOR
FEET THEIR FRANCHISE, AND NO ONE IN
MEMPHIS KNOWS IT BETTER THAN
THEY DO.

: - ! ~ I ~ NN ANC OANIJ IN
MEMPHIS KNOWS IT BETTER THAN
THEY DO.
The propagaudl>tS, in their desperation, are
not only putting scare stories out, but fake
stories to the effect that should the street car
company 20 into the hWtds of a receiver in the
state or federal courts, these courts would allow
Il SiN-ccnt and pmhably a Scvcu-ccnt fare. They,
OF course, know that this cannot be done, because
II" court has the power to override any contract
with the city.
Up until the recent award of higher wages
to the street ear employees, the street car COM
pany was paupcrizing the poor country boys who
were working for them, When these men asked
two years ago for a little increase in wages, sew
cral were beaten up, and one was killed before
their claims were recognized, and since then they
have been getting only II to % cents an hour.
Detroit and Cleveland, two of the most progress
i've cities in the United States, have had the
cheapest fares. These cities were not bankrupted
when they were dealing with their street car
companies, so don't let the propagandists scare
YOU, Mr.. Business Man, that in dealing with the
local street car company You are going to bank
rupt every commercial house in Memphis and
ruin the town.
The people might ask these propagandists
what was to become Of Memphis and all Of its
people if the chief attorneys for the street car
company, who are also attorneys for the electric
light and gas company, had not received a com
promise settlement satisfactory to them from
former Mayor Ashcroft s administration 1t is a
fact that these lawyers had a bill drawn to throw
the city Of Memphis into the hands of a receiver,
and buIldozc Mayor Ashcroft into withdrawing
plans for the municipal electric light plant, which
the people had voted for,
Bear in mind that these same lawyers are
around p%icturing Memphis a ruined city for
ever if anything happens to their street car COM
pany. We're they thinking Of Memphis and it's
people when they stood with their bill ready
and willing to throw the whole city into the hands
of a receiver?
This is but a preliminary statement. Later
on ! propose to tell the people of Memphis Just
how the Memphis Street Railway Company has
dealt with them, and am intimately acquainted
with their Vaccinations for the past twelve
Years, at least. In the meantime, | advise the
public to look out for the far-rcaching aud in
SidiouS propaganda Of the street car company in
favor Of their SlX-ccnt fare.
The people ought to begin right now organic
ing in every ward of the city for their self pro-
lection against the six cent fare, or to say to the
street car company, we will pay you six cents for
one and one half to two years, even though you
are not entitled to it; provided, however, that you
will give a guarantee of service, six tickets for
a quarter, with transfer, and sell them on the cars
at the expiration of the six cent fare. The PEG
pie will then pay $4,000 to $1,000 900 for what
they should have been getting all along, The
street car company has asked to break their con-
tract with the city of Memphis, and a sixcent
fare for the duration of the war with Germany,
and for about two years after the termination of
the war, discretionary with the commissioners of
the city of Memphis. The war with Germany is
over. Let them be fair with the people.