The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1923-11-02
HOW ABOUT YOUR BUSINESS!


Winnetka, Illinois, is suburb of
Chicago, of the "aristocratic" clas-
sification. It's population consists
mostly of families, the heads of
which are engaged in business in
Chicago.
Hi 1900 a municipal electric plant
was tLilt in the town. This plant
ha. been garduallly enlarged until
the investment totals over $250,000
AID service is furnished to a popula.
t:.r Of 5000 people.
Wide publicity is being given by
city officials of Winnetka to the
efficiency attained by their local
electric plant, which they claim has
been kept free from political inter
ference and operated on business
basis.
The rates charged by the Win.
tka plant are considerably higher
than those charged by the Public
Service Company of Northern
Illinois which serves the same terri
tory in which Winnetka is located
The latter company's rates are ten
cents per k. W. h. for first thirty
hours, eight cents per k. w. h. for
service in excess of 80 hours in any
given month. The municipal plants
rates are eleven cents per k. W. h.
for first 100 hours, ten cents per
k. w. h. for next 100 hours and
nine cents per k. W. h. for all in
excess of 200 hours In any given
month.
AS the Winnetka electric plant
is one of the best examples of
efficiency in operation of a municip-
ally owned plant, it brings to issue
the whole subject of public VS.. pri-
vate ownership.
The residents of Winnetka are
undoubtedly against public owner
ship as a generally established
practice, for they all make their
living as the result of private enter
prise and industry in Chicago. Yet
they countenance and encourage
the extension of the public owner
ship idea when they broadcast
socialistic propaganda such as is
now being sent out by their local
plant.
Every city in the country could
take over and operate any line of
business. If it was managed efficient
ly it would pay its way; if not, the
taxpayers would stand the deficit,
if there was any private property
left to pay taxes.
The real point is, however: Does
the average citizen wish to surrend-
er his right to do business and ex-
pand as a private individual, or
does he wish to be eventually a
mere employee of the city, state or
government under public owner
ship?
Probably the city of Chicago
could operate the retail stores, the
leading factories, the theaters or
the newspapers at as reasonable a
cost or maybe less to the consumer
than the present owners and manag-
ers who are typical of the residents
who live in Winnetka.
Why not let the city shoe horses,
run machine shops and garages and
take over bakeries and milk dis
tributing plants? There is no rea-
son why the city should not do this
as well as furnish electricity to its
citizens. except that when it inaug-
urated such program it would take
away the livelihood of its citizens,
who would have to become mere
employees of the city with no chance
for private advancement.
1t has probably never occurred to
Winnetka citizens that an extension
of the public ownership idea cJuld
very easily be applied to the bust
ness of any one of them.
Advocates of socialism always
want it applied to the "other fell
lows" business, but once the doc
trine is established it is no respecter
of persons. Public ownership and
the rights guaranteed by our con-
stitution to individual citizens can
never be mixed. Freedom goes cut
of one door as socialism comes in
the other.