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NOVEMBER 25, 1904
to see to it that an agitation is begun for the
taking over of all municipal franchises in. their
respective towns. There is no possible excuse for
private water works or lighting plants, and the
sentiment in favor of the municipal ownership of
the street railways is a growing one. It is im
possible to have private ownership of municipal
franchises without corruption as well as extortion
the two go together. The managers of such
plants, in order to make dividends upon fictitious
capital, must subsidize the city o-icials. The first
step toward purifying city government is to put
the city in charge of all natural monopolies within
its borders.
JJJ
Booker Washington's Advice
Professor Booker T. Washington in an address
at Birmingham, Alabama, on November 13, gave
some excellent advise to the people of his race.
He said:
Not a few have predicted that on account
of the recent election many members of our
race would lose their heads, would become
unduly pompous, self-assertive and generally
offensive. With all the earnestness that I can
command I want to urge our people in every
part of the. country to disappoint those who
have made such -predictions by leading a life
of increased usefulness, soberness and sim
plicity, remembering that in the long run it
is to certain fundamental ideas of growth in
property, intelligence and high Christian char
acter, b the cultivation of friendly relations
with our noigabors' of all races that wo must
look for our r-itimate success.
The masses of our' people are to dwell
for all time here in the south and here it is
that our destiny must be worked out and we
can only succeed when we have the confidence
and co-operation of those about us. -The
advice is timely, and coming from so
high a source it ought to make an impression upon
the- more thoughtful members of the colored race.
It is greatly to Professor Washington's credit that
he should take an early occasion to thus warn his
people against rash and foolish action. Therace
isstteT having been brought into the campaign by
President Roosevelt, some of the colored men
might thoughtlessly construe the election as a tri
umph for tLj doctrine of social equality. To do so
would not only be a great mistake, but it would
be a real injustice to" the colored man.
Professor Washington, without saying any
thing to offend the feelings of his people, points
out the necessity of confidence and co-operation
between the two races in the south and confidence
and co-opercdon are impossible if the question of
social equality is raised.
JJJ
Douglas' Great Victory "
The victory of Mr. W. L. Douglas, the demo
cratic candidate for governor in Massachusetts, is
one of the most remarkable incidents of the late
campaign. While' Massachusetts went republican
bv some 85.000, Mr. Douglas was elected by about
35 000. The Boston Post attributes Douglas' suc
cess In part, at least, to the fact that he stood
for reciprocal trade with Canada. The Spring
field Republican attributes it to his popularity
among the laboring men.
Mr. Douglas began life a poor boy and has,
through his industry and business ability, ac
quired a commanding position in the manufactur
ing world, but it seems that his sympathies haro
not been weaned from the people among whom ne
made his start He has maintained close and inti
mate relations with his employes and with the
laboring people generally. His election, therefore,
may be considered as a tribute paid by the labor
ing men to on? who has earned their confidence.
If, as seems likely, his administration proves to
be a successful one. he will become a national
figure and be in a position to aid his party in the
union. Success to Governor Douglas!
JJJ c
The Popular Election of Judges
On another page will befound an article writ
ten by Judge Walter Clark, chief justice of tho
North Carolina supreme court, for the Arena. It
presents a strong plea for the popular election
of United States judges. This is one of tho reforms
to which The Commoner is committed. The sub
ject is a new one and has not yet received much
attention from the public, but, as is said by Judge
The Commoner
Thompson (whom Judge Clark quotes), "nothing
can stay the growth of the sentiment when tho
people come to consider the principles involved.
Judge Clark's article Is commonded to the read
ers of Tho Commoner. No one will answer tho
arguments presented by tho distinguished Jurist.
JJJ
A Lesson to Rulers
Lord Macaulay, in his history of England, de
scribes tho growth of trusts and monopolies throo
hundred years ago. Ho tellB how tho people at
last arose and demanded redress and how tho
queen seeing that she could no longer resist public
opinion, gracefully yielded. The historian points
to her example as a lesson to rulers: In tho hopo
that the lesson may not bo lost upon those now In
power, the description is reproduced:
"It was in the parliament of 1G01 that the op
position which had, during the forty years been
silently gathering and husbanding strength fought
its first battle and won its first victory. The
ground was well chosen. The English sovereigns
had always been entrusted with tho supreme di
rection of commercial policies. It was their un
doubted prerogative to regulate coin weights and
measures, and to appoint fairs, markets and portu.
The lino which bounded their authority over trade
had, as usual been Cut loosely drawn. They, there
fore, as usual, encroached upon the province which
rightfully belonged to the legislature. The en
croachment was, as usual, patiently borne, till it
became serious. But at length the queen took
upen herself to grant patents of monopoly by
scores. Thero was scarcely a family In tho realm
which did not feel itself aggrieved by the oppres
sion and extortion which this abuse naturally
caused. Iron, oil, vinegar, coal, saltpetre, lead,
starch, yarn, skins, leather, glass, could be bought
only at exorbitant prices. The house of commons
met in an angry and determined mood. It was in
vain that a courtly minority blamed the speaker
for suffering acts of the queen's highness to be
called in question. The language of the discon
tented party was high and menacing and was
echoed by the voice of the whole nation. The
coach of the chief minister of the crown was sur
rounded by an indignant populace who cursed, the
monopolies and exclaimed that tho prerogative
should not be suffered to touch tho old liberties of
England. There seemed for a moment to be some
danger that the long and glorious reign of Eliza
beth would have a shameful and disastrous end.
She however, with admirable judgment and tem
per declined the contest, put herself at the head
of the reforming party, redressed the grievance,
thanked the commons in touching and dignified
language for their tender care of tho general weal,
brought back to herself the hearts of the peop o
and left to her successors a memorable example
of the way in which it behooves a ruler to deal
with public movements which he has not tho
means of resisting." . ;
JJJ
Children's Ideals
The November number of the London National
Review contains an article on children's essays,
mustrated by a number of original productions.
The practice of writing of essays is of great value
' to the child: It is much more difficult for a child
to expres itself on paper than to express Itself
bv word of mouth, and the use of the composition
?n the elementary grades is a distinct step in ad
vance in the matter of education.
Below will he found four essays. They are
present not so much to show the intellectual
progress which the writers have made, but rather
to Sow the difference in the Ideals of children,
mile In essay measures the proficiency of the
child it still more clearly .pictures the child a
environment The child gets its ideals very largely
from the home and from the conversation of the
Sly There is a wide difference between he
selfish Ideals and the unselfish ideals presented
In these two groups of essays.
The subject suggested by the teacher was:
"Pretend I am a fairy and have lifted my wand to
make you all rich men and women. What are
you going to do with your time and your money?
The following answers are selected as illus
trations: (NumDer 1.)
Plymouth Grove, Municipal School, Man-chester.-Dear
Madam: If I had a lot of money,
I should spend it in a decent way. I should
s
not spend, it In tpffco all tho time, I nliould .
buy ii few games to play with, such as tho
football, nnd a cricket bat I would go to nlco
scnsldo places, such as Ulnckpool, Houthport
and St Anncs, I would go to the football -matches.
I would buy a nice Jowollery shop. .
I would buy somo' good pigeons, and 1 would
buy a nice pony and trap. If I had all tlioso
things, and went to all those places, nobody
could enjoy tliomBclvcs better than mo. I
remain, your respectfully,
ARTHUR BEL8HAW.
(Number 2.)
Headlngton Quarry, Feb'y 24, 19(M.--Dcar
Miss: I am writing to you to toll you what I
should liko to bo. I have often wished I could
bo a rich lady and livo in a palace, and havo ' '
plenty of mo .cy, no children, and live happy
together. As I grow and get older I shall earn '
and savo my money and hco what 1 can-bo.
I am, yours truly, ELLEN PARSONS'.
(Number 3.)
Webster St., Greenheys, Apr. 20, 04.Dcar '
"Madam:'" If I came Into a fortuno these aro
the uhoj . should put It to: First I should
put some In the bank for I may havo need for
it some day. Second, I would insure my father
and two brothers. Third, I would have a nlco
grave stone over my mother's jravo at Weasto,
and one over my stepmother's at Southorn, and
after that I would buy a shop for my father to
live in now he is getting old. I should then
buy a bicycle for myself and when I am 21 I
would get married and buy a house of furni
ture and a farm to live on. I romaln, your's
truly, H. K ROI3ERTS.
(Number 4.)
St. ..ephen's Girls, I larch 23rd, 1901.
Dear Miss Bathurst: If such a thing did hap-
pen, that I should become suddenly rich, I '.'
would .o many things with it. Of courso ft"lav
a very difficult thing to be rich, and many
different ideas might come Into my mind. My
- idea now is to try and do good with my money,
by giving it to charities, or giving raonoy to
support missionary societies, or helping spmo
ono poorer than my self. If I should bo blest
with money, I would like to livo in the coun
try? and havo a small farm, or a nico garden to
attend to. Trusting this letter will please you,
Miss Bathurst, I will conclude. I remain,
your truly, . SARAH BRADS'HAW.
JJJ
Will You Help?
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ticipate in this effort to Increase The Common
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