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About The commoner. (Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-1923 | View Entire Issue (July 1, 1914)
the Commoner JULY, 1914 .9 bered 1,562 in 1912, according to tho figures, and privately-owned plants numbored 3,659. In the ten-year period from 1902 to 1912 the publicly-owned plants had increased nearly 92 per cent, while tho privately-owned plants had in creased only a little over 30 per cent. In the five-year period from 1907 to 1912 tho figures show that 106 lighting plants were changed from private to municipal ownership, while 80 were changed from municipal to private owner ship. The balance sheet of tho 1,562 publicly owned plants shows a net surplus of $17,698,222. "Gas companies were owned by municipalities to the number of 119 in 1909, according to tho figures given out. It is estimated that there has been an increase of about 100 publicly-owned gas plants in the last twelve years. "The statistics as to publicly-owned electric street railway systems relate to Canadian and English cities. In Canada, Calgary, Edmonton, Port Arthur and Woodstock are mentioned. In Great Britain the number of cities owning street railways Is given at 142. Tho figures for the other publicly-owned utilities in Great Britain are: "Waterworks, 1,045; gas plants, 256; elec tric plants, 334." ORGANIZE "PEOPLE'S MACHINES" Organization of "people's machines" to com bat the old political machines was advocated by Miss Margaret Wilson, daughter of President Wilson, in an address before a civic conference at Madison, Wis. f Some of Miss Wilson's views, as reported in the press dispatches, follow; "If we dp not. want officeholders whom wo elect to be under obligations to political ma chines not of our making, we must make our own machines machines of democracy and demand their allegiance to the people. "Conservation and organization of the forces of democracy is the great work the American people have before them. - "The school buildings, since they belong to us all and are natural centers, are obviously' the places in which we can best concentrate these forces. Let us all unite in erecting the standards ' of-democracy In' the school buildings and then-' stand ttf tirem. ' '; ' . ', " Ndt only sh6W the schoolhouso be provided' ,. free of 6narge f6r ' public meetings, but a civic secretary should be furnished, just as secretaries are furnished meetings of city councils. "It goes without saying that one of the most important, parts of this great work of conserv ing and organizing the forces of democracy is the conservation and direction of the energies of our young .people. For this purpose we must give them those wholesome pleasures that we all crave in our youth (otherwise they will dissipate their energies in unwholesome pleasures) and well-planned opportunities for self-expression, especially training preparatory to good citizen ship. "Let us see that the young people of every neighborhood obtain these opportunities in a clean place, with the companionship of those who love them the schoolhouse social center." , GETTING THE RIGHT START In writing of his experience as ff member of a law firm in Atlanta President Wilson is re ported to have said: "We struggled along with indifferent success " to attract attention and gain a little law prac-' tice. This is practically all there Is to tell, be cause I made up my mind during the year I was in Atlanta that I could best accomplish the ob jects I had in view in life by returning to tho teaching of law and politics." Commenting on the above, the Chicago Herald says: "If there were prophets in Atlanta at the time they probably overlooked Wilson or took a gloomy view of his future. Bright young lawyers who were succeeding may have failed to see him when they passed him on the street or given him a condescending nod, and all the de votees of success must have regarded him as a negligible quantity. "Now he has so far surpassed them in the thing that they most admire that a revision of their estimates seems to be In order. But they may have been right, nevertheless, as to the promise of what he was doing. According to his own view he had started on the wrong road. The object he was seeking was not there. "Perhaps there are struggling- young lawyers today who have made the same mistake and who might profit -by his example. Not that there Is special encouragement for them In the thought that they may become president, but being sure of your object and beginning right Is half tho battle. Life is strewn with tho wrecks of tlioso who have moroly drifted along tho wrong road." AN OPTIMISTIC BUSINESS MAN President Irving T. Bush, of tho Bush Term inal company, whoso connection with more than 200 big manufacturing firms in his South Brook lyn loft buildings gives hlra- a splendid oppor tunity to keep in touch with business conditions generally throughout tho country, views tho future with an optimism that Is as well foundod as it is commendable. Ho Is quoted as saying: "A great deal depends jpon crops and con fidence. So far as crops aro concerned, tho Al mighty seems to be a democrat this year; and wo are at least passing out of a period of uncer tainty. Whether wo like the tariff or current changes or not, wo now know whfit thoy aro, and will soon know who will direct the new banking machine. Present evidence points to able men. We will soon have a decision In tho application for an advance In railroad rates. If the decision be favorable, some of our most pessimistic friends will lose their best argument. If un favorable, tho railroad officials can save the price of their hotel accommodations in Wnshington, and get, busy handling the crops. We have a pretty definite idea what form tho now tniBt legislation will take, and it does not seem vory terrible to any but tho "Get-rich-quick Walling fords" of tho nation. When theso factors tariff, currency, trust legislation, and ratlroid rates' have passed from tho realm of uncer tainty, we will have little left to worry us." WnAT IS "BLACKMAIL" Colonel Roosevelt's renewed denunciation nf the proposal to pay Colombia "blackmail" leaves one wondering how he would defino tho sum of money which he himself proposed to pav her. This sum was $2,500,000, as provided in the treaty which his own secretary of stnn. Mr. Root, negotiated, and which was ratified by tho senate early, in 1909, though it was never acted upon by the" Colombian conireas. ' , ' "All this must nave, bqpn with the idiflwie'lh and approval of President Roosevelt'.'' Nor"'qfo.iJfd ho hav& be,en."in ignorance o thp! admfsslpn'by Secretary Root that Colombia hail just olobn on the United States. And the treaty which Mr. Roosevelt submitted to the senate spoke of tho desire to "remove all obstacles to a eoocI under standing." What were those obstacles? Tf tho colonel had been out of ofilco at tho time, might not his eagle eye have detected in the more reference to them an unspeakablv humiliating apology. However that may be, it Is impossi ble to draw a clear moral distinction between paying $2,500.000 and paying 525,000.000. Tf the latter is blackmail, the former smells of it. Blackmail is not a question of less or more. New York Evening Post. The Congressional Campaign . 3 THE SHADES Under oaks and poplnrs and elms, because shadow thereof is good." Hosfea iv., 13. This tree, which stands with arms outspread, With leaves like fingers tremulous To seize all coolness overhead And softly waft it down to us. This tree it means a hundred years Of rain and sun, of drought and dew Before this shade which rests and cheers Into today's perfection grew. Some kindly one forgotten now May thoughtfully have placed tho seed, Foreseeing that each reaching bough Would satisfy a worn one's need. Whoe'er he was, that unknown one, Who set the seed, or sproutlet slim, Ho knew not that ho had begun What stands a monument to him. The trees the kindly trees that blazo With spring's green flame or autumn's blush, Tho sentry fires that line the ways Into the woodland's peaceful hush Through all the years they slowly grow Until they shield the flowered sod; Tho trees the kindly trees they show The patient thoroughness of God. This tree, which stands with arms outspread, Seems to pronounce, while standing thus, 'A blessing, and to gently shed A benediction over us. The sunlight shuttles through the leaves With threads of gold that flash and play, 'Across tho warp of shade it weayes The mingled fabric of the day.' -W. D. Nesbit. . Tho importanco of tho outcomo of this year's congressional olectionn can not bo overestimated, Tho return of a democratic congross'will mean a voto of confidence for -tho preuont administra tion and an opportunity to comploto its program as outlined In tho Baltimoro platform. Failure to re-eloct a democratic congress will bo con struod by tho opposition as a protest against tho important legislation which has nlroady boon passed, and a demand would bo mado by the spoclal interests for its repeal. Tho activity already displayed by the special Interests both in and out of congress should bo a warning to progressive democrats who think that thero will bo no aggrosslvo opposition to democrntlc congressional candidates. Thero aro indications on every hand that special efforts will bo made to rovorso tho democratic majority in the next congress, and a failuro of tho people to rally to tho support of tho president by giving him a congress in harmony with his program' would moan a sot-back in tho work of progres sivo reform. Tho Commoner believes that tho host Interests of tho country will bo served by tho carrying out of all the platform pledges mado at Baltimore, and bo' lev on it tho duty of democrats every where to get out and assist in tho work of elect ing a democratic congress this fall. There is much work to be done among tho voters in every district. Democratic members of congress will be prevented from giving proper attention to tholr own campaigns on account of congress re maining in sosflion to comploto tho anti-trust program, and it is theroforo all tho more nocos snry .for loyal democratic workers to do what they can to insuro their re-election. The Commoner intends to do its part in this: work, Through its columns each month facts, I figures- and arguments will bo presonted to com bat the misrepresentations of tho opposition mv"?' ,vj-n nu H'ill be paid' to the presentation of matters, that will be valuable to place inv the lianos f hr vofors,- and a special low campaign. rate mado for tho purpose of circulating Tho Commoner among tho voters. Democrats every- where are asked to Join in this work. In order to reach a larger number of voters durirtj the congressional campaign and to enable congressional committees to uso Tho Commoner as campaign literature, a special rate of four snWi -"'plirns until after the November election will bo made for $1.00, and additional campaign subscriptions will be supplied at 25 cents each. If you believe that The Commoner can be of help in oiec-Hn" democrat to congress from your dis trict, kindly fill out tho coupon below for as many subscriptions as you feel able to place in your district, also ask your county and congres sional committees to take up tho work of plac ing The Commoner In the hands of the voters at our special congressional campaign rate of ' 25 cents each. Use tho coupon below. CONGRESSIONAL CAMPAIGN COUPON Tho Commoner, Lincoln, Nebr. I encloso ?1 to pay for sending Tho Com moner until after election to tho following four (4) subscribers; ' Name , Address , . .. Name . Address j ;..'...,. Name ; ...?.'.,., Address .'.. ." Name 't Address (You majr nend more names at this special 25c rnto) Name of Sender ' ,',., .,.,.. Address, ,.,,,, ' City and State ' '