A Citizen's Public Protest Against a Councilman
A local resident takes to the newspaper to shame an elected official over his opposition to telephone competition in the city.
The story, cleaned up
A cleaned-up reading of the newspaper page: spelling and layout repaired, one story lifted off a crowded page. It follows the original closely but it is not a transcription. The original page is below; read it if a detail matters.
Editor Tacoma Times—Sir: I am averse to rushing into print, but the action of our councilman (Mr. Hoenig) in the matter of the Independent Telephone company's franchise has so wrought upon my feelings and those of my neighbors that it calls forth our indignation. Why we are treated this way is past finding out. It is a shame that this city should be denied the competition now offered, and I am voicing not only my own sentiments, but those of all my neighbors, in condemning Mr. Hoenig's action last Wednesday night. We trust he may see the error of his ways. Yours truly, Chas. A. Read.
“It is a shame that this city should be denied the competition now offered.”
Franchise battles were the civic equivalent of modern utility provider disputes. Residents were keenly aware of how municipal leaders controlled infrastructure access and used public opinion to pressure politicians.
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