For the first time in our history America is face to face with a struggle for democracy—political, industrial, social. The issue is most clearly expressed in our cities. It is coming to the front in a number of commonwealths. It is severing party ties and forecasting a new political alignment. The new democracy is laying its foundations for a permanent home. It is adopting measures for the permanence of its control. These measures are direct legislation through the initiative and referendum, direct primaries, and municipal home rule. These are the political agencies sought.

Municipal ownership is but an industrial expression of democracy.

And the question is not so much, Do we believe in municipal ownership ? The question is: Do we believe in democracy? Do we really want a government of the people, with all of its possibilities of good and evil ? A government gradually broadening the significance of liberty, beyond the purely personal relations of the early Bills of Rights? And in passing on the achievements of democracy, it is necessary to bear in mind that we nowhere have a representative government. Democracy enjoys only so much liberty as privilege permits to it. Its ideals enter legislation only in so far as those ideals do not conflict with big business. Democracy has been drugged by business interests which are constantly struggling for its control. Even in those cities where the greatest achievements have been made, the community has been divided like an armed camp, and its energy devoted to self-protection rather than to the accomplishment of a definite program.