Worcester morning daily spy., 1898-02-21
Mr.. ROE REPLIES.
Explains to Mr.. Greenman His Position as
to State Wards.

To the Editor of the Spy:
Your Grafton correspondent, in Satur-
days paper, jealous for good citizen
ship" has rushed into print with too much
haste May answer as publicly as he has
complained? Since the issuing of the re-
port on the care of the states juvenile
wards, l have received many marked
copies, with an equal number of letters.
Also, have been interviewed, or rather in
terviews have been sought by scores on the
subject. Truly there is no lack of zeal
sion. 1 do not belong to the legislative
committee which is considering this mat
ter. Thus far during the present session
nearly or quite fifteen hundred matters
have been introduced. More than one hum
dred and fifty are referred to the com
mittees of which l am member. My
neighbors hobby is not mine. He rides
his, and | my own; but should the time
come when / much pass upon the merits of
his pet l hope to have given the subject
sufficient study to be able TO act under
/ went 10 Shrewsbury to talk on
Birds" and casually met Mr.. Greenman
and had a few moments of conversation
upon his favorite theme. / could not have
told him that / would not vote for COM
mission, as desired, for my mind is not
made up, but | did say had not studied
the report and that on general principles
] was opposed to the creation of more
commissions The commonwealth has
already just fifty boards and commissions.
and there are on file pleas for at least
ten more. Two years ago we We're i'm
portuAed to put corn doctors under the
care and management of state paid COM
mission, and this year there is an appli-
cation for one to supervise tonsorial art
lists. This is no reason why there should
not be one for the care Of children; but |
am in the position OF a learner; to have il
demonstrated to me that the agents al
ready in existence are not sufficient for
Just this. work. As the exposition pro
crosses this end may be attained, not
however by any such letter as Mr.. Green
man writes As legislators, we are, or
ought to be- unbiased jurymen, sworn to
do our duty to the best of our abilities.
Whether | care more for birds than for
children surely does not appear 10 Mr.
Greenman's evidence, and is better deter
mined by life, more or less public, in this
community for more than twenty years.
than by my failure to Immediately sub
scribe to his dictum.
1t has often been said that one should
not allow his zeal to run away with his
discretion. If a letter similar to Mr.. G. s
were to be printed in relation to all who
have not clearly indicated their attitude on
this question. how many votes does he
think would be made? Could the enemies
OF the proposed plan ask for better add
may, be as cold as an iceberg (as he
says, but my warming would not help his
cause. The question is wholly an open
one, and am giving ii such consideration
IS the circumstances Of daily sttngs on
nay own committees will permit / trus
that his subsequent meetings with me will
fot partdke of the stated frigid character
and that my credited table geniality may
extend to matters not gastronomic. On
this particular subject ] may yet be as en-
thusiastic as Mr.. Greenman himself and
from his own standpoint
In conclusion, allow me to state that in
the Christian Register letter referred to. /
enumerated certain essentials to good eiti-
zersfip, but among them l did not include
the characteristic Of extra previousness-a
quality which ! fear your correspondent
has IN an excessive degree.
Alfred S. Roe.