Connecticut western news., 1902-09-04

Through the columns of the Berk- shire Courier Q small controversy has been worked up over the subjects Of a soldiers monument and high school in Canaan. This is the very thing we wished to avoid when we refused to publish ''Taxpayer's" original article, thereby bringing down on ourselves the criticism of the Courier's editor who loves controversy as a COW does salt. Had there been any controversy among our citizens over the two projects we should have given "Taxpayer" the use of our columns even if he had written 90 strongly that we should have asked him to have signed his voting name. But there was no controversy. A few years ago the town voted an appropria- tion for high school which appropria- tion was never used, as until the present time there has not been enough young students to make high school prac- tical. iustifiable expense. That is the opinion of the committee to whose judgment the matter was left and it is the opinion of large majority of citizens.
 The NEWS on July 3 advocated . sol dier's monument and suggested laying tax to build it. No ground there for controversy over an appropriation already made for one object and another suggested for yet another object.
 Taxpayers" original article obvious ly decried the monument project, to further the school project, we believe with misunderstanding on his part re- garding the financial position of both projects, assuming that ono is to be gained at the expense of the other. Not 90. And from that evident reason we declined to act e medium to start an unnecessary controversy over subject which could not be helped in any way by advocating one pro ioct and discouraeing another. As . maisor of fact we offered to pub liah letter from "Taxpayer" advocat- ing tho high school project if he would lAvo out criticism of the monument project. which criticism we know would lead to unnecessary controversy, as the mnAtor of the school authorities inAugurAting high school had no bear ine on the matter of the people oi Noxth Canaan building soldiers mon- umont
 Startling e it may seem ''Taxpayer'' and the editor are agreed in this mat ter. Taxpayer" wants . high school and monument. So does the editor. A few recent articles upon the subject has enabled the editor to feel the pulse of the G. A. R. and the people and it appears that the desirable way to build the monument is by patriotic contribu, tion and the project will soon assume definite form. The school authorities Are endeavoring to got the sense of tbe citizens regarding the advisability oi Starting high school, which the editor here goes on record as being in favor oi if enough scholars can be found that arc qualified to attend to keep the in structor from getting lonesome. The canvass few years ago revealed less than ten students in town who would avail themselves of the high school If dozen can be found today let's have the high school this fall and the soldier monument next spring-to dedicate or Memorial Day, and let the Canaan High school participate in the exer cisss, with "Ta1payer's" student tt speak for the class-hs's eminentl, capable.
 Thus, as we have maintained al through this matter, both or either o these worthy objects can be attained a no expense one to the other, with n controversy, with no such question ask cd e "Which?"