Windham County reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1901-1906, 1905-02-24
THE MEDDLER.
III N, coa MS yoa PIT il on"

/ II Is really surprising what n noise
lis emanating from the hornets nest
which the bailiffs stirred up when
they appointed day police. one
would almost think from the attitude
of some people that the village had
been placed under martial law. Judg-
ing solaly from the noise one might
readily form the conclusion that the
large majority OF the village voters
are down on having day police.
This may be true, yet II has to be
borne In mind that those who are
"agin II" are doing all the hollering.
II the steam could all be boiled out
of this opposition The Meddler be-
lieves that the residue would contain
a large per cent OF personal feeling.
There are a good many people VINO
are down on Chief Of Police Hall mo
efficient police officer was ever popu-
lar In all quarters) and they are down
on him for purely personal reasons,
These people can be found In the
front rank OF the anvil chorus which
Is knocking the bailiffs. They declaim
In loud voices that a day police Is an
unnecessary expense and an entirely
useless adjunct to the village, while
down in their hearts they wonder
whether their oratory win have the
desired effect in settling personal
grudges,
Such motives as these ought not to
warp the good judgment of anyone.
The question Is not VINO will make
the best officer for day duty but is
a day police a good thing for the vii
lage? If IL is then the matter of ex-
pense cannot be given much consid-
Grafton. II is a weil-known fact that
good things always cost something.
The bailffs believe that a day police
man will be a help TO the village or
they would not have appointed one.
There are also many other residents
Of the village who are with the BAH
IFS in the matter. The improved
of our principal streets has |
shown already that there are bene |
its TO be derived from having an OFF, |
,er on duty throughout the day and |
rs time goes on more people will |
,ome TO realize this. Brattleboro is |
IN the gain In prosperity and in pop /
llation. If we keep on at the pace
ne have started the time may come
when still more officers are needed.
Surely no pubic-s spirited man will
'ebel against such a condition of af-
airs. one man hit the nail nearly
IN the head when he expressed the
lope that Brattleboro would grow to
UGH a size that a force of 40 would
'e required for day duty.
Whether the right TO vote can le-
ally be withheld from a delinquent
aXpayer is a question which has
aused considerable discussion the
asst week. one or two local lawyers
re inclined to doubt very much
Fhether such a course can be taken
'ithout going against the constitution.
However that may be, there is MOTH
~ to prevent a man from voting af
ar he has paid his taxes even If he
oes not do so until the day of the
lection. When Tax Collector Gordon
aported to the town clerk according
} the new law there were over 200
tizens who had not paid their taxes
ut most of them have done so since
nd it is likely that all win settle in
me to vote. OF course the object Of
lie law is to assist the collector in :
Is work but il is doubtful If this plan
good one. At any rate 1t would
2 more effective If it could apply to
TX dodgers, who only pay on a small |
ortion of their actual property as
ell as to those who fail TO hand over
eir little s3.5s.
One hundred Of the local merchants
nd business men have this week
gned a petition agreeing not to adj !.
.rtise in theatre, church. society or
hool programs or booklets, believ-
g that the solicitation of SUCH ad-
rtising has become a nuisance and
at the advertising itself is of no use.
MS paper, along with many others,
IS long been arguing the advantages
newspaper advertising over space
booklets, programs and such things.
The Meddler.