The daily morning journal and courier., 1907-05-16
LETTERS FROM THE PEOPLE
THE ROWE WAGER.
Author of it Takes Exception to
 Courier Comment.
To Editor of the Journal and Courier

To Editor of the Journal and Courier:
 Sir-In a recent leading editorial you int mated that the $50,000 offered for the benefit of New Haven waters, pro- vided our report was disproYed might not be spent even if my offer was met as proposed
 l do not understand why you should make this intimauon, as l am in the habit of carrying out any proposition which l make. You said that talking money IS sometimes like talking men. It is not given to action. 1 do not know of any warrant for such an eX- pression on my side of this question. l will recall briefly the facts and let the reader judge who deserves such an intimation.
 The report of the committee on har- bor gave offense to the political and personal prejudices of certain people who rashly contradcted it in news paper. Out of consideration for re- spected gentleman, we retrained from 1 discussing in the press the questions raised, but waited until a meeting or the chamber when We asked for fair and intelligent tribunal which would have quietly decided whether our re- , port was true or not
 A packed meeting refused the tribu- nal by misuse of the previous ques- ton. and refused to hear the reasons for it or to permit anyone else to do s0. There remained no other way to bring the matter to q definite Issue than that which I employed. Certain persons had been free with false and abusive assertions when they could make them without expense, but as soon as way to make them respon- sibe was found they would not risk anything on the truth Of their asser- tions. even though their forfeit would have gone to the benefit of the com munitE
 You intimate that such settlement is hardly dignified enough for New Ha- ven" The other alternative was to leave, without any decision columns of falsehood to the injury of New Haven and the abuse of the committee on har- bor, which had performed an unpleas- ant and unpopular duty. Is it "digni- fled for New Haven to leave false as- sertons undecided?
 You speak of talking money" Do you approve of those talking whc speak the truth and are willing to sub- init their assertions to a tribunal or tc back them with q forfeit, or are you sympathIes with irresponsible falsItiers who will do neither one nor the other In the performance of an unpleasant duty | stirred up a great deal Of per. sonal malice. I have had many attack ing me at once. Is it fair for you, Witl the advantage of the editorial columns of d newspaper, to make such intima tions as those in your editorial? If yol wished the controversy closed, why dac you add your attack to the others aitel the controversy was closed? You said Let the talking money that is already up continue its remarks until it grow weary and goes back into its hole I wouldn't talk forever with nobody o nothing to talk to-"
 Is this dignited enough for New fla ven? What do you mean by ''nobod, or nothing 10 talk to-" when you arr yourself talking in that editorial? Fiv weeks ago there were many contradict ing the report of the committee on har bor. Can you find one intelligent mai who will do so now? If not, then apoI ogies are due Us for former abuse in stead of adding to it.
 HENRY c. ROWE.