Catoctin clarion., 1909-09-23
SIMPLE" SIMON HEARD FROM.

and we find person who has written a
lengthy article appearing in last week s
! Ciyon,cie, published at Emmitsburg, un-
der the caption, whats the Matter
With The CLARIoN?" The author of the
article signs himself "Simon'', and we
think, from the character of his article,
we will be justified in clubbing him "Sim-
pie" Simon.
After giving the practical doings of the
town and it's citizens with reference to
the electric light plant up to date, he
(Simon) says: 81 naturally expected The
CLARION would back up this project in
no uncertain tones, but, alas! it seems to
have an obstruction in it's valves as re-
CARDS the furtherng of this project, and
instead seems to be trying to stave off
and influence public sentiment against it.
In one article it calls on the not town to
be in "A hurry, that it has something up its
sleeve and will be ready next year to talk
of plant to furnish the town with cleo
trio lights, no data given or prices quot
ed, however. Another issue publishes
an article from the TaneytoWn Record
advising ThurmOnt to move carefully in
the matter, and finally hear that some
who are very closely associated with the
! CLARION have a petition out asking one
hundred citizens to donate $l40 each and
build the plant and present it to the
town.
Now, so far as backing the project of
better lighting for Thurmont, THE CLAIR
ION will not take back seat for Simon
! (even tho simple) for we have advocat-
ed it much longer and much more siren
uoualy than he. 1t is the way and meth
cd that we are pointing out for the ben
fit of every citizen and taxpayer of the
town. We have the interest of the town
at heart and we have no selfish motives
in the matter whatsoever, Simon" to
the contrary Notwithstanding.
Then Simon goes on to say "the ar
tic!e from the Taneytown Record is all
right Such advice is welcomed but is
not Taney towns power generated by
team? Ii so, the comparison is not of
much practical use.
Surely "Simon" must have had brain
torn, and instead OF our having our
valves obstructed, We think Simon
valves are far from being in working
shape, for Taneytown happens to have
an acetylene plant, and. from our best
information and knowledge on the sub
ject, acetylcne plants are not run by
steam.
SO far as the citizens of the town,
one hundred or any other particular
town, it is our opinion that this is not
feasible, nor is it to be expected that it's
citizens should be called upon to exhibit
any such liberalty, although we do know
that number have in bonfide good faith
made such offer.
In an article appearing elsewhere in
this issue are given the further views of
this paper on the lighting subject.
"Smon" concludes his article by say
ing, "Go to! thou loud and blatant CLAIR
ION. fear you have been stnng by a cor
poration bee who is after the honey of
one of Thurmont's most valuable public
utilities" Poor "Simon"! we sympa-
thize with him in his delusions. If he
knows anything he must know that there
is no one who can obtain franchise with
out the town authorities granting the
same. THE CLARION wants no franchise,
The CLARION knows of no one who does
want a franchise, and is not interested in
any one in that direction whatever. If
any one comes along and gets this valu-
able "honey'', it will be through the in
strumentalities of the Burgess and Com
missioners, and we do not believe that
they will be foolish enough to grant
franchise to anyone if this electric power
plant is going to be as valuable as is
claimed for it.
Simon you are invited to express
your views again, but for heavens sake
don't go away in the north end of the
county and publish your views in paper
which circulates but little in our midst,
and which is read by few of the good cit
izens of the town. If you are interested
in having your views made public, the
columns of THE CLARION are open to you
and everyone else, and we will gladly
publish them, and we will withhold your
name from publicity if it is so desired, as
is our rule and custom. 1t is just a bout
as reasonable to have sent your article
to a PHILIPPINE journal in Manlla with
apologies, however, to the Chronicle and
its able editor aud manager).
"Simon said, thumbs up, then he said
wiggle waggle.
RnNiXnl SnrNinnS