The newspaper., 1909-03-26
Communication.

To Editor of PAoNIA NEWSPAPER,
DEAR SIR:-in all issue OF recent
date, notice q statement by Rey.
Mr.. Cash in regard to pool rooms,
city politics, etc. AS / have hereto-
fore been very careful not to let any
of my Individual opinions appear in
public print, it is with some degree
OF hesitancy that l submit the fol-
lowing: m
In touching upon the subject OF
billiard and pool rooms, Mr.. Cash
seems to have no apparent objec-
tions to them as long as they are
conducted under the supervision OF
the church. He plainly states that
he believes it to be the mission Of the
church to provide the club feature for
it's constituency. Now, while have
not a word to say against the
church as far as it's labors are along
the line of Christ's teachings, do,
however, object to having any re-
ligious, or set of religious organiza-
tions, try to control the whole thing.
1, for one, can not see why it is not
possible for an Individual to conduct
a pool hall in such a manner that
any lady or gentleman need not be
ashamed to patronize it and from a
moral standpoint, il so conducted,
nee no more harm in it than in any
other recreation or pastime.
I'll go to a livery stable and secure
a rig to take a pleasant ride, or
drive, l expect to pay for it. If /
take in a concert, lecture or play, l
pay the price. Why then, let me ask,
II enjoy Il social game OF billiards
or pool and help to occupy the table
and room for an hour or SO, should
it be considered any more unholy
that pay for it.
Mr.. Cash would ask that no license
be granted to, what he pleases to
term, a "hanger-on who desires to
make profit off the social and play
instincts of his fellowmen." 1 agree
with him this far, that it would be
well for the council to use care at all
times in the granting OF licenses, but
as far as making profit off the busi-
ness believe any man who invests
his money in fitting up a desirable
place of amusement and puts in his
time and energy to run it is entitled
to fair compensation for same.
y l get from Mr.. Cash's statement
that he would have the church pro-
wide u club, which can see no harm
in, but 1t occurs to me that some one
has to pay for the instaHing and
maintenance of same and say. Let
those who dance pay the fiddler"
and not go around with a subscrip-
tion list asking for support
1t has been my contention that
Paonia should have first class bill
Hard and pool hall. Last summer
when asked the council to pass a
repeating ordinance which would
provide for the granting OF a license
desired to install one of the best, II
not the best hall on the western
slope, and am sure it would have
been conducted strictly as a gentle
mems resort. l did not especially de-
sire 1t should he n great money
maker, but rather a place where onr
people as well as the many strangers
coming in might pass n pleasant
hour, thus diverting their minds
from their daily cares and tolls. How
many times have we heard both
strangers and home people make
this remark, where shall we go to
pass little timer
We have n good little town and
can expect much improvement II we
are not given too much to selfishness.
There ought to be very little room
for narrow minded people such as
can and will not see but one side.
There are none SO perfect but what a
little might be added. We are not
all constituted alike and it is well
that such is the case. What world
this would be were we all ranchmen,
merchants or ministers of the gospel.
Some enjoy one thing, some another.
What right has one to say to
another, you must do and think as /
do?
II one enjoys putting in his spare
moments reading n book or playing