The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1911-09-08

sNEERING AT THE PEOPLE.


Our esteemed neighbor 'The Post
sutters an editorial sneer at the fact
that the people of Bridgeport are So
ing to have the say as to whether or
lot .the=city shall sexpend 100000 OF
the citizens money.
The Post is famed throughout all
newspaperdom for wabbling editorial
policy. performing from day to day
6 series of acrobatic feats which
would make circus performer dizzy.
but the Post is consistent always
in. one thing-a dull distrust of every
movement which tends to place more
x5ower in the hands of the people.
l. According to the Post, the only fit
Governing power in the city of Bridge
port is located on the third floor of
80. Cannon street.
! The Post itself is fully capable of
deciding whether or not the city
should be plastered with an $S00,00o
sond issue (amounting to $1,600,0O0
Before it is paid Off The citizens
who are to pay this enormous bill
should not be consulted about it,
thinks the Post.
: so when the legislature passed the
bill and provided that the citizens
should vote upon it, providing that
Is per cent of the registered voters
petitioned for the privilege, the Post
was silent. During the 80 days al
iotted for the securing Of these petit
lions, the Post had never a word to
say The Post did not tell it's readers
that unless they petitioned for a ref
erendum, they would not be granted
one The Post did not warn its read
ers that the time allotted by the leg
islature. was only one-third of the
time that is customariiy allowed in
such cases.
The Post did not warn its readers
that the number of names required
to- make the petition effective. was
much higher than is ordinarily re-
quired on such petitions
The Post did not urge its readers
to sign these petitions. The Post
made ne Abort whatever to make a
referendum possible. Readers Of the
Post had no means of determining
ttnr6ngA he ndAdfum of that paper)
that the circulation of such petit
tipns was in progress. pa
sAhd now that such 4 petition has
been secured and the referendum is
assured, thanks to efforts of others.
while the Post stood silently and
stupidity by, the Posts only comment
is q sneer and a sigh of regret that
it didn't require so per cent. of the
voters. instead of Is per cent.
And yet despite this stupidity Tn
the part Of the Post, despite this IN
different neglect of the most import
ant duty that Is entrusted to a decent
newspaper.-the Post. in the same
editorial which sneers at the refer
endum and SCOTS at the people as
unworthy Of having it. admits the
enormous Importance of the measure
Listen to the Posts own words
s.In this particular instance there
was every reason for action. An adj
ministration was about to saddle up
on the city a deliberate waste OF
money in building an elaborate poor
house. a proposition, that if it is APP
proved, will be a burden upon the
taxpayers for the next fifty years. and
yet not fifteen per cent of the voters,
If left to themselves, would have ask
ed for the right to pass upon the
question"
Listen to this amazing statement
from the Post and remember that
this bond issue which the Post terms
"a deliberate waste of money would
have gone into effect, would have
been carried out, would have been
saddled upon the city while the Post
was silent and doing nothing to pre-
vent it.
Thanks to the referendum secured
without any help from the Post the
voters of Bridgeport may defeat this
measure if they are opposed to it.
While the Post was asleep at the
switch, busy with it's own selfish af-
fairs. other papers in Bridgeport
pitched in and helped to fill out the
extraordinary requirements for a ref
ercndum which should have been
easily operated.
And now that the work is done,
tine danger averted, and the referen-
dunn accomplished, the Post has moth
ing but sneers. perforce!
The Post will fall all over itself 20
toady to the wealthy or influential,
but has nothing but distrust for the
mass Of its readers, unless they are
TO be used In some manner as adver-
Using material for the Post.
as ssT7-1r-Ex
MEHLEN REPORT DENIED.
In sconnectfon with the story that
has been given currency In some quar-
tiers that President Mellen is to re-