Connecticut western news., 1911-02-09
REILLY THE ROASTER
Meriden Mayor Gives Obstructionists
 Something to Think About.

merluen MdHOr OlVeS ODStTuCIIonIStS
 Something to Think About.
 At the banqet of the Meriden Business T. L. Reilly, congressman-eleot from the Second District, made a speech which has stirred up the Silver City as it hasn't been stirred up in long time. Business Mems Association banquets, and that the newspapers of other cities and towns have commented upon Mayor Reilly's speech as vigorous and arraignment of conditions that exist to a greater or less extent in all communi- ties, The News quotes portions of the Mayors now celebrated talk. He said:
 "Meriden has too many men who will not take a chance. They want guarantee of two dollars for one dollar and the original dollar back. The let us do it for Meriden' which was the best way of doing it for ones self has died out to great extent and now the hang on to it doctrine is the proper one.
 "The first sight of Meriden that a stranger gets when he steps off train is enough to make him run and re- board it before it leaves the station. Instead of being confronted by attrac- tive business blocks, he sees collec- tion that will win a shack champion ship in any community. The short sighted and close listed owners are satisfied to get what they can by rental and it is a large return on their investment, and they dc not ap- pear to realize that they could get a much larger return from attractive stores and office buildings.
 "Some of those relics are not even insured. Probably no company will insure them. The owners feel secure in an excellent Fire Department Many times one feels it is "a shame to maintain such department at great expense for the protection of these monuments to penuriousness. A per son feels like agreeing to the sugges- tion that when the fire alarm rings for certain boxes some one ought to knock the horses in the head and disable the f1remenJ and take chance that the blaze will be in one of the rookeries.
 "The celebrated Meriden habit of doing anything at home is too often a bad habit. When it comes to spend ing a dollar for general public inn provements there develops an cpl demic of heart failure in certain cir cles. There are men in Meriden who wouldn't give a nickel to hear the heavenly choir with the Angel Cab riel as cornet soloist."
 "Some men who want progress have taken advice of tightwads who have frightened them off with the idea that they would lose money" he said. ''These advisors have made their pile and their chief aim in life is to hold on to it. Yeggmen with the finest set of tools, drills and high explosives would get into debt work ing them.
 "We have 8 naturally beautifully city but our business portion makes one feel as if he would rather be brought into 1t bIindfolded than with his eyes open."
 Mayor Reilly said he saw hope for betterment through the Business Mems Association. Changing from criticism he spoke in a spirit of optimism saying that the census shows that the operatives in Meriden factories are the best paid in their classes of work of any in the country. The city is free of labor troubles, working people all contented, and there is no reason why, with little public spirit and local pride, he said, Meriden should not be the best place on Gods footstool. He then said that his criticism. which many might term as harsh, was not directed towards the few wealthy men who had given so much of their bounty but at the great number of well-to-do men who never give anything to the city which has made it possible for them to have some thing.
 Anthracite Becoming Luxury
 C.. AL.