Evening journal., 1912-10-14
TAXPAYERS VS.. THE KILLJOY.

nLD Home Week is a thing Of the past The six
- days Of healthful revelry and iollity ended
Our people settled down today to the sober side of
commercial and social life The celebration has become
merely another pleasant recollection of which, in the
past they have had too few. We feel that We may
say safely that Wilmingtonians are well pleased with
themselves and that the carnival experience created
such pleasing effect upon their minds that they
will insist upon another Old Home Week next year
and the year following In short. that it shall be
made annual municipal function Killioys like the
Sunday Star may greet the suggestion with alternate
hushes of pleasure and frowns Of dlspleasure. They
may say that the people cannot afford to have week
Of fun and that the citys financial interests will go
to wreck if they indulge in such frivolity Our opin-
ion u.s. however that If the question were put vote
Of the Wilmington taxpayers tomorrow nine-tenths Of
them would vote to have another Old Home Week
demonstration in 1913
It doubtless is that the money spent this year
for the demonstration might have been spent for pur-
poses of immediate utility. II might have been
spent to build a sewer; to lay a watermain or 90 pave
a street BY the same token It might be argued that
the man who takes his family the seashore in Sum
who INDUCES in any other. expenditure for
recreation might better have used that money to re-
paper repaint his house or to cement bis cellar IN
short, the policy urged by the Kiliioys If adopted
would make Of our city State and nation places de-
void Of pleasure devoted solely to worng scrimp-
ing and png up money which never must be used
to purchase ght-heaed laughter and healthful recre
alton The people who contribute the city funds want
ed the celebration. They have enjoyed the fun and
they are perfectly willing to pay the price. As they
look at it, the fun they and their wives and chill
dren had made the celebration well worth the money
IL They in mood to listen to the croaking
Of the Kiioy They know, as well as he, that they
cannot spend money for an Old Home Week celebra-
tion and use that same money to build a or lay
a Waterman. They have taken care OF their eelebra-
tion and they viii take care Of the more serious
concerns Of municipal and personal life
We believe we speak for nine-tenths Of the peo-
ple of Wilmington when We extend to Councilman
stoYer of the Seventh ward pnr sincere cqngTatula-
tion upon enjoying the distinction Of being tho father
Of Old Home Week That also is true, we think, when
we extend congratulations none the Less sincere to
Mayor Howell the City Councilmen the other city
officials and the organizations, corporations firms and
individuals who assisted the CNupcimen in making
such an unprecedented success Of the delightful mu
nicipal function. Nor do think that any Whining
tonan will dissent when thank Governor Pennewf
and his saH and the military establishment of our
State for their great assistance in making the cele
bration what it ought to be-
Now that it is over, Mayor Howell and the Coun-
cimen should pay whatever bills may be due incident
TO the demonstration and, disregarding the complaints
Of the Killioy settle once more to the serious
side of tho ctys business. AS view it, when it Is
taken into consideration that there were five parades
and fireworks demonstration, it shows remarkably
good management upon the part Of Councilman stover
and his associates that no one was hurt except the
/ Killioy.