South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1915-01-19
HOUSEKEEPING AT POTTAWAT-
ONfIE PARK.

The assertion by Mayor Keller and
others OF the South Bend park board
faith. that the farmers of ST. Joseph
county are not anxious about fair,
but that only a few sports who want
10 revive horse racing in this vicinity"
are back OF the reclamation Of Pot,a-
watomie park, represents a brand of
demagoguery that needs only TO be
mentioned to be seen in its true light.
Furthermore it is a fat insult to
both the Cleaners and Changers in
tn. vicinity of South Bend and
throughout the county. that have
spoken out at alb their meetings held
recently. in behalf Of the reclamation.
The tone OF voice in which the mayor.
the park board. and others. speak on
the subject is the Objectionable part.
1t is an insinuative attempt TO con-
meet the reclamation movement up
with the forces Of evil IN South Bepd,
that the city administration is com
batting. and by playing upon that
part, they seemingly hope TO inaugu-
rate a public prejudice especially with
the administrations admiring con-
stituency.
The Chamber OF Commerce has done
well 10 unload the authority for the
public meeting this week that is to
take up this subject; that is, if the
meeting is 10 develop into a mutual
admiration affair 10 be carried Oft by
the administration hosts, with horse
racing for the goat 1t is true that
only a small percentage of the farm
ers have race horses but hOrse-racing
is only "a small percentage of = county
fair, and hOrse-racing or no horse
racing. and regardless of the gambling
that the mayor asserts is wanted to go
with it. such gambling at its worst.
involving a chance, is infinitely high
er in the scale Of morality than South
Bends kleptomania
''Sneak-thievery by eminently re-
spectacle persons" is definition
given to kleptomania by an authority,
and il fits into South Bcud's park get
ting methods. so far as concerns Pct
tawatomie, with keen exactness. The
snealxishness of it is again apparent
in the argument employed about
horses, ETC." incident to the
city's efforts to maintain its hold. Why
should South Bend be so adverse to
paying for this park land, and why
should IT resort to such means, under
handed and misleading, in order TO
escape it?
The farmers are not seeking TO de-
prive tEe city of its park. provided
the city wants it bad enough TO pay
what it is worth Why should the
city decline TO pay what park is
worth? If the purpose of the eva
sion is not 10 get something for Moth
ing-to literally steal it-then what
is it? No amount or sneering. sneak
ing. Mephistophelean snarling at the
efforts Of the country people to get
back what belongs 20 them, will serve
10 cover up that fact. There are
people who think this money-the
value of these gTounds-should be
recovered and invested in fair, who
care just as little about horse-racjng
as Mayor Keller. the park board. or
any Of the other railers against Il
IT there is any moral question in
voIved here il is the question whether
SO per cent of the people of St Jo-
seph county. just because there are
more of them. should be permitted 10
rob % per cent of the people Of the
county. merely because there are
fewer of them. There are still people
on the earth who insist that the mi
noTity have some rights which the
majority are bound 10 respect.