Connecticut western news., 1916-01-27
OUT kNOCkING G.

The surprisingly large attendance at the meeting of the Canaan Business Mems Association, last Thursday eve- ming was not more significant than the sentiment that made itself felt there, and is manifesting itself throughout the community-the feeling that it is about time to put stop to the "knock- ing' and squelch the "knockers' and grouches and backbiters who spend their time and devote their energies to sneering and beliJtling their town and its institutions generally, and those who would promote its material wei fare especially.
 It has become familiar phrase that the progress of the town is retarded by the unwillingness of certain factions of its citizens to cooperate with certain other factions: and that petty jealous ies arising from business rivalries or social. personal or other prejudices are at the bottom of all the sneers and 'knocks" that are heard in all quarters of the town until they have become nauseating, not only to the fair-minded townspeople but to the stranger who tarries within our gates for a brief season and breatheS the sneering atmos phere.
 It was indignation at this deplorable state of affairs that prompted MT. R. D. Peirce, one of the selectmen of the town, to introduce at the Business Mems meeting Thursday evening, the following resolution, which was in- stantly approved:
 "Resolved-That we, citizens of
 Canaan, do hereby agree, to cease
 to knock, and criticize, and do
 further agree to give a helping
 hand to, and approval of. the other
 fellows efforts for the betterment
 of Canaan"
 The spirit embodied in that resolu- tion is. what is needed, and it is en- couraging to note that it is taking root. People are becoming disgusted with the knocker, whose influence tends not to make the towns material conditions better but to obstruct it's progress and prosperity and make it more difficult for any organized effort to bring about better conditions.
 The mania for knocking is not only pernicious but it makes the knockers themselves ridiculous. Even the knockers cannot get together and knock together. They not only knock the boosters but they knock one another Fo such a length has knockerphobis grown that one knocker is as apt tt knock another knocker as to knock { booster. The hammer is no respecte1 of persons.
 In his admirable opening talk a Thursday evenings meeting, Presiden Joe Parsons enunciated a wise an( timely admonjtion, to the effect tha what we need to do as citizens workin, together in the Association for the gooc of all, is to forget that we are engaged in this business or that business o some other business in which othe members also are engaged, and actin on the principle that we are member of one community, join hands ant make that comm unity one in which W may be proud to live.
 The knocker is henceforth taboo an undesirable citizen who will b made to know that he is outlawed. Hi wisest course is to join the ranks of tn boosters, turn over a new leaf, smothe his little, petty, nasty jealousy an' help to make his town what he is eter nally poll -parroting that it isn't live, progressive, town. He shoul' paste in his hat the following excellen verses now floating through the stat press, entitled "Boost:"
 Boost your city boost your friend,