The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1917-07-11

l free speech should be the privilege OF all
e voted to grant the request
The city council of 1916 first took Off
cial cognizance of the Mormon question
when the elders asked for and received
permission to preach in Depot square
| Action favorable to them however, was
: not taken until rather bitter discus
sion had taken place and il was Mayor
Gordon who cast the deciding vote with
the aldermen who at that time claimed
they were voting for the principle of free
speech Shortly afterward petition
which was circulated by a prominent
Protestant layman of Barre was present
ed to the council with request that the
privilege be recalled. Whereupon the
council replied to the petitioners with a
request that objections to Mormon
preaching be reduced TO writing. This
was never done.
A week ago Elder Albert NJ Gish of
American Falls, Idaho, with another
preacher of the same faith, appeared be-
fore the council and asked to have the
1916 permit renewed. The request was
laid on the table to be taken up last
night. Alderman Reynolds moved that
the request be granted, with a renewal
of restrictions enforced last year, i. E..
that Mormon preaching be permitted on
one night in each week, Saturday night
to be excepted The motion was second
ed by Alderman Rossi Alderman Alex
ander Immediately gave it as his opin
| ion that so long rs the United States
Senate barred from its number a mem
Der who was Mormon the city of Barre
should not encourage the propagandists,
or words to that effect Elder Gish here
upon asked to speak, but President Lor-
anger denied him the privilege. Alder
man Reynolds supplemented his motion
with a request for rolleall and then
asked permission to have the clerk read
an extract from the charge which Fed
eral Judge Mayer delivered to the jury
in the Goldman. Bergman case, in which
free speech was defined.
Alderman Alexander said he had that
part of the charge which appeared in
the newspapers. Aldermen Reynolds and
Rossi, in extenuation Of previous re-
marks, said they would not uphold the
motion were they not convinced that it
was in accord with the principle of free
speech and not an evasion of the law.
On the rollcall Aldermen Milne, Healy, |
Loranger and Alexander opposed Alder
men Reynolds and Rossi and the motion |
was lost.
Over in the corner of the council cham |
Der Elder Gish was whetting his axe for
reioinder which he made in spite OF |
the presiding officers suggestion that the |
Mormon argument be not presented at
that time. Elder Gish asked to have the
III raInoal 70 hot tho
church might use it as a record, request
which found ready supporter in Alder
man REYNOLDS. AldermanHgHealy moved
that the request along with the whole
Mormon matter be dismissed, Alderman
Milne seconding and on the second roll
call Aldermen Reynolds and Rossi once
more found themselves arraigned against
their colleagues.
Trolley Franchise Again.
With the Mormon people and minor
matters out of the way at 1880 o'clock,
The aldermen decided that another shot
1T the franchise would not be amiss and
10 that end Mayor Glysson called spe-
,ial meeting of the council. The con-
,picuous result of the conference was
hat il came to naught, an outcome
which bore a suspicious similarity to the
esults attending divers other conferences
n the past two years. However, in in
loor sports the traction company fran ::
hise is ne plus ultra or something like !
hat with the city fathers and they are =
ver ready to play with it even as a cat :,
must frolic with mouse. =
Evidently it is not with the serious "
of getting anywhere that the : :
ranchise agitation is sprung at every :.
econd meeting of the council or alder
1en, for after an hour of talk the con ;,
erees were no nearer decision than =,
yer. Just before adjournment Alderman =
fines motion to lay the proposed new =
ranchise on the table was carried by the -
visionary rousing majority, after May =
r Glysson, without the faintest sugges- =
ion of the flicker of a smile on his coun-
snance. had archly advised his colleagues :
OF to make final decision until they -
ad exhausted every source of informa =
on pertaining to franchises, etc.
Cognizance was taken of the action =
,sulting from the meeting of the Mont
slier city council recently. when by a y =,
ote of to it was decided TO recon- ~
end the traction compsny's franchise to :,
he electorate on "A referendum. AiatA- q
en- Healy and Milne continued their =.
Ipport of the franchise submitted by -
le company on the ground that il adopt :.
it would mean more to the city than :.
e present franchise. Mr.. Hesly thought
at adoption of the tentative franchise
ould leave to municipal control mat
RS Of vital importance to the city and V
at the question Of fares and running
hedules could well be referred 10 the
lblic service commission 10 regulate.
is view had the concurrence in the Ia
ain Of Mr.. Milne, who was favorably
pressed with the offer Of the company
put up a $4,000 bond as guarantee
It's good faith in cooperation on inn ca
ovement projects. 40
Much Of the confusion which usually Ho
ists when any more than five people d
{ irving TO be heard at one time was er
.sipated when Mayor Glysson suggest l9l
that each alderman, speaking in the thi
ier Of the wards, BE- privileged 70 make ths
own hi sentiments. For = time the y
ostles Of psndemonium were loath 10
opt the suggestion. but he mayors Ha
tof