The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1919-06-06
The MeddIer
IF The coat fits yon, pm il on

In Brattleboro as in practically every
other place in this country interest in
sports is unusually keen this spring.
Here, however, there are few indications
that any organized effort to satisfy this
interest is to be made. Local baseball
lovers had hopes earlier in the season
that Brattleboro might find a place in
the proposed industrial league, but the
movement locally proved to be in ir-
responsible hands and the whole plan
bids fair to meet an early death. The
only chance for baseball games here
seems to rest with sthe local team which
is scheduled to go against Keene, n. H,
tomorrow. How much material is avail
able remains to be determined. but it
IS safe TO say that if anything like q
far amount of it develops the team can
expect all the support that is neces-
sary to put it in shape to run through
the summer. With strong independent
teams in Keene and Greenfield enough
rivalry ought to be aroused this year to
make real league possible in 1920.
Greenfield IS TO have a special town
meeting soon to consider, among other
things, problem which is certain to
come up in Brattleboro before verv'
long. 1t is that of increased salaries
for teachers. In Greenfield the teachers
have sent petition to the school com
mittee setting forth why they should
receive an increase, and are asking. if
Is understood, for a general raise of
S5oo As there are 90 men and women
on the Greenfield school payroll the re-
quest develops into an item of approx
lmately $27 800 There is said to be a
strong sentiment in that town in favor
or paying the teachers more money.
and the general belief is that the promo
sition will receive favorable action when
it comes before the voters.
Here in Brattleboro, although no con
eerted action has been taken by the
teachers themselves, the school authori-
ties are finding it increasingly difficult
to keep competent teachers at the sal
aries that are being paid This is appar-
ent from the number of CHANGES that
occur IN the teaching staff each year.
Those who SoIlIaJ Al
slblllty of securing teachers saw that the
pay in other states is so much moro
than 1t is in Vermont that it will soon
be impossible to get experienced teachers
here. No matter how disquieting this
SITUATION may sem to the already over |
burdened taxpayer it is one that must
be faced, for there is no one depart
ment of municipal government that is
more important than that whose purpose
IS to educate our children.
Main street is badly in need of bath /
such as 1t used to receive every week or
SO throughout the summer.
As time elapses and the much dis
eussed garage building at the corner of
Main and High streets nears compile
ton The Meddler sees very little hope
of harmonizing the various interests eon-i
cerned on plan that will permit widen
ing Main street. Possibly after one
summer 8 experience the property own
ers north of the new garage NAV feel
more like making concessions than they
do at present and in that event it
may be possible to revive the scheme
for town Identification at this point. At
present, however, the prospect OF accom-
pilshing anything IS obscure to say the