Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1920-10-08
THE OBSTRUCTIONIST

and others, has undertaken to erect a
civic auditorium. 1t is well known
fact that this organization of ex-
service men is not rich order. The
members OF the Olympia post pay
only twenty-five cents per month to
keep things going. They have never
yet been assessed penny above their
dues. Yet what they lack in money
they try to make up in energy. The
and active men. They are anxious to
do things. 1t is natural that their
efforts should be directed along lines
OF civic betterment, and the proposal
that they undertake the financing
and construction of a much needed
down town auditorium was enthu-
siastically welcomed.
First assuring themselves that they
had the backing Of most of the re-
: sponsible business and professional
men Of the city, they went ahead with
their plans, and these plans are pro-
ducing results. 1t is. therefore. with
some surprise and considerable dis
gust that the Legion learns Of certain
parties who already have their ham
mers out and are applying them &c.
cording to the most approved OBJ
structionist methods. One of these
white livered knockers, as might be
guessed, is an anonymous letter
writer One Of his epistles was ad-
dressed to the Commander Of the
Legion. Here it Is:
Regarding the item read in our
paper concerning q new auditorium
put up by the A merican Legion. The
idea is fine. Olympia needs just SUCH
. building: but cannit swallow the
idea Of the business men building It.
Olympia is getting to be joke late
". First comes the Hotel. then the
Hlks building, now . new auditorium,
md God knows what next. The busi-
ness men are also keeping the Y. M.
C. A. have talked to several busi-
ness men lately and they are Just the
same ~ am. II you want to tax
ayone. tax your own members I
would start concern tomorrow II
Thought could get the business men
to build 1t for me, but haven't got
the nerve. Find out where your
money is coming from. Don't count
on me-,
"A CITIZEN AND BUSINESS
MAN"
Well, we won't count ON you. Mr..
"Citizen and Business Man." nor
eny OF your ilk. You won't be asked
to donate cent on this proposition.
Some Of our helpers may be unfortu-
nate enough to offer you q chance to
purchase one Of our tickets. for which
We intend to give full value received.
but you have the privilege Of politely
refusing to buy, and no further Ques-
tions will be asked. II we only knew
you we would make quite sure that
you are not even approached with q
ticket. because We don't want your
money, nor do we want you to attend
any Of our affairs. We are willing to
wager q brick watch to . doughnut
that you never anteed nickel to the
hotel nor the Elks building. nor to
any other civic improvement of which
real Olympians are justly 20 proud.
The whole trouble with you is that
you completely lack quits" You are
afraid you won't have the nerve to
refuse to purchase ticket, so you
want to discourage the whole propo-
sition. Had you signed your name
to this letter. we might have figured
you were honest in your objection,
and We would have fled your commu-
nication away. simply feeling a little
sorry that we had lost a supporter,
but with no feeling of rancor.
But that's not all. There is one
man worse than the anonymous letter
"AAeCA. 14C ID Suc AC6lOu Luuu " III IL
knocking our efforts. When the
proposition was brought up in our
meeting more than third Of the
total membership was present and the
decision to go ahead with the Audito-
rum was supported by unanimous
vote. No word was said against it.
On the contrary, enthusiasm was ex-
pressed by every member there Now
We learn that certain Legion men are
talking against the project. They
are even throwing mud at the Legion
itself and its work. We fail to COM
prehend the slightest reason for such
action. 1t happens that in at least
one instance the service record of the
man who is belittling himself by such