Connecticut western news., 1920-12-02
LETTERS FROM THE PEOPLE.
Opinions of Farmers Wife

It seems to us CnaL pr1VdSo OplUIOHS should sometimes be publicly ex- pressed The right to do this is the incontestable right of every free citizen in our democracy. Especi- ally is it the right of every tax payers family to express their opinion on matters concerning their own town which their taxes help to support. We who are by illness shut in should by no means be shut out of any right to express our opinions on town matters that concern us as much as any other town citizen, but with no idea, however, of closing or settling the points in question. If a three to one vote is any indication of a strong public opinion, then our opinions are right in line with those of big majority.
 We hold that no voter who is not a taxpayer should be allowed any special privileges that add to the taxpayers burdens or expense.
 We hold that no association has right to organize and then call on the town to help support it. If it is the right of one association to do this then it is the right of all others. Or ganizations that spring up as it were, overnight, like toadstools, should be made to understand that they must support themselves. We are empha- tically in favor of spending the town money for the town needs, as whole; not for the furtherance of ambitious and often extravagant, not to say impractical plans of a special organization or group, or clique.
 Our community building, when the town can afford it, should be a new Town Hall, built by the town, finan- ced by the town and supported by the willing people. A community house controlled by mere fraction of the people savers, too much of a possible desire to secure undue advantages over the rest of the community and the establishment of a small-town Oligarchy, than which nothing could be more ridiculous as we'll as unpa- triotic. No matter how honest and we'll intentioned we all may be, we must avoid the implication that we are more self-interested than altru- 1stlc. Americans do not take kindly to patronage of any sort; they can stand good deal of letting alone. In our opinion we should all be careful that our altruistic services are not too insistently thrust on the public since the public is also requir- ed to pay for the services. We hold that our fellow townsmen, and wom- en, are we'll supplied with common sense; they know what they want and what they don't want and they can easily discern the holes in lad der or anywhere else as equally ob- vious. We believe that between plain, honest, independent self-res- pecting citizens there is an objection to being petted and then asked to pay for the betting. The word Spongers will never become associa- ted with any organization that goes down into its own pockets to pay it's bills. Whatever is the greatest need of the town, for that let the town wlndfall be spent; the majority vote will decide that matter.
 The majority vote has decided that this money is not to be spent on the vivid dreams and rose-tinted plans of the few. It is far more necessary that we have better roads, better schools, better library facilities, lessening of the town debt, or, in due time, building a new town hall that will be managed, financed, and con- trolled by the town government-byl consent of the people. We believe that is a wise organization that ac- cepts cheerfully the ultimatum of the general public.
 One more opinion and we are done. Every taxpayer should form | the habit of attending the town meetings. Nobody on earth can keep us out of town affairs but ourselves. l
 ENo a~.1c VxY.41