South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1921-06-19
BUILD THE NATATORIUM.

The common council should pass the natatorium
appropriation ordinance when it comes up again a
week from tomorrow night and there should be no
further clubbing. The opposition is merely poiu-
cal and parsimonious On ,the other hand, the I'M
dertaldng is public spirited, a desrability. and
prophesies Americanizfng influence that will
more than pay way out. The fact that the board
of park commissioners. board that serves without
a cent Of pay, hired a stenographer to typewrite
letter to the public. setting forth the boards View
of the subject is whatever why It should
not be intelligently considered.
Naturally there men-and women too,-who
Judging the needs and dezfrabiihes Of everyone by
their own can see no need Of a swimming pool.
They have their bathtubs their homes. and II
they wish to founder around in the water a little
more freely, they have Fheir and can HE
themselves TO a lake. Why then, up-to-date
swimming pool? 1t IS insconceivabe that anyone
should have for that sort Of thing, II these
who have home baths apd automobiles. get
along so we'll without oneE However If that were
the case might be said that our entire park sys-
tenn Is Of only TO look at by those who whiz5
by o the whirl motors
The park hoard unlike any other department Of
the city government. serves absolutely without
numeration-and does quite as much work
other departments that ara well paid and recently
had the consummate ITO go before the leg1sla
ture for Increases. The attempt TO gre
JUDGE public opinion against the natatorium pro-
iect. the park board by charging extravaganza
against photographers fee Of $3.50 the service
being rendered the preparation OF a letter to
prise the public OF the boards viewpoint. shows
how UP the opponents for argument.
They have never told the public the s1zo the fee;
one might think from the noise that It was some
thing like million. Is thera anything wrong about
Of Ia IN fha
things that they are wanting TO do. ana why?
Opponents of the natnuGium project dare not
oome out and give their rcaa reasons; not.
political reasons. They pretend II 70 be their lex
elusive" penchant for public economy; that the
to-dae swimming pool Is 10 cost TOO much at present
prices, and they plead for delay. Notwithstanding
that they know delay 10 beimpossible II the fres
site the city toebesused OF the mat
ter is they merely or at least mainly. oppose the
location. due TO nationaaities that IN the
neighborhood; this. maybe and the fact that they
would Hike have something promise the people
of such locality for political pun.-not Of all
opponents OF the undertaking. but quite certainly
OF some OF the leaders
South Bend, city. wanting to ahead. Is
these political maneuvers in racial
prejudices IN gratifying public parsimony.
than II IS in having the thing done. The location
IS the best that could be conceived and the cost
or construction now. on free site, Is much less
than It VIII be again. with a site having 10 be
purchased The council. accordingly should make
the appropriation and maize IT even notwithstand-
ing the threats and sursl Of even the city con-
trollo-. who perhaps ttse made 10 perform his
proper service an ofhcin even though he may
not ike individual The controlIership was
never intended 10 as an autocratic weapon n
the hands OF the OontrolAr-to give reacuonary
force and effect to his private opinions
The board or park commissioners has studied
this question, given II conscientious consideration.
has nothing 20 gain personally. way the other.
and though Mayor Carson appointed two OF the
members. that is not in itsek condennatory OF their
efforts Judgment, more than II fs OF the
whom Mayor Keller put on the board, and who
still there. The common council should act on
the merits OF the thing, regardless OF the propa-
ganda put forth for political advantage. those
who merely grabbed because OF the location.
or because it might add penny TO their
20 the tribute that they pay for the privilege
OF living IN a community fttto live in. and always
looking 70 Improvement II is the gist OF the whole
matter. The appropriation ordinance should pass.
The natatorium should be bslilt