New Britain herald., 1921-11-19

Member AndIt Bureau of Circulation.
CITY MEETING BOARD.

CITY hlIllNh BoAitb.
 r.. Clayton Goodwin dominated the session of the City Meeting Board last night in the auditorium of the Cen tral Junior High school, generally known as the Grammar School"
 It may not be said that the mem bers of the city meeting board would not have given authority for the issue of the s4O0,O00 school bonds with out his plea, but it is sure that his address. his manner of sincere con- viction, and his earnestness in be- half of the children of this city nov ed his hearers so that, after he had spoken there were none but the most respectful of inquiries put to him and the bonds were carried.
 Avowedly no speechmaker, MT Goodwin rose in response to a call from Mayor Curtis to explain in de- tail for what this large amount was to be spent. The latter query came inspired by the circulator of the pc tition which sought a discussion look ing to modification or defeat of the amount asked for by the city for school and other purposes.
 The man who was the originator of the petition had voiced his belief that the property sought to- be purchased on Clinton street was set at too high a figure. Then he, and the other members of the board, listened to MT Goodwin.
 The latter did not answer the ques- ton fully. In that fact and in the fact that the authorization of the bonds was given without hesitation, even the originator of the petition voting for it, if the writer is not mis- taken, is shown the influence the speaker asserted quietly but convinc- ingly-even enthusiastically in one case over the members of the board.
 But Mir Goodwin prefaced his re- marks by declaring that not ono cent of the amount would be spent except for the benefit of the children. He added that this s400,0O0 now sought, was but d part of the amount that would enable the board to carry through a general school program costing s71S,500. This, of course, left the intimation that if there was any thing left it would be used with the other moneys which would be neces- sary to complete the whole school plan.
 The purport of Mir. Goodwin's re- marks are given elsewhere in today's Herald. But no words could de- scribe the effect his voice had upon his hearers. One little incident may show something of the psychology of the meeting. When he had finished, he was asked by the petitioner if he thought the new school would be built for less than s325,000. After an af- firmative reply, in the same voice, that same speaker remarked to MT. Goodwin something to the effect that he had thought the price of the Clin- If it satisfied the committee, it satis- fled him.
 Evidence of enthusiasm broke forth in the words spoken by J. T. OCon- nor, who put that enthusiasm back of the exclamation that after hear ing MT. Goodwin, he felt we just had to take care Of our children; he fa- vored the resolution heartily.
 There was another striking point to the meeting. The mayor having called Alderman Gilpatric to the chair remarked that there was about s77o to the credit of the charity department, with constant demands coming in, and that more money than this s2O,OOO now asked for would probably be sought before the end of the fiscal year. It was frank avowal that by no means aided in the passage of the resolution desired by the mayor, but seemed to be made in the spirit Of openncss,
 The expected opposition did not de- velop, The absence from the meet ing of leaders in the fight against the issue of bonds, instead of the levying Of a tax, was not heard
 Tt was the sort Of meeting of which the city may be proud, not because everything was passed without dis cussion, but rather that everything was acted upon without discussion which would have been Arrcleyant e. LOOKS LIKE SUCCESS.
 One Of inc ut rC Ert bpniuer eroly,g ir,