The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1921-03-26
A Word to the Citizens Of
Hammond Concerning the Mem
OriaI Athletic Park Project
BY N. E. TINKHAM

Them The, heard music before IN the
camp. and ON he neld and under condi-
lions that tried mems hearts and put to
test their courage and patriotism They
did NOT propose 90 ALLOW themselves r.
be capitalized in helping 10 put Through
a scheme n which they are not espe-
tally interest ed. or AZ least believe
This to he true with The greater major
ity Of them Their course r. this ma
tor is 10 be greatly commended
dignided and wise attitude
If I mistake not. these eN-scrr.cr nen
are not asking for special IA ors Put
they are asking FOR what they have Jas
ly earned. and thar is a substantial ree-
ognition from the government that tae
served with fidelity and patriotic valor.
Again. the principa speaker in de-
Tense of tho memorial on the evening
IN question. placed particular stress on
the fact that this memorial was not ~
be erected to the living men bur in mem
DRY of those who had died in the wa
Conceding that 10 be true. it strikes ME
as Irrelevant AS d memorial for th
dead TO make 3, pay for itself 10y adn
sion fees and String Il out for an kinds
Of aIuusement~
The true meaning ~ memorla
the erection &c something sacred 10 ~
memory of Tho deceased person
put this on an income basis Iooes 49,
much like commercial iziug the mesu is
OF the dead and to my mind. tends 81
overshadOw the real meaning
II this enterprise will paw FOR uscle
why do not these promoters organize r
stock company as "A means q capita
izing the project; as a safe proposition.
they might take over large blocks thorn
selves and dispose Of the balance to th.
friends of the enterprise. on the basis
Of their statements it would easily pa
itself out Then after that they might
derive some handsome profits from the
tnVestr"
Tho amszing thing about It Is. tbat-
members OF the city council men 'ft
business al ~ and men OF god tddg-
ment would support measure like I'M
al The present time. on the basis Of
few hundred petitioners and the fran.-c
appeal of few promoters
These petitioners only represent 9
very small minority Of the voting popu-
lation of Hammond. and no doubt, with
many of them. II both sides Of question
had been presented. and they had been
given a little time for reflection. would
not have signed this petition.
This project involves too large an ex-
penditure and Is too vital to the people
Of Hammond 10 be lightly adopted at the
instigation OF a few.
During the war the popular slogan
was. Make the world Safe for Democ-
racy How about making Hammond
safe for democracy II there IS any
question as to the attitude Of the people
on this question. let there be a refereu
dunn. Let the ballot box decide. and
then If my contentious are contrary to
the popular verdict 7 viii bow sub
missively to the viii Of the majority
However, my convictions arg that the
city council should have never wasted
any time on the proposition or given
il serious thought, except to give the
promoters and petitioners q courteous
hearing
I trust that the people Of Hammond
viii become fully aroused 20 the gravity
Of the situation and seek that informa
tion in regard to this proposition as TOR
enable them 70 reach an intelligent con-
clusion.
have no axe 10 grind and am no; q
been said in all frankness and with no
intention of causing any anront. but
with the best OF feeling 70 all parties
connected with this enterprise.
1 have no ave TO grind and am nor a
candidate for any office at the hands
OF the voting public. 7 am simply ex
pressing my personal convictions upon
these matters. with no other desire. In
making these convictions public. than
to conserve. what behave 10 be- the
best interests OF the city of Hammond.