The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1922-03-14

| Mir. Editor:-
Cambridge should have a new
| High School building in keeping witt
| growth and development of our tOWr
l and county. | have heard argu
ments pro and con and whereas 1 re
| spect the opinions of all honest men
\ and women it does seem that the OPP
| pOnents are putting up the poorest
! kind Of arguments and are Following
| ia The footsteps of others who have
| opposed every measure for improve
ment in Cambridge during the past
| thirty years or more. l was one OF
a committee appointed by our Board
of Trade to canvas the town and
make efforts to persuade the voters
to endorse the bond issue to provide
funds to pave streets in the business
section. Our committee worked ear
ly and late and when election day
came we had enough votes lined up
to put it through though many OF
our prominent business men were
bitterly opposed to it. Just imagine
it! 1t seems hard to believe now
that everyone knows what a wonder
full benefit it has been How many
of these men will admit that they
tried in every reasonable way to balk
us and voted against the street bona
issue? If we carry our memory back
to the time of public meeting at
the old Independence Hall IN
about 1892 we'll find the same sentl-
ment manifested among leading
citizens;" who opposed the town own
ing and operating its water supply
nnhlic SnlrlteU
men like G. Warren Mundy, George
w. Woolford, H. A. Joyce, A. J,
Foble and others were given very
valuable franchise that should nave
been held by the town and when
would have produced revenue su1ficl-
ent to improve every street by this
time.
Why should we be short-sighted
about the High School proposition,
the same as the water supply? why
should we compromise and then re-
greet it in after life? Why can't we
look matters in the face and be
honest with ourselves? The people
of Cambridge and vicinity spend
about 81 900 per week on the aver
age for moving pictures and other
shows. The man who owns SiIGJ
and operates same Tor
pleasure spends about $50 per month
for, it's upkeep. Many men spend
over 81 per day for cigars. ten
cent raise in taxes would be only a
small portion of the money we spend
for non essentials. Are our luxuries
of more Importance than the educa-
ton of our youth? The SEMINARY
TNro nf tho kind
we'll known to fire insurance men
and if the parents could but reallze
the dangers they would Wlthofa"
their children and compel the
to furnish proper quar-
ters. What chance of escape VIII
the small pupils on the third moor
have when an alarm of fire is gwen
and there is considerable smoke IN |
the building? Just an alarm Will
likely result in loss of precious lives
and parents should take enough IN
terest to investigate. l understand
that Ex-Governor Harrington III
company with an architect MADE an
a short time ago ana 1ouho
conditions deplorable. Mr. crane
has told you about the crowned con-
dition and the lack of proper breath
inc space. Are our people content
that their children should receive
school training under conditions that
no factory owner would tolerate?
Our opponents say that the Semi |
nary" can be patched up, which Is
true, but what if you do. you will
have it to do again within a few
years. We wasted money on our
streets year after year by coating
with oyster shells until finally we de-
,ided we should build not only for
the present but for the future.
| understand there will be ac-puD-
lie meeting in the interest of the NEW +
High School tomorrow "wednesday |
at Court House at P. NJ, and it is
to be hoped that it will be we'll at
tended. Parents should be there
and show the opponents that they
favor proper school facilities and de-
mand that their children be given
the best we can afford.
Respectfully,
L. PHILIP SKINNER.