Perth Amboy evening news., 1923-06-05
TIME FOR ooo1 HEADS AND SOBER thinking

Dog DAYS are approaching. The weather is warm, and excIt-
able persons when they become o%verheated are likely to do things
that they may regret afterward. Feeling is apt to run high; per
sons jump at conclusions; suspicion and hate are rampant, and
often a word spoken in jest leads to serious results. 1t S a time
for cool head, clear thinking and calm deliberate action.
There were two happenings in Perth Amboy last night that
reflect no credit on the city, and de have no doubt that those in
yolyed in these affairs are sorry today and would undo what
they did if they could. AS re~grettable as these occurrences were,
they have their lesson and a SOLDERING effect that will prevent more
serious consequences in the future. Let us all remember that the
good name of the city is at stake. Let us suppress our personal
feelings for the sake of the city as a whole and do what we can
to elevate, not degrade the place we call home. We are going
to continue to live here; we are going to continue to be neighbors
and we ought to be friends. If we have the welfare of the city at
neart we must work together. Nothing is going to be accom-
plished by bitterness, anita onism and personal spite.
The disgraceful scene at the city hall where blows were struck
between city officials does more harm to the city than it does to
the individuals involved. 1t is an unenviable reputation and
affects every citizen. Respectable people become disguised; they
do not want to live in a place where their duly elected represen-
latives cannot meet and work together peaceably for the COM
mn welfare. Differences there will be, of course. 1t is not ex-
pected that all will agree. But whatever differences arise, they
ought to be Strengthened out without those concerned losing their
temper and resorting to tactics unbeeoming a gentleman.
As for the other affair, which appears to have been an at
tempt4s.,- ,anize a Ku Klux Khan in this city, the mistake was
made in Even attempting to call such a meeting. Perth Amboy
ioes no want any such organization. The country does not want
it.. Any movement that has to go about in disguise is un-American,
no matter how much it claims to be organized for patriotic pur-
poses. The United States was founded on liberty and the right
Tor a man to worship God according to the dictates of his own
conscience. When we have the proper respect for the other mans
feelings there will be no need for hooded klans and underhanded
secret methods.
Perth Amboy, apparently, has no Khan now or there would
aot have been an attempt to organize one. It is well. We do not
want it. There is no need for It. Honest, l~aw-abiding citizens
-, -. u--u4 uutL;, +Lo+ eouore of on invisible amnira III
IS regrettable that disorder was resorted to in breaking up the
meeting last night. Here again the city suffers more than the
individual. But it is apparent that the Ku Klux Khan is not
wanted in Perth Amboy. When we put the interest of the city
irst and all get behind it and boost as worthy citizens should, we
will not have time to think of the things that only create bad
feeling and breed disorder.
A civic consciousness is what Perth Amboy needs most of all
When we all begin to take pride in our city and work for its ad-
gancement we will progress. But such affairs as happened here
last night only degrade and destroy. 1t is going backward in
stead of forward.