The Connecticut labor news., 1923-03-02
Mayor FitzGerald
(Continued from Page I.)

| children of wage earners of the city of 1 New Haven constitute a large ma jority : of the children in our public schools
 under the jurisdiction of the board of 1 education referred to-"
 There Is no. question about the correct ness of this statement, and I would add, 1 that probably ninety per cent of | the thirty odd thousand in the schools of | New Haven today are children of wage l earners.
 Again you set forth: The New Haven Trades Council as l representatives of the wage earners of | this city consider the action of the said Arnon A. filling as hostile to the best interests of the wage earners of the city l and state, displaying in no mistakable
 manner his hostility and animosity' Concerning this part of the resolution l the reply to part three above, sets forth substantially a reply to this part also. with this addition, that at no time ac- ording to my understanding of the stua- ton, las Mir. filling objected to the High School auditorium being used by the wage earrers of this city, but on the occasion ln question. his objection was solely and simply to the use of 1t by MT. Jewell because of the United States Dis
 trlct Court case pending against him. Ou conclude:
 That Honorable David E. FitzGerald. Mayor of the city of New Haven, be, and he is hereby requested to remove forthwith the said Arnon A. filling as
 a member of the board of education for the reason that he has given clear and unmistakable evidence of his unfitness to perform the duties of such office in a fair and impartial manner and for the
 best interests of the citizens of the city
 generally"
 You say Mr. filling has given clear
 and un1nistakabe evidence of his urr- fitness to perform the duties of a mem-
 Der of the board of education in a fair
 and impartial manner
 There is nothing in the facts presented
 or existing upon which" this could be
 based or which would warrant a finding
 as matter of law or fact that the same
 Is true
 There is nothing upon which a finding
 could be predicated that it is flor the
 best interests of the citizens of the city
 generally as you put 1t, to remove MT.
 filling as member of the board of education.
 Your petition makes certain requests of me. These and all other matters l law. Bias, friendship, prejudices,s sym
 nathy, cannot be the motive to guide me in my deliberations. The charter of our city and the law defines my duty i'll this and all matters submitted to me as
 mayor, for action as such. No one can honestly object to the wa~@ earner receiving all. that the re- suit of his sweat and toll can produce. am conversant with his position in life. I know his desire to labor and toll that eis loved ones may be ~~ovided for and hat he +bex If he things of life. for which humans are striving.
 In the wage earner's quest for the bet ter things of life. the spirit of brotherly
 '- should assist and aid him. and in the | exercise of this spirit all should be l united
 If our country is to progress, the line of demarkatlon between capital and labor. between the toiler and the one who Is blessed with the possession of the | worlds goods should be eliminated. All should strive for the higher things | in life, but in that strife unfortunately | there Is croWding out and unless man l becomes satisfid that his lot is such that | he receives some of the good things of l life, his struggle takes form different l than that existing If contented. It is unfortunate there exists today in l this continuity a controversy between a great employer of labor and a great l body oFemp1oyees.
 In the category of the latter, are men who have given the best years of their l lives in the cause of service to employer | and now there exists a conf1,~t between | the two.
 l This conflict is between those who ! were once friends, and the spirit of i brotherly love above referred to is
 absent. It Is said that men who have
 served, 1abored and loved so long to-
 gether, cannot unite, patch up differences
 that may exist, and open a new page in a
 new book cf progressive and beneficial
 activities in the world they occupy and
 bring joy and happiness to themselves
 and prosperity to this community. I have perhaps disagreed more than | should in this letter, but under the cir
 cu1nstances attending this whole matter | and the various phases connected there | with. including ultimate results as I view l them all and as thev affect not only l individuals or groups. but particularly
 the city, feel all will say that I am l justified
 Therefore, under all the facts and l circumstances I must refus to grant the petition and refuse to remove Mr. Arnon | A. filling as member of the board of education.
 | Very truly yours, DAVID E. FITZGERALD, Mayor.