New Britain herald., 1926-11-24

have been 8 filter word for the time and place? If you do think so, I will agree for all the signers of the petitions, that we will consider the word replaced by request and we hereby respectfully request that we, the voters of New Britain be given an early opportunity to decide the monument question by ballot. If those elected to office are our ser vantswe would like to know just how and under what circumstances 1t will be proper to demand or re- quest what we want and under just what circumstances the servant is to act on his own study and wisdom.
 Tn the light of events, I think your statement, that you cannot pre- dict what the council will do is just what anyone would have to say.
 ITO the ex-service men, of what ever war, your heart and your de- votion cannot carry you to greater lengths than mine carry me. My heart goes out to them and I would give my last dollar to help them but I cannot think they are the only ones to be considered in the matter in question.
 "1 believe that you would be the last man in New Britain to wish to erect the wrong type of memorial, and that is just why we are asking that fifteen or twenty men be not permitted to make a choice for a city of seventy or eighty thousands of people more or less interested. I am made forcibly aware of the great dissatisfaction of the men of another war with the selection of a monu- ment that did not meet their ap- proval and which they have never liked. That choice. I am informed was determined by some one, or few, who thought they knew better than the people what was wanted.
 T believe with all my heart and all my soul and all my body too, that your description of the proposed monument is eloquent. and I am as firmly convinced of it's rare beauty, and ] still believe that to erect a war memorial, glorious in itself, does not glorify peace, but war
 T must quote your words: 'xxxa place where the families of these heroes may go and place their of- ferlng of flowers, and where they may feel that their loved one has an individual place in the hearts of the community. A place where they may go free from the turmoil of business and whirling automobiles and prying eyes to mourn in peace,' and your last sentence. Better far that we should erect a monument over the graves of each of our heroes in the cemeteries in which they lie, than to erect on a public highway these indiy idual shafts where no mortal may pay tribute in silence and quiet
 Tt is quite true that some auto- mobiles pass through the Court of Honor; that seats have been placed Tn such a way as to invite occasion al hoodlums are now in evidence; that a walk from the top of the hill leads the pedestrians directly into the middle of the south side of the court. and that is near to a highway. All this I gram.
 Before we proceed to select a place where mortals may pay trib- | ute in silence and quiet, l beg you , to stroll with me to the summit of | Walnut Hill any evening in sum- | mer or, if you will, early in the ! morning. l am assuming that you do not visit that place very much. IT you will point out to me a place anywhere in Walnut Hill Park that Is or could be more quiet and sacred 70 Would-be worshippers who wish 70 offer prayers for their dead than he present Court of Honor, will devote whole day with you in It's search. The top of the hill is so luiet, and so free of old papers and bottles etc, that it is impossible c read paper up there, to say lothing of paying any kind of trib- ite. If We wish to avoid prying yes we can best do so, at most lmes in the cemetery like entrance, n spite of the highway that runs trough it. I think you will admit hat the few objections here found ould be eliminated.
 T cannot even guess what Elihu 3urritt might be inclined to say of he relative merits of the two me- norials in question. but I feel easonably certain from what I lave read of him, that he would ay, Why, that is easy. Find out nst what the people want and give to them
 Finally, this matter has gone on ,, or a long time and since the peti- ions are in circulation, be- ieving that 1t will be better to try 0 settle this vexatious question. nee for all, we are going to gather n the names for just q few days 1ore, after which we will presen. hem for the consideration of the ity government.
 You have written at great length s an exponent of your side of the uestion and we trust that we have 1ade clear to you some of the oints we consider. l
 Yours very truly,
 George Y. Hamlin"
 MASTER BARRIERS FJ,ECT