New Britain herald., 1926-11-23
WELD CRI7ICIzES
 HAMLIN PETITION Expresses Dislike for 'De- lnand" That Council Take Action BELIEVES MOVE IS HARDY

To Memorial Shaft Atop Walnut
 HilI Was When Project Was Be-
 for Common Council,
 Criticism of the movement to have the common councils action in the selection of a World War memorial set aside, is contained in a letter sent today by Mayor Weld to George V. Hamlin of 45 Camp street, who is spokesman for the faction which now seeks to have the arch and court of honor at Walnut Hill park made permanent.
 At the outset of his statement the mayor asks the pointed ques- tion: When will people learn that the common council are the repre- sentatives of the people and that their votes should reflect the senti- ment of the voters and that the time for the voters to discuss mat ters of importance with their rep resentatives is before the vote is taken in the council chambers, and not after?" s
 Mayor Weld calls attention to the fact that the mem orial selected by the common council is the unani- nous choice of the memorial con- mittee and the common council, and he personally believes. he says, it is much more appropriate than the present memorial made permanent.
 The mayor declares he has been informed the city meeting board re- jected the memorial plan two years ago on political grounds.
 After assuring MT. Hamlin that by the highest ideals, Mayor Weld expressed dislike for the use of the word demand" in the Hamlin peti- ton, remarking, surely no one has the right to demand that the com mon council vote a certain way"
 Mayor Weld's Letter
 The mayors letter follows:
 Replying to your letter and pe- tition of November 22.
 "When will people learn that the common council are the representa- lives of the people and that their votes should reflect the sentiment of the voters and that the time for the voters to discuss matters of import ance with their representative Is before the vote is taken In the council chambers, not after? The council is elected by the people for the people and the vote of any one councilman or alderman should reflect the sentiment of the people in his district in the city. If the peo- pie in that district do not acquaint him with their desires he can only follow the course, gained by his own study and wisdom, and vote for what he believes the best thing for the city and his constituents.
 "The vote in the council chambers to accept the report of the commit tee of citizens on the World war memorial was accepted unanimously and the money for the purpose vot- ed in the same manner with no dis senting voice or word. The Ameri- can public loves to sign petitions but I believe that the gentleman who has started this movement is actu- ated only by the highest ideals, and I cannot criticize his move except as to the time, and the word demand in the petition, for surely no one has the right to demand that the com- mon council vote a certain way.
 "As I cannot predict what the common council will do with the petition, I can only express my own sentiments. First bearing in mind that the committee of citizens voted for this form of memorial two years ago; the common council was unanimously in favor two years ago bu the public meeting board (guided by politics, l have been led to be- committee of citizens again voted for the proposed form of memorial and the common council voted unanimously in favor Gall after long deliberation on the part of all in- volved,) and also that the three representative world war ex-service mems organizations, representing at least seventy-five per cent of the ex-service men in the city. all went on record in favor of the proposed memorial as voted by the council.
 AS an ex-service man who has shed his blood in the service of his country and who lost many dear friends overseas, I would certainly be the last man in New Britain who would wish to erect the wrong type of memorial to my buddies who did not return-with the voices of my dead comrades ringing in my ears with these words:
 "'If ye shall forget the cause in which we fell, then we have indeed gwen our lives In vain.'
 "I believe with all my heart and soul that @ slender, beautiful shaft rising high in the air on top of Wal nut Hill park, the top of the shaft forming a resting place for two glo- rious American eagles, typifes the ideal and the glory of freedom, of peace and security. the release from the terri le bondage of war and dis aster glorifying not war but peace.
 "The base surrounded by a wall