New Britain herald., 1926-12-18
HAMLIN BITTER AT
 COUNCILS INSULT
LikenS Action on Memorial to
 Punch and Judy Show
FILINGS SHAFTS AT MAYOR
Champion of Perpetuating Court of Honor Resents Attitude That Only Property Owners Have Voice in Affairs of City Government.

Affairs of City Government.
 The actions of the common coun- ell in the war memorial dispute is likened to Punch and Judy show guided by an unseen hand, in statement issued today by George V. Hamlin, leader of those who fa- vored perpetuation of a court of honor.
 MT. Hamlin declares he was mov- ed to come out with a public state ment because of "inhuman, con- temptible and insulting treatm mt we received at the hands of those who are only our rervants, last | Wednesday evening""
 It Is also charged that member of the common council urged cir culation of the Hamlin petition and then failed to champion it when 1t reached the council. He questions whether members of that body have feet and, if they have, whether they would know how to use them.
 MT. Hamlin objects to the refer ence made by Mayor Weld that only a small percentage of signers of the petition are property owners. This question was not put to draftees dur ing the war. nor to those asked for votes last spring, the spokesman for the petitioners remarks
 'IIocal Punch and Judy Show" l e,+ to,,, or,f oyNfi In Local Punch and Judy Show," fol- | lows:-
 When I submitted our petition to the mayor, I stated that l recogniz- ed that we were defeated; and &C., cepting that as a fact I also stated that it would now be our duty, to get behind the mayor. to make the other situation as glorious as pos sible. When I wrote that l meant every word of it. and I have main l tained a respectful silence until now. Now, my reason for the present out | break, is the inhuman, contemptible and insulting treatment we received at the hands of those who are only our servants, last Wednesday eve- ming. There is that, in this case, which makes us stand wondering in amazement.
 | T wonder just what, in particu- lar, placed the monument which so many persons detest, so near to the hearts of the mayor and common council.
 T wonder by just what means they were induced to think the mat ter so near and dear, and so much nearer and dearer, 70 their hearts, than to the hearts of the public.
 T wonder if the mayor shed any tears when he was speaking to the council; and I wonder just what he meant when he asked the council to stand upon it's own feet.
 T wonder if a Punch and Judy show ever stood upon it's own feet, or, if anyone who ever attended one, has seen the guiding hands.
 T wonder why he tried to make it appear that the public is the of fender in this case, and the city gov ernment the injured party.
 T wonder why the city council has seen fit to add insult to injury by ignoring a petition honestly sub- mitted; and I wonder if that is an indication that the council reflects the sentiment of the people.
 T wonder what may be the Ma gonigle method of ingratiation, that he can so poison the minds of city governments, everywhere against the wishes of the people. I wonder if the glorious. pageant of dedication of the Kansas City monument, and the speech of the president of the United States, all together. will ever efface the odium that attaches to the Kansas City monument. sI
 Raps Councilman
 '1 wonder why the local council man who said, That Is all right Hamlin, I believe in that. Put it over and 1t will be the biggest thing ever put over in New Britain, but I can't sign it, did not stand on his feet and say so, when the vote was taken In a particular manner, for the purpose of trapping him. or making it appear that misstatement had | been made.
 T wonder If the council really has l feet, and If it has would it know how to use them.
 T wonder if the city council ex- poets the public to believe that it | has had fair and honest deal in | this matter.
 'I wonder why objection was made by the mayor, to advising the | public, of the secretiveness that has characterized all the proceedings in reference to the new monument.
 T wonder what the mayor meant | when he said, on the floor of the | council chamber, as reported in the New Britain Herald: Fortunately, | we arc living in the United States | where every man has right to ex- press his own opinion, provided he has done it in the right time and in the right place. But this is not the right time.'
 T wonder if he meant that a monument deal, like the one just completed in New Britain, could never have passed in Darkest Africa. I wonder if he me>nt, also, to throw , out the merest hint of yelled |, threat.
 T wonder just how long coal company would continue to do busi- ness successfully. If It's assets were as the city's assets seem to be managed. I wonder just how long it would be considered profitable to spend quarter million or more dol