The Waterbury Democrat., 1945-11-28
The Cynics in Our Midst

Oscar Wilde (who authority) once defined cyn c "who knows the price of everything, and the value of nothing"
 We believe such label justly fits the writer of the editorial in The Waterbury American entitled Mr. Jenks Is Asking For Trouble Like all fabby attempts at satire the literary effort mentioned soughed off exposing It. self scky opinion of the general pubcs conception or such affairs taxation.
 The cynicism of the writer and those whose policy he expounds obvious Knowledge of price and lack of knoW edge of value making up the characteristics of the cync declared respectively by the in which he first portrays his conception of how the people of the city going to react to the attempts at equalization of property vaues and then reveals his conception of the entire matter of taxation to be subject for jest.
 The approach in the editorial mentioned is of be at the chairman of the Democratic Party Ca slap at the entire party and it's member for what he mag must be the uncomfortable position of the chairman since Mr. Jenks declaration that he r Jenks) would not permit politics among city employees.
 Thus without any attempt toward intelligent interpre ation observation of the matter of revauaton and equa zaton which of intense concern to the general pub c the matter of politics is dragged the trail This from whose employer and is strong advocate ot the revauation procedure which gong to result Tn hgher for many taxpayers That fact that historical and recorded fact might add not mentioned in that editorial Why not Because they know the price we'll Could be! But what of the lack of value? Simply pressed is manifested by the reduction sloppy attempt at political satire designed to embarass and besmrch the Democratic Party, its members and city employees.
 Not satisfied with attack these people the writer then portrays the general public given to hotheaded rotous disregard for orderly procedure the matter of seek ing redress Again the price and vae That the price tor cos of increased assessments certain properties ap bring) protest the part of those concerned is self evident for naturally that portion of the public which feels itself have been victim of taxation is going to protest Who wouldn't? Such reaction is fully antcpat ed by Mr. Jenks who has notified the people that legal orderly such his office and the Board of Tax Review have offer in readiness to handle and adudicae all claims In turn it is reasonable to believe that the public of Waterbury will utilize such methods of orderly procedure
 But such method has value you say True. It is the value of defined thoughtful democratic procedure The pie of Waterbury have practced throughout the cys history We to expect radical departure from such procedure But the writer of the editorial question: and apparently those whose policy he expounds other wise. They picture the public Of Waterbury to u controlled threats and unbecomng fits of They for example, (and quoe) more fingers will be shaken under Mr. Jenks than there 5000 hands, and
 there will be such from the general publc) that the hue will be drowned ou Such is their estimate of the ultimate value of any attempt toward equzaton also apparently of the decorum of the public of Waterbury,
 Price and values again arise in the matter of the ed toas expressed admiration for Mr. Jenks convictions politics and taxation. If the gentleman would accept the bouquets with tongue far in cheek For it would the compmenters first tried to create pot of boiling oil compounded of angered politicians and taxpayers and then tried to throw him into it. It's devil of time to compliment when you are doing him ln like threeminute egg
 Is there time when it is proper idly jest of probable righteous aggrevances of the general public such increased tax assessments their holdings? We say mol; emphaticay and aty. Such matter is of per sona to the public and of general civic Members of the Democratic and Republican parties and with declared political affiliations have sponsored this revauaon procedure They did so presumably of common civic and proposed community benefit
 Yet from the approach to the price and values of such issue by the writer of that editorial and those he represents it would that all such professions atruistc and without political scheming.