The daily record., 1953-06-01
An Open Letter To
Dunn S City Council
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we have opposed secret meetings Of the council
should set an example
Yes it is true that we have opposed efforts of the
council to usurp the powers OF the city manager and to
city manager be given the full power of his office without
political interference from the board
1t is also true that have insisted that the Chief
of Police be given full authority to his office without
political interference and dctaton from the mayor and
councilmen.
1t true that we revealed the fact that city council
deprived Dunn citizens of backdoor garbage collection
those policies which believe would make enemies for
the town and which would destroy friendly relations be-
tween the town and its rural neghborS.
On all these counts, plead guilty. But we pledge
to continue this campaign If diu do So would
not be lit TO call TINS newspaper never Will ths news
paper become propaganda organ for the city council
any other group.
We believe newspapers first duty is to the public
We shall continue to make ourselves worthy OF this trust
The board, in its letter. claims the unfaVorabe pub
licity is hurting the town.
May we remind the councllmen that II the publicity
has hurt it is because their actions have been such to
attract unfavorabe publicity Newspapers don't make
The council cannot expect to go around firing people
in secret sessions holding private meetings in varied
sundry places and stirring up the wrath of citizens
without attracting public interest What kind of
paper would sit Idly by and smother such news?
AS for hurting the town. the only persons hurt, we
believe those guilty of making such not the
town the newspaper which prints it. Politicians, it
seems always "nurt" when their publicity is un-
favorable instead of favorable
The unfair lnsnuatlon that the editor of this news
paper would Intentionally hurt the town of his birth
silly ridiculous and outrageous that it does not de-
serve comment.
The edlJor of this newspaper who has lived in Dunn
longer than most of the board yields to
living person IN his affection and loyalty toward his
town and mis- belief in its future
only love our town that dare expose
those things which believe to be harmful and detri-
mental to town. Only by revealing the truth no
matter how much it might hurt newspaper help
bring about improvements and drive out those things
which are harmful and evil and detrimental.
nearly 20 editor OF newspaper mas
been covering reporting meetings of Dunns city coun
Gil Not until three four years ago there the slightest
bit of friction We believe that's pretty good record on
part.
the city council whenever to the best interests OF
the puDic-and that includes the present council.
For instance week before last The board met and ap
propriated money for use of Dunns swimming pool We
requested not to publish the fact because it might
bring on racial problems We gladly cooperated.
Last Friday night the board reversed itself this
issue asked this newspaper to publish the
fact. Again, are glad to do so.
Because this newspaper has dared oppose the powers
that be- have paid the price We have been Disseminated
against thing after another until it is extremely
difficult for this newspaper to get for its readers the true
facts on issues at the city hall
virtual backout on news has been imposed against
The Daily Record at the police department We believe
Police Chief Alton Cobb to be good able and efficient
chief of police But he has to carry out the orders from
above
May we remind the councilrnen that cooperation is
a mutual affair, doesn't just work one way
unfortunate that officials bear political grudges
1t is the American way to fight hard during campaign
and then forget the campaign and cooperate afterwards
The mayor of Dunn should be the mayor of all the people
not Just those who voted for him.
we have endured the hardships placed at the
city hall without complaint protest These hardships
will not deter from duty to the public We believe
that to be first obligation
This newspaper does not claim to be perfect in
faabe. We make mistakes, yes like everybody else but
they are honest mistakes We sincere and conscientious
in purpose.
It would be much easier and much more pleasant for
agree with the city council every issue II is always
easier to agree than disagree.
But if failed to fight for those things which we
believe would help make our town better town, we
would not be true to ourselves to the public
Because we do love the Town of Dunn far more
than those who criticize us shall keep fighting
to make it better place in which to live For that
have no apology