ANONYMOUS 'CORRESPONDENCE.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIV, Issue 73, 19 November 1912, Page 5

ANONYMOUS 'CORRESPONDENCE.

THE MAYOR EXPLAINS H,S ATTITUDE. “As the season for anonymous correspondents seems to have arrived,” said the Mayor at last night’s meeting of the Borough Council, “I would like to say a few words about it.” Councillor King: It’s not worth while to say anything at al l . The Mayor: “That may be so, but I wish to make my position clear. 1 have no objection at all to anyone attacking me under a nom-de-phime. If any elector writes under a nom-de-phune he must expect his views to be very greatly discounted, for a person would make statements in si;ch a capo that he would not make under his own name. That is one point I wish to make. The second point is that I can’t be expected, and don’t intend, to reply to any anonymous letters appearing in the Press. I realise, as a public man, that 1 am open to be criticised. Indeed, I fully court criticism, provided it is of an open nature. I think it is only right that I should make this explanation.” Councillor King: A public man must expect to be criticised, and as a rule there is more of it coming from under a nom-de-plume than from any other source. The Mayor: This is sometimes an effective way of undermining a pub ic man’s position. Councillor King: T don’t think so.