A letter in this week’s paper wonders who placed an ad Aug. 18 urging Mathews residents to call their supervisors, asking that a public hearing be set on future ownership of the Confederate monument.

In the future, we will ask persons placing such “position” ads to sign their names, much as they are required to do, by law, for ads supporting political candidates. Transparency is in the best public interest and tradition. For decades we have required signatures on letters.

The monument, placed in 1912, sat without much interference before a request was made two years ago to move it from the public square. Emotions have run high since then, in spite of a referendum last November in which 80 percent of voters seemingly assured its future on the court green by stating it should stay where it is.

Nevertheless, some residents and supervisors apparently feel that private ownership is a safer option, and are pushing for the monument’s transfer to two groups of Confederate descendants...