Imperial Valley press., 1936-09-21
Other Editors Saw

Editors Note: One of the finest state
monts pertaining to the national presidential
election and the privilege of voting, IS that Of
A. H. KulikoWski, publisher of Opportunity Mag
azine 1t is SO sane ana at the same time So
appealing that We publish Il here by permiSSion)
BY A. H. KULIKOWSKI.
This is an important year for you and for
me and for every other American II is year
in which shall make our choice of a leader
for the next four years.
I am not one Of those who seem to feel the
whole destiny Of our nation is bound I'D in the
chice to be made in November / cannot con.
cede that this great nation Of irc9 men has be-
come so impotent. so barren eft spirit, SO I'M
poveriShed in reSourcefulnesS vision or power
that our future depends upon any individual or
group of individuals, even though it may be that
our immediate Well-being viii be affected by
the votes We cast in November.
The liberty, creative power and expanding
vision born in the travail of seven years Of
Revolution the common unity. loyalty and ex-
alted purpose which wthstO0d the shocks of
five later wars and carried the nation ever
forward in the most profound social experiment
of all history, is incapable Of such decay. 1t is
far too mighty, too deeply implanted, too jealous
ly possessed TO become now so weak that its per-
petuation depends upon one man or single
administration.
The United States of America is greater by
far than any leader it may choose. The power
and might of America are in its people-not in
its leadership, for the leaders may be changed
of the people I am confident, so on forever.
BY the free right to vote for temporary
leadership, the feudal power of kings, czars ana
dictatorS was broken; but such power may again
pe assumed by unscrupulous men dangerous
minorities again be allowed to dictate because
right-thinking Americans stay away from the
polls
In 1882 of the sixty-nine million potential
voters in this country a little less than forty
million cast vote in the presidential elecuon
The voters who can be influenced by self-ssek-
,1x4r,vv
mistake about that. It is the thinking men and
women whose judgment is Of greatest value in
guiding our desnies who stay away.
Perhaps to me- whose early life was lived
under a regime of tyranny. the rights and
responsibilities Of the free ballot are more vital
and precious than to you who have never
known anything else. Ny own father spent
seven bitter years in q Siberian prison because
he dared to express his opinions on what his
government should do. For the same cause
many thousands were shot against a prison
wall All this was suffered and endured for
that sacred right to speak. Contrast such con-
ditions with this our country where freedom
to speak and choose is not only privilege but
a duty!
Failure to use the ballot Is more than a tragic
error. 1t is reputation Of the fundamental
principles upon which our nation was founded.
Reduced to its basic essentials, the establish
ment of this country had but one purpCse-lio-
erty for the individual. The only system by
which that liberty could be gained, and retained,
demanded that each individual be given equal
voice in the choice Of leaders. Without the
right to approve or disapprove there can be no
democracy. Therefore the brilliant thinkers
who from the distilled experiences Of the ages
formed this government, placed absolute con-
troll of it in the peoples hands The device by
which that done is the right Of suffrage
written INTO the Constitution.
Thus, rejection OF the right and opportunity to
vote means rejection OF the whole theory of
government under which We live Such an act
is a sorry reflection upon the sacrifice of heroes
who won this freedom. Il repudiates the fam-
ing courage of the Men OF lexington; it forgets
that grim winter at Valley Forge; It rejects as
useless the blood spilled in the Swamps of the
CarolinaS; it discards the brilliant and daring
strategy of Washington in moving his army
across the ice-filled Delaware by night.
So long as the right TO the ballot is main
tanned and exercised, liberty will not be lost
nor our form OF government materially changed.
But if an evil day should come when enough
of us feel it is futile to cast our vote, our
democracy will vanish and speedily our liberty
will follow it.
In recognition of these facts let each of Us
rededicate himself to a proper regard for duty
sacred privilege and grave responsibility. A mis-
take in choice is not serious but TO have or make
no choice is fatal Issues may be complicated.
Much will be said and done to becloud and con-
fuse. But the masses Of Americans may be
trusted to judge Alright and in the forming Of
that rock Of public opinion each Of Us must have
part. Think clearly. Think sobsrly Think
and place express your choice in the lawful
manner. BY SO doing you take your proud posi-
ton a free man VINO has claimed and eXer-
cised mis- rights under the Great American Her
l.ege