The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1940-10-31
LEADER OR MASTER

will be the most important you have
ever deposited in ballot box.
With you, and with your fellow vot
ers in country and city, will rest q
multitude of grave decisions fatefu
for America. You will have just one
chance to express your preference
That will be when you mark your bal
lot.
Whatever choice the majority makes
will be the law of the land. All of us
must and will abide by it.
We hope every citizen will vote. We
hope every vote will be cast with a
full understanding of the questions
to be determined on Tuesday.
The ballots of American citizens,
free and equal at the polls for cen
fury and half, will decide November
whether the American way of life
shall be continued, or changed.
With all the ups and downs we
have shared in this nation, we think
the American way is good way, the
best way. 1t has produced for the
average American family three times
as much of goods and welfare as the
dictator states have produced.
This is no ordinary political fight
between parties for the right to man.
age public affairs. 1t is a struggle be-
tween representative government as
we have long known in America, and
the discredited totalitarian ways of
Europe.
This is not too blunt. On one side are
all the little dictators now function
ing here. They are lined up together
Hague of New Jersey, Kelly of Chi
cago, Pendergast of Kansas City, Cuff
fey of Pennsylvania. Side by side with
them are the cunning Cochrans and
Cohens and their kind who behind the
scenes have unanswered for seven and
a half years under cover to enlarge
executive power. At the head, after
riding roughshod over the Chicago
convention to perpetuate his power,
stands their master.
Do Americans want a master? Is
that your choice?
Four years ago Mr.. Roosevelt said
that certain groups had in his first
term met their match and in his second
would meet their master. By certain
groups" he meant every one.
Steadily new powers have been
built up in the executive hands. Not
enc of these has been returned at any
time to Congress or to the People.
Freedom of action has been limited
by taxation, by regulation, by re-
striction. Behind the White House
doors are more clubs Of power that
have not been used-powers over in
dustry and thus over labor, both of
which are linked with agriculture.
Now the National Guard is called
to Federal service. The last line of
defense for State Rights is gone. A
conscript army is about to be called.
The Peoples decision will be final.
If they want master, Franklin D.
Roosevelt is their man. He would prob
ably be as kind and benevolent master
as any.
But once the People decide to have
g master, there is no way of turning
back or of fighting back. Except by
revolution - difficult when facing
bombers and tanks-they can not
hope to retrieve their powers and
their liberties.
If we want to follow the ways of
Europe, and live under some form of
totalitarianism, we have that choice.
We can have the totalitarian way
under Mr.. Roosevelt.
Under Mr.. Willkie we can regain
representative government, the kind
under which the nation has fourished.
With it we can have the freedom and
liberties which are the essence of
America.
Those who believe in the principles
of either the Democratic or the Re-
publican parties will alike cast their
votes for Mr.. Willkie.
Anxious and willing for the man
date to be master is Mr.. Roosevelt.
Prepared to be leader and public
servant is Wendell Willkie.
The decision is yours to be made on
Tuesday, November 5.
Reprinted from the Farm Journal
and Farmers Wife, Nov. 1910.