Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1940-09-26
Il Might Be.

hY z. G. Stromberg:

definition of Democracy = a
definition which will convey a
meaning Of the word more truly
than the literal acceptance to-
day. The word is derived from
the Greek words DEMOS" (the
common people) nd"KRATEIN"
Ito rule). We accept it gen.
orally as rule of the majority
with ALL having the privilege
of voting his or her convictions.
The average American has prob
ably never paused to consider
Just what Democracy means in
everyday life. We go along in
our normal routine feeling
secure in the projections and
liberties we have with no thought
of the responsibilities. How
often, wonder, does the aver
(, age man or woman recall the
history of our Democracy and
the tremendous sacrifices made
by our forbears in order to hand
down to US our everyday free
dom of thought and action and
the right to have a say about
the way our government is run?
Very few, likely. Still, it seems
to me, there can be no privilege
granted in any human relation
ship where there is not also
corresponding obligation. And
in our case that obligation is to
exercise the privilege of voting
without fail.
So in seeking a truer meaning
Of Democracy, l feel that it
needs redefning. It shouldA be
defined and adjusted 50 that we
win actually have :rule of the
common people" We should
iealously cherish and zealously
protect every possible feature Of
our inalienable right to ''life,
liberty and the pursuit of hap
piness" by establishing rules re-
garding obligations as well as
enjoying constitutional rights
regarding privileges. We should
establish methods and means
whereby q President of the
United States, q Governor, a
United States Senator. Con-
gressman-or even our county
officials, could not be nominated
nor elected to Office by q
| MAJORITY OF A MINORITY.
This has been the case in Presi-
Dental elections as well as State
and local elections. The ques-
ton naturally arises as to how
It can be done without, at the
same time, infringing on the
very rights the Constitution
! guarantees. The answer is that
+ simply has to be made one Of
the "MUSTS." We MUST pay
taxes. We MUST support our
dependents. We MUST abide
by laws and regulations. We
MUST educate our children. We
MUST prepare multitudinous
reports. We MUST answer the
call to arms. There are many
'MUSTS" and UNJUST NoTS'
which every good citizen is
obliged to observe. One more
MUST could be that every man
and woman qualified to vote
MUST perform the duty as a
atlzen and cast his or her vote
~ every election. Those failing
should be summoned before the
proper officials to show cause
and, unless the failure could be
SHOWN to be beyond the control
q the offender, fixed fine
should be imposed. Money thus
secured could be used toward
uefraying election expenses. And
should any man or woman be
saronic offender his or her PRIvI-
LEGE OF VOTING should be
Aken away. In this manner
sertain inestimable value would
9 placed on the voting privilege
To-day.
most of US know people 1.-THE
yest type of citizens) who abso-
a'ely refuse to be bothered by
fostering and voting. "What's
'ue use?" they say. By
Supling their privileges with
usetting obligations, we would
IN md a natural cure for all
u nocus-pocus expenses Incl