Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1940-10-24
/ Might Be
'Wrong--BUT|
4by P. G. Stromberg


summary of the pros and cons
Of Roosevelt and Willkie l stirred
up veritable storm of protest
ana condemnation from adher-
ents of both candidates. 1t is
worthy Of note that practically
all of the objections were di-
rected at the favorable qualities
listed for each candidate. Very
little was said of the points
listed as unfavorable. AS a
general summary the criticisms
confirm the intent of the article,
which was to list these favorable
and unfavorable considerations
of each candidate in the hope of
aiding readers reach a conclu-
sion. To that end this article
also is dedicated.
Never before in the history of
modern American politics has
there been as much REAL
THINKING and as much
INTELLIGENT ANALYSIS of
issues as has developed in this
campaign. Not in recent years
has there been as much breaking
of party lines. Never before
have the people been faced with
the third term. Never before
have we had an election in the
midst of a world conflict. And
never before has there been SO
great percentage of voters in
the undecided column. THIS is
TRULY A SIGN OF HEALTH.
It has deeply stirred the imagin-
alton of the American people.
It is a real test Of the working
Pf a democracy. :.
| should like to present a num-
Der of letters received but space
will not permit. The reaction
indicates very definitely that if
American public opinion can be
measured by the readers of our
papers in Baltimore, Howard and
Montgomery counties and if the
opinion of the readers of our
papers can be measured by the
reactions to this column then this
election is not yet decided by
long shot. There are many
people who would never admit
that they had voted other than
Democratic while others are just
as loyal to the Republican Party.
They are discounted in any cleo
ton. 1t is always the voter who
votes on issues and convictions
regardless of party or individual
who swings the political pendu-
lum. And it is this type Of
voter who makes our system of
democracy click. 1t is this type
OF voter whose intelligent think
ing makes it possible for a man
with ability to tell his story to
the public with a hope of having
his logic accepted. I have no
quarrel with the loyal members
Of either of our political parties.
When a man or woman proudly
states that he or she has never
scratched a ticket" there is
something in such loyalty which
cannot help but command
a d miration. BUT SUCH
REGULARS" CONTRIBUTE
LITTLE TOWARD DECIDING
GREAT ISSUES. Loyalty to
party should not be held higher
than loyalty to country. And
IN this 1910 campaign there are
principles at stake involving the
very existence of our form of
government and many partisans
are, perhaps for the first time,
determined to forsake party.
That's what makes this campaign
more interesting and more
ominous than any campaign
since the Civil War. 1t is hope
ful and an encouraging sign. 1t
is encouraging because many of
the issues involved will have been
solved before another national
election is held and the issues
Will have been decided on the
basis of the verdict of the
American voters.
In this campaign there has
developed a form of rowdyism so
un-American that all decent
people blush at the thought. 1t
IS the throwing of vegetables,
eggs, etc. Only this week in
chicago Mr.. Willkie was hit
with a half-frozen egg while an
other egg ruined Mrs. Willkie's