Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1941-04-03
Il Might Be
|Wrong--BUT|
by P. G. Stromberg

' - -
To have as many strikes and
threats of strikes in our effort
to hasten our national defense
program is a sad commentary on
our lack of determination, Off
cially and collectively. For
almost a year now we have
witnessed an all-time high in
Govern mental appropriations
while, at the same time, we have
seen an all-time high in stubborn
strikers.
Perhaps unwittingly, yet none
the-less effectively, the Presi-
dent himself has contributed to
this condition. He has done so
by proclaiming that this country
could meet the demands of our
production schedule without any
sacrifice of recent social gains.
He has done so by maintaining
an attitude that the problems
involved in strikes would be
normally solved. He has done so
by failure to delegate authority.
Not in the memory of present
day Americans has a President
enjoyed a fuller measure of
public support. Not in our entire
history has a President more
clearly expressed his country's
views. Nor in all that time has
any President adopted a more
forceful attitude in our inter-
national relations. And at every
turn President Roosevelt is
almost unanimously praised.
Still, when it comes to meeting
our internal troubles (and who
knows but that they are not
fomented by the same influences
against which this country is
arming) the President serenely
surveys the changing conditions
while each succeeding strike pre-
sents a more serious challenge.
President Roosevelt is the only
man who can control the situa-
ton. By his inaction he is re-
sponsible for a fast developing
fear that our most serious threat
lies within our borders. !.
The average American knows
little about strikes and causes of
strikes. He cares less. He wants
to see labor get the best bargain
obtainable because labor's well
being means national well-being.
And promotion of the national
well-being is his passionate de-
sire. National welfare takes
precedence over the welfare of
labor because it is the parent of
the welfare of us all. The aver
age American land in the ranks
are millions of them) recognizes
that sacrifices must be made in
order to carry through our de-
Tense program. The average
American family is prepared to
make such sacrifices. Thousands
of homes are even now feeling
the effect of the draft and high
taxes. These average Americans
far outnumber the few labor
leaders who are struggling for
power and yet more power and
they are anxiously waiting for
President Roosevelt to adopt as
strong a policy to cope with our
domestic front as he has toward
Hitler and Mussolini.
It is unfortunate that our First
Lady delves into matters so i'm
portant to the nation. Not be-
cause she has no right to do so
but because in doing so mis-
understandings develop as to
whether or not her views are
semi-oficial. Only this week
Mrs. Roosevelt is reported to
have discussed the strike situa-
ton "at her press conference. I"
In this discussion she warned
the public not to become "overly
excited" about the labor situa-
ton. She is reported to have
stated that the public should not
behave as though a strike prob
lem was a case Of patriotism be-
cause this country is not at war.
Imagine our defense program not
involving patriotism. After
almost a year of unprecedented
national effort building up the
morale of our countrymen to-
ward patriotic support of our
defense program, the Presidents
wife observes that strike prob
lens do not involve patriotism.