Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1941-10-02
/ Might Be
WrOng--BUT
by P. G. Stromberg'

When future generations look
back on American history of
1910 and 1941 they will be at
loss to understand the hesitancy
in exerting our fullest effort to-
ward stopping Hitler. They will
see very clearly the danger to
which American Democracy is
exposed. There will be no isola-
tionists and obstructionists then
to becloud issues. With a clear
view of our, slow and steady
drift toward inevitable involve
ment, future Americans-if Am
erica as we know it is preserved
for them-will be amazed at our
inability to interpret the wa. in
Europe as a direct challenge to
America. They will not be very
proud of the record.
There are among our people
goodly number who have con-
ceived this to be our war from
the opening of hostilities in 1889.
These people recognized the
challenge to America Immediate
ly and, even though they enter
tanned no great love for Great
Britain and France, they were
convinced that unless the demo-
cratic cause prevailed our place
in the world would become in
tolerable.
From the beginning of the
present war control of the At
lantic Ocean and the Mediter-
ranean Sea have been paramount.
With the American Navy added
to the British and French, the
blockade could have been so
complete that economic pressure
would have stopped Hitler be-
fore millions of lives were need
lessly sacrificed. And if we
should have gone Immediately to
the aid of democracies in 1889
how much more imperative is it
that we should act in 1941l
We hear the hue and cry that
they want so much of our man
power. Prime Minister Churchill
himself has disclaimed any de-
sire for United States manpow-
er. All he asked is that we give
them the tools. Our production
of war materials would have
been in full flow almost year
sooner had we declared war i'll
1889 and sent our Navy on pa
troll duty. Our country would
have been solidly united and we
would have been spared the bit
ter chickering's of the Wheeler
Nye group.
To openly advocate participa-
ton in the war seems, at first
glance, to be extremely radical.
However, calm analysis of all
the elements will produce con-
vincing proof that the sooner we
cast our lot actively the sooner
the war will be concluded and
the less our loss in both men and
money.
AS a speaker recently remarked
there are either of just two
courses for the United States to
follow. One is to follow the in
terventionists and give of every
thing we possess to hasten the
end of Hitler. The other is to
follow the isolationists and build
a wall around the United States.
The cost Of this war to Amer
lea has already reached SIXTY
BILLION DOLLARS. It is now
costing well over a billion dol
lars each month to maintain our
military establishments. This fig
ure is increasing each month and
it is estimated that in another.
twelve months the cost will be
two billion dollars per month.
That means 66 million dollars
each day it means 21s million dol
lars every hour and it means al
most so thousand dollars every
minute. That kind of expense re-
quires sacrifice on the part of
taxpayers. The tax bill for 1910
will seem small indeed and the
tax bill of 1871 viii be only
foretaste Of what must be ex-
pected in later years. Mantle
nance and operation are continu-
ing expenses and must remain as
long as the war lasts. 1t can cas-
lily be seen that our military es-