Imperial Valley press., 1941-07-29
HOW CAN WE KNOW
HOW TO JUDGE?

nOW III JUDGE
If there is one thing the rapidly n-
folding war and anti-war controversies
IN this country should teach Us. il Is not
to make hasty judgments.
To favor war, to favor complete lsola-
ton, or to favor some policy halfway
between-that we can do, because II we
will read and stuay We can lind the
broad outline upon which such policies
should be based.
But to piliory individuals because Of
their expressions, or to judge Their ac-
tions too hastily-that we should not do,
for too often we do not know and can
not discover enough facts to support our
judgment.
The case of Burton X Wheeler is
case in point.
This newspaper does not agree with
Sen. Wheeler's broad policies. It be
lieves that too often he closes his eyes
to actual dangers besetting the United
States.
But to call Sem Wheeler a traitor,
well-that is another matter. We feel
that he is entitled to his opinions. and
we feel that it does not make OF HIM
something hideous Just because he does
not agree with what we believe.
When Sen. Wheeler sent out one mil
lion postcards to Americans throughout
the country, urging them 10 write to
President Roosevelt with demand that
he keep this country out Of war, he was
following his American privilege of ap-
pealing directly to the people. Nobody
should deny that. But here comes the
rub.
IF Sen. Wheeler knowingly sent out
great deal Of those cards to men IN the
army-enisted men and draftees-he
might very easily be guilty of melting
discomfort and diSobedience among the
armed forces of the United States. Such
an action. especially at q time Of crisis
such as this IS, would BE- unforgivable.
Yet, how are We 70 know what the
circumstances are These things we do
know, from checking one side against
the other:
Wheeler sent out one million post
cards to a general mailing list.
The postcards urged addresses to
write President Roosevelt. demanding
that he keep his campaign promise to
keep this country out of Var.
At least three Of the cards went to
men n.->7# serving IN the armed forces.
is THIS 4 SOUND BASIS
FOR CASTTGITING WHEELER?
Three cards, out Of one million are 50
small a number that only mathemati-
cal wizard could figure the percentage.
Of course, it is highly probable that more
than three cards went to draftees. But
Secretary of War Henry L. Stimson
based his charge of near treason on
the three cards. President Roosevelt fol
lowed, on the same basis, with the state
ment that Wheeler was going too far
How are we 10 know who is right?
We have not been told, and the wal
department shows no inclination to re-
veal, exactly how many OF those million
cards were received by draftees. We
have no way Of knowing beyond his own
word, whether Sen. Wheeler actually did
not intend to appeal to the draftees. The
worst part Of it is that the accused man,
Sen. Wheeler, has no way Of proving his
point except by his own statement with
out spending thousands Of dollars to
trace down every individual on gen
eral mailing list Of one million persons.
If Sen. Wheeler appealed, intention
ally, to the draftees, he deserves severe
criticism. If, on the other hand, admin
istration spokesmen accused him Of
near treason on the basis of three post
cards out of a million, i is they who de-
serve the criticism.
Since we don't know all the facts, it
is wise to withhold judgment. and not
be sorry in the light Of what history may
reveal