Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1942-11-04
TO THE EDITOR:
T HAVE observed with regret

7 HAVE observed with regret
1 and a feeling of deep resent
ment the appearance OF bill
boards containing the picture OF
the President of the United
States together with the words:
.SHPP0RF0UR- COM
WANDER IN CHIEF. VOTE
DEMOCRATIC" These bill
boards are displayed with APP
parent lack of respect for the
sensibilities of the people of
Michigan. The obvious inference
is that any one who does not
vote Democratic is lacking in
patriotism and is something
less than a true American.
This billboard is not only
stupid and idiotic but it is an
insult to Republicans and Inde-
pendents, and to Democrats as
well. 1t is refreshing 10 learn
that many Democrats resent it
quite as much as I do.
This same appeal to emotion
was made in 1918 and il was so
resented by the public that
Woodrow Wilson and the Demo-
cratic Party lost control of Con-
gress. Is il possible that the
Democratic high command now
believes that the public is less
sensible or sensitive than IL was
in 1918? And is it possible that
all the men and women now
serving in the armed forces who
retain their right to vote as they
please are to be condemned as
being less than an American IL
they do not vote Democratic?
Are they less of an American
IL they give their lives in support
of the commander in chief and
the American way OF life but re-
tain the right TO vote as they
choose? The great State OF
New York has gone Republican.
According to this billboard the
majority of the people OF the
State of New York will now
have to be classified as non-sup-
porters of the war effort-half
Americans, or deficient in
patriotism.
Another example OF the stu
pidity of this sort of appeal is
found right here at home. 1t so
happens that the Republican
governor-elect, together with
thousands of young Ameri-
can Republicans, left their class
rooms in 1917 and Immediately
enlisted in the armed forces in
support of the then commander
in chief. a Democratic president,
Woodrow Wilson.
They did not stop to argue 10
themselves that they. as Repub-
leans, should hesitate because
the president and Congress were
Democratic. Their patriotism far
transcribed puny political con-
siderations.
And it so happens that the
present Republican governor
elect Harry F. Kelly, so dis
tinguished himself in the front
lines that he was decorated by
the French and American gov
ernments. He had his leg blown
off at Chateau Thierry and suf-
fered many other CHASTITY and
horrible wounds, but neither he
nor any of the other boys who
suffered like wounds complained
that their suffering was caused
by the Democratic Party.
On the contrary they accepted
their fate in patriotic manner
as a contribution TO their coun-
try. regardless of political affili-
atoms. And now IL appears by
edict of the Democratic Party
that to vote for Harry F. Kelly
or any other Republican cam
didate must be regarded as
lacking in support OF the COM
mander in chief and therefore
unpatriotic. j..
I am a Republican by political
faith but have voted for Demo-
Gratis and I reserve the right 10
vote for Democrats or Repub-
licans or the Socialist Party IL
I care to OF think il is to the
best interests Of my community.
And 1, together with thousands
of others, resent any statement
flouted before me that to exer-
else my freedom of conscience
politically is an unpatriotic act
unless I vote As I am told.
The stupidity OF this blunder
lies in tho fact that thinking
Americans are extremely Jealous