Milford chronicle., 1942-10-30
Kent Soldier Vote Case


Representatives of our opponents continue to
make the. charge that the Republicans have sought
to prevent voting by in the armed SER
vices. Even more specifically they have charged
that the Republican Party has sent its attorneys
into Court in an effort to have such voting law
declared unconstitutional. 1t is difficult to under
stand these charges because examination of the
record will disclose that they have no foundation.
Our absentee ballot law was declared unconsti-
tutonal by the Court in 1889. The case upon
which the decision based arose out Of fradu-
lent efforts to vote people under the absentee vot
ing law in the election Of 1888. These fraudulent
attempts were charged not against the Republ-
cans but against members of the Democratic Party.
When indictments were returned against them and
the cases heard in Court, attorney who was a
member of the Democratic Party was Defense
Counsel and it was he and his associates who
raised the question of unconstitutionality in
attempt to avoid prosecution and conviction and
brought before the Court sufficient law and prece-
dent to cause the court to declare the statute un-
constitutional, although the Courts opinion might
lead one to infer that the members thereof would
have preferred to reach different conclusion.
In the case now pending in our Courts involv-
ing the voting of soldiers at the 1910 election it is
submitted that inquiry of the attorneys represent
ing the Kent County candidate who contested the
election of his opponent which was made possible
by the soldiers vote reveals that the attorneys Of
the contestant, although Republicans, were not
sent into Court by that Party, but that they were
privately engaged as attorneys by the contestant
himself and that any compensation will be paid by
him alone.
We have heard no Republican, and as a matter
of fact, no Democrat express opinion against
the voting of soldiers Everybody wants the SOL
diers to have an opportunity to vote.
We are doing all that we can to comply with
the recently enacted Federal Law permitting men
in the armed services to vote for Congressional
candidates. In efforts we have asked and re-
ceived the cooperation of a representative OF the
Democratic Party and the whole idea is that the
law be administered so that there be no ques-
tion about it and that every soldier who applies
for ballot in compliance with the Federal Law
shall have an opportunity to exercise his right of
Franchise.
AS is well known a constitutional amendment
was proposed by the 1941 Legislature having in 1t
a majority of Republicans. This proposed amend
ment, if adopted by the 1943 Session, will author
ize the passage of a law providing for absentee
voting ''-
Support For The War Effort
Our opponents have charged that the Congress
sional candidates the Republican ticket if elect
ed would obstruct the President in the effort.
Yet, in the same breath, they that the patriot
ism of such candidates cannot be questioned 1t is
difficult to understand this charge when it is cou-
Piled with the admission mentioned. We declare
that there is basis for this statement and that
no proof of it can be found no matter how far back
opponents go into the records of the Republi-
can Congressional candidates in an examination of
their statements and acts with respect to loyalty
to their Country. &c. 7-T
There does seem to be point of division. The
Democratic candidate for membership in the Ma
tional House of Representatives, his statements
are reported by the press, has taken the position
that he will support the President in everything
the President desires In other words, that he will
exercise no independent thought or judgment upon
any proposals, but will support them completely
no matter what they may be if they are advanced
by our President We will support the war effOrt.
We do not wish to do any less nor we do other
wise feeling do about the critical situation
of our Country and desiring above all things that
armed forces prevail in this terrible conflict
members who elected to the high position of
Congressional Representatives of the State should
exercise their judgment and after mature
deliberatton, supported by their experience and
conscience, cast their votes upon the Questions
which affect our Country; war measures they
will give their support in favor of everything that
would seem to advance the Countrys cause. They
can do no less. They desire to do no less. Ger
tanly the trainers of our Government had in mind
three coordinate branches of government each
with its own responsibilities and powers and each
of these departments expected to exercise dis
cretion in the performance of its separate func-
tions. The idea of following an executive without
question and without consideration for the merits
of the position taken was certainly not part of
our plan of government. 3 - -
The idea of the rubber stamp has been consid-
cred in recent editorial of of our County
weekly papers and expresses the sentiments of a
great many of our people, as follows: while we
cannot too strongly recommend support Of the
Presidents war policies for the duration, it seems
the very height of ineficiency the part of
posing as representative of the people to con-
fess he is not capable of doing any thinking what
ever. Yes, and it reflects the intelligence of
citizens of district who will elect man to Con-
gress who admits that he will not attempt to
think while there" No, the rubber stamp idea is
not good idea today Carried to its extreme, there
would be no need for Congress if majority of
the members therein simply followed without
question the views of a Chief Executive matter
what those views might be. 81 -r...
Then, again, are afraid of the effect of the
rubber stamp idea, when conjecture what the
new deal pattern for the future of our Country
may be as judged from the statements of some of
its high placed leaders who still active in the
national administration
Mr. Rexford Guy Tugwell for instance, in
"The Industrial Discipline" is quoted as having
said and here quote the exact words, Not only
labor, group, but also other groups frequently
A vote for Judge Willie