Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1942-11-05
| Might Be WrOng--BUT
BY p. G. STROMBERG-

nESPITE THE FACT that the
- general election held on
Tuesday, November 8, was one
of great Importance to the coun-
try as whole returns show that
a great percentage of voters
didn't trouble themselves to go
to the polls. Whether it was be-
cause they are too occupied with
their work or just too Indifferent
TO pay attention to their obliga-
ton is a question which can be
answered only by those who fail
ed to vote. It seems
Too MANY inconceivable that
Fail this great body of
To Vote American p eople
have no interest in
an election. All of them have
brothers, fathers, sons or friends
in the service either fighting or
preparing to fight to PRESERVE
THE VERY PRIVILE G E
WHICH THEY DECLINED TO
EXERCISE. Some of the finest
of our American men are fight
ing, suffering, sacrificing and
even dying that the democratic
right of voting be preserved. I'm
less they can feel that the pur-
pose for which they pledge life
itself is worthwhile to the folks
at home they will have made
their effort in vain.
= No matter what excuse might
e offered it is not an acceptable
lie unless through unavoidable
absence or illness. The privilege
Of voting is also an obligation.
Democratic institutions are pre-
dicated upon certain obligations
owed by the citizen to the state.
!. 1t is and must be upon basis.
Of this kind that our great de-
mocracy will be rehabilitated
during the future while we are
adjusting the many problems of
a peacetime existence. There
must be more than the right to
exercise ones franchise. The
right must ultimately imply the
obligation. And the obligation
must be made mandatory else
our democracy will fall of it's
own weight. Democracy, if one
will take the trouble to study
/ the meaning, means the will of
the people TO gov
Might ern themselves by
Become majority vote. And
Mandatory when the people
fail to vote, a de-
mocracy becomes a majority of a
minority. This is dangerous and
must be dealt with accordingly.
And while on the subject of
Gliding our readers / desire to
call our farmers attention 10 a
fact which might be harsh but
is only too true in many in
stances. Because of the short
age of farm labor a number of
farmers are throwing up the
sponge and selling out. This at
time when the country needs
every ounce of production pos
sible. Some of the men selling
out contend that the ceiling on
prices prevents them from MAX
ing the amount of money to
which they feel justly entitled.
Because they cannot get all the
help they feel they need they
sell out. Why? If they have
asked themselves that question
they will get an honest answer.
That answer can only be self
ish one. In either case the farm
er who gives up takes into con-
sideration only his own welfare
and not the contribution his life's
work makes to the general well
fare. He has failed to measure
the Importance Of his work and
production to the problem the
country faces. He has failed to
recognize that when he sells his
herd of dairy cattle 30 the butch
er he is guilty of contributing to
= 1913 and 1914 shortage of
liry products. Perhaps, to keep
will have to work
1er. But don't most
to endure some