Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1942-07-16
| Might Be WrOng--BUT
NV II. G. STROMRERG.


MEASUREMENT Of patrio-
Az tism cannot be made. It is
akin to love and sentiment and
ambition of the mind, heart and
spirit. Comparison can be
made, however, which often give
US an entirely new and different
impression of individuals and
groups. Particularly is this
true of public men. Not neces-
sarily public officials but men
who, because of their positions,
are constantly in the public
view. History shows that men,
unknown prior to
UnknOwns a national emer-
Emerge gency, have emery
As Heroes ed national heroes
and patriots. His
tory also shows many incidents
where men have failed utterly
to measure up to the stature
naturally expected of them.
The present national emer-
gency will stake the measure"
of many men for posterity. Big
men of pre-war days will be
little men of history and little
men of history and little men of
1871 and 1912 will stand
among Americas "great."
We quarrel with and criticize
members of. Congress and other
public officials. Yet, by our
own indifference, we permit the
same old systems of selecting
public men 60 unchallenged.
Unless the men heading the
destinies of political organiza-
lions are themselves sufficiently
imbued with patriotic fervor
there will be no marked inn
provement in the type of men
sent to our legislative councils.
Some political leaders (unfor-
tunately there are too few of
them) sidetrack practical" poll
tics in recognition of the need
for securing the best men OBJ
tainable to study, debate and
vote on matters vital to the
national welfare and conse-
quently to the welfare of the
men and women to whom they
look for support. This type of
leader will insure his future
position. Woe to
The the leaders, how
Sunpapers ever, who fail to
Say properly interpret
the public's atti-
tudes and desires. There's moth
ing quite so unpredictable and
merciless as an irate electorate.
In its issue Of July IA, The
Baltimore Sun carried an edi-
torial entitled "For a Better
Legislature" which should be
read by all Marylanders inter
ested in public affairs. I quote
a small part Of the editorial as
follows:
"Those who have followed
public affairs in Maryland this
last generation have witnessed
strange development. Adj
ministration in the executive de-
partments has improved great
ly, while the quality of men and
work in the legislative depart
ments has declined in a degree
that may almost be called dis
astrous. 1t is necessary to good
government that legislative bod
les have the power of trench
ant criticism in dealing with
the use by the executives of
authority delegated to them.
Everyone knows the Assem-
bly, at, Annapolis makes a dis
NAL spectacle of itself in near
ly every session. And the plain
truth for Baltimoreans to con-
slider is that the worst faults
and the most inexcusable weak
nesses at Annapolis often APP
pear in the city delegation.
"Mr. William Curran, who is
part of the time a practical
politician and part of the time
a penetrating student of govern
ment called the
Nominate other day for the
Men of nomination of good
Distinction men. He spoke of
the need of wisdom
in government after the war is
over, If we are to reestablish
our political and economic sys-
TENS on sound basis. This need
will appear not only in Wash