Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1942-03-05
/ Might Be
Wrong
by p. G. Strombera'
IF 1T WE'RE POSSIBLE to

w. ~~-~~~
realization of the real posi-
bility of losing this war and
consequently all the good things
we have known as citizens of
the worlds greatest democracy,
it would be better than ire
mendous military or naval vic
tory, Our people are made up
Of a number of varying groups.
There are those who are certain
that the war is lost and those
who are certain we can't lose;
those who recognize the inmi-
nent danger and those who still
believe we are free by some
sort of Divine right; those who
are doing their utmost to sup
port the war effort and those
who would use the abnormal
conditions to gain selfish adj
vantages; those who find no
word of praise for our leaders
and those who would sacrifice
all rather than offer any crit
cism of officialdoIn.
Of one thing we
BlackOut can. in Maryland,
A take justifiable
Success pride. The test
blackout last Fri
day night in Baltimore City
and the five adjoining counties,
proved that the people are con-
scious Of the need for co-opera-
ton. The time was well adver-
tised andzef shofs aaration but
all lights were out and all traf-
fic stopped. There were few
incidents where any citizen re-
fused to comply with the pro-
mulgated regulations. Civilian
defense officials had an oppor-
tunity of putting into action the
theories they had been taught
and the experience gives them
confidence.
With the German U-boats
just off our shores taking con-
slant toll of oil tankers, we are
warned that there might develop
m acute shortage of fuel oil.
With so large percentage of
homes heated by oil this danger
brings keenly to these home
owners the realistic side of our
being engaged in war. Such sac
rifices as will gradually be i'm
posed will ultimately force upon
all the people an appreciation of
Americas part in this world
struggle. Foodstuffs seem to be
plentiful enough to escape ration
ing, but gradually we will have
added to the "limited sale list"
many items which will be either
unavailable or issued only on
priority order. When we learn
that we can get clothing, sugar,
oil, tires, autos, furniture and
many other items only as per-
mitted by the Government, we
win know what war means.
Severe criticism,
Healthy merely for the sake
Criticism Of finding fault, will
Helpful never do good.
Constructive fault
finding, however, will always
find a receptive audience. The
best Indication of interest is
healthy criticism. The thinking
people generally are willing and
anxious to do their part but
those same people want to feel
that mistakes are the result of
honest effort. THEY WILL
AND SHOULD resent mistakes
resulting from a do-nothing
attitude or from appeasement
Of any group. This war effort
must be made by all the people.
All the people must be made
conscious of the necessity of
government support.
Any group, no matter how i'm
portant or how strong politi-
cally, which deliberately retards
the war effort will be made to
feel the wrath Of the American
public. Labor, especially, has
been and still is guilty Of using
the war emergency as a means
Of securing gains. In condemn
ing strikes for more pay and
short work week a Howard
County farmer said: at gripes
me to think that while these men