Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1943-06-10

"A - ONE TRIES III ABSORB
4 = the important features of
today's developments at home,
in Washington and throughout
the world there is quite natur-
ally some confusion of thinking
and yet, there are some out
standing facts that few over
look, which make a deep inn
preston. Usually, under the
strict regula-
State Owned tions of ration
Autos for ing, infractions
State Use of rules by
higher author
tiles serve to rile us. Such is
the case with the current pub
licity given the case of our
State Comptroller j. Willard
Tawes. Regardless of the local
political animosities in Somer-
set County the fact that Mr..
Tawes' influence is statewide
and that he used State car
in his two thousand mile jaunt
to Georgia places the incident
far beyond local politics. Mr..
Tawes has enjoyed the good
win and popular support of the
people of Maryland. Mary
land has known that Somerset
mot unlike other counties) has
a bitter factional fued. And
Marylanders are tolerant of the
political battles of her counties.
More than that, Marylanders
take pride in the fact that we
have good local political fights.
But when it comes to Statewide
officers, Marylanders feel that
purely, local animosities should
remain within the bounds of
the counties. Mr.. Tawes went
to Georgia for the dual purpose
Y q being present at the grad
uation of his son from an Off
Ger Candidate School and to be
present at the same sons we'd
ding. No parent will deny
that his desire to attend either
of these ceremonies was not
only natural but parental obi
cation. On the other hand no
parent will agree that Mr..
Tawes had any right to make
that trip in a State automobile
nor that the rationing board
acted properly in issuing to Mr..
Tawes the necessary gasoline
coupons for the trip.
Maryland has a rather sound
group of editors of weekly
newspapers most of whom have
= been in their jobs for many
N years. Editor Rives Matthews
who instituted the proceedings
against Comptroller Tawes is a
new man in our State. 1t is
\ not my privi-
Gasoline and lege to know
Pleasure intimately the
Driving political maneu-
verings of the
factions in Somerset County.
That there has existed bitter
feud there for many years is
= known throughout the State.
As a result of Mr.. Matthews
publication of charges against
Mr.. Tawes a warrant has been
issued charging him with GRIM
inal libel. If this charge is
based upon publication of some
matter foreign to the travel
charge we can form no opinion
on it. But if it is based en-
y tirely on publication Of facts
regarding the use of the car to
Georgia then it shows an effort
b the part of the Tawes ma
ckine in Somerset County to
rule locally through intimida-
tidn. And the people Of Mary
Z LAID will soon show distaste.
It seems plainly evident that
MID Tawes is son the spot"
He definitely abused an official
privilege and misused many
gallons of precious gasoline
while thousands of normal peo-
pie are denying themselves
mileage which borders on essen
tial but which would serve to
prick ones conscience.
Again on Tuesday Of this
week Prime Minister Churchill
delivered himself of an Grafton
ghich helps build United Ma
ions morale as nothing else
" Mr.. churchill's eloquence
Ad his courageous efforts to
II will 70 fight and a de-