Evening star., 1944-05-16
Letters to The Star
Montgomery Ward Discussion
Continued by Readers

radio of being unfair in the treatment
of certain news items-at the moment
the Ward case. In regard to such ac-
cusation, may I cite the following amaz-
ing facts?
In the same paper on the front page
was column headed: "CIO Asks WLB
to Enforce Ward Union Contract" A
subheading is Avery Resumes Control"
and then about half the column is de-
voted to quote Of MIR. Averys state
ments on the case, including one that
the President had made a misstatement
Anybody who has ever taken the trou-
BILE to ascertain the facts knows that
maintenance of membership leaves an
employe an absolutely free choice on the
question of joining union.
I noted these half-truths (quotes)
which were front-paged and cut out the
column.
Would you believe it? Turning over
the column I found the back consisted
of column from page two headed:
Congress Will Press Ward Probes De-
last part of the column devoted to the
| Presidents remarks on this same con-
troversy at the press conference But
| no subheading even, no way to know
without reading the article that here
| were the thoughts of the President, his
side of the story. Mention was made of
a memorandum the President read of
chronological account Of the Ward case
but not of the contents thereof.
Does The Star really believe that Mr..
Ayery's views are bigger news than the
Presidents? Or could the President be
right?
KAY WEE.
To the Editor of The Star.
I believe that the Montgomery Ward
affair should be of grave concern to the
public, for it illustrates a tendency on
the part of the administration to govern
by coercion rather than by law Rule by
force is the essence of totalitarianism
Should we fight this principle abroad
and condone it at home2
Evidently the administration believed
it had extended itself too far and re-
leased the company to avoid further ad-
verse public opinion.
This letter would not have been writ
ten had I not opened a New Testament
at the very page where the jailer ad-
dresses these words to the imprisoned
Paul and his companion: THE magis-
trates have sent word that you are to be
| released; now therefore come forth and
go in peace" But Paul said to them:
They have beaten us publicly and with
out trial, although we are Romans, and
have cast us into prison-and now are
they going to put us out secretly? BY no
means, but let them come themselves
and take us out" These words were re-
ported to the magistrates, and on hear
ing that they were Romans they were
alarmed and came and appealed to
them; and taking them out, besought
them to leave the city. (Acts, XVII
Apparently the administration is like
wise afraid of showdown on the real
issues involved. r. I. BENNELL.
Garden City, Ga
Armstrong County Spotlighted
To the Editor Of The Star:
In these days Of party primaries,
county conventions, opinion polls and
the common or garden variety of guesses
as to political trends in the country, it
would be OF particular interest to know
just what is the situation in Armstrong
County, s. Oak. Senator Chan Gurney,
reputed to be tainted with New Dealism,
has been renominated in the Statewide
Republican primary and Gov. Dewey
has led all conlers in the presidential
preference contest. These stravs in
the political wind seem to be blown
in opposite directions and the observer
Is left confused. It is believed that the
sentiment In Armstrong County might
serve as more accurate and reliable
indication Of the political trend in the
State. But no information has come TO
the outside world as to the results of
the primary in Armstrong County.
Could it be that Byron Price has sup
pressed this important item? Isn't a
congressional investigation in order in
this connection?
For, be 1t known, Armstrong County,
S. OAK, according to the Census Bu-
reau's special population report, Series
Pa, No. 3, possessed on November l,
1943, after the great wartime exodus of
the preceding three years, the smallest
number Of civilians among all of the
3,083 counties in the United States.
1t would be unkind, if not unpatriotic,
to be critical of this unfortunate county
in this unenviable distinction, and it
would be more unseemly to treat with
levity, as Is frequently done in such
matters, the fact that the civilian popu-
lation OF the county has decreased
approximately 80 per cent during the
period mentioned. On the contrary, in
the absence of definite information, one
should assume that the county has done
more than its share in contributing from
It's sturdy citizenry to the armed forces,
to defense industries in other counties
and States, and to the manning of the
buZzing bureaus of Pentagon patriots.
Beyond doubt the war effort of the
country owes much, If the quip may be
permitted, to the strong arm OF Arm
strong County, s. Oak.
Nevertheless and notwithstanding, as
we'll as however and but, it would seem
that the country is entitled to know. as
nearly as 1t can be estimated the politi-
cal sentiments, both local and national.
of the "a civilians who have left Arm
strong County since the census of 1910
as well as Of the nine men, women and