The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1944-04-18
Tomorrow's Primary and the Vote


The Democratic senatorial primary
contest within the 10th district scheduled
for tomorrow is a matter in which the
people of that district should take an in
tereSt. AS members of community the
Democratic electors there owe it to the
remainder of the city to cast vote Who
ever is elected, if again successful in the
fall election, will not merely represent
the 10th in the legislature but will like
wise symbolic Waterbury and its people.
The matter of casting vote, like the
majority of the free things with which
we have been born with or educated to
here in America has often times seemed
to many a cursory and matter-ot-tact
privilege. In many instances we nave
failed to think of it as a privilege.
In the latter light, therefore, as weighed
against the tremendous problems of this
war and the weight, sorrow and burdens
the latter has brought to each of us the
casting of vote may seem even more UNI
important now than ever before. This
should not be the case. Now in these
times of crisis the casting OF vote is a
responsibility. This despite the time con-
Stunning, often exhausting duties placed
upon us by our own individual share OF
the everyday war effort. This despite
the fact that our long-houred, high pres
sure war jobs and the worry about loved
ones across, tend to influence us in cast
ing aside, as superfluouS, all matters
which do not seem to bear directly upon
such wartime duties.
Yet privilege is a responsibility; and
a responsibility takes on full growth when
we are willing to assume it at time
when a crisis already has us burdened
and heavy with cares. That is the test
of the responsibility as to its worth ana
the test of the individual. That is when
we learn the value of thing and certain
ly the value of ourselves.
Perhaps, as has been said, many OF the
men now overseas are unconscious OF the
fact that they are fighting for the privil-
eye and responsibility of casting vote.
True in the final analysis it is self-pre-
Servation that is foremost with them. Yet
if such an instinct hadn't been provided
within each human there could never
have been possible such things as liberty
and it's attribute of the American vote.
America was founded upon instincts Tor
liberty whether or not the first pioneers
realized it. And then, as now, while there
were those who fought, there were those
who at home made preparations for mold
ing final victories into the moral laws
and benefits of this nation-among which
are included the right to vote. Then, as
now also, those people could have as
suned merely the crisis of their time and
cast aside as botherSome and Superflu-
GUS those same moral issues; but they
knew that without such things, victories
would be hollow and empty and the time
would be too late.
Men of this city and the nation have
left these shores to fight for the right
to vote. We at home have Shouldered the
responsibilities of the home-front share
of the war; We carry the lesser burden.
Therefore it is our duty to maintain and
preserve those privileges for which these
men are assuming the greater burden.
The American vote is not just polltlcal
in essence. The vote is the peoples voice
and strength and is weapon to defend
liberty Just as certain as is rifle in the
hands of the combat soldier. Now, IN
these days of war, that weapon more
than ever before should be primed. To
permit it to remain unused is to permit
a decay of freedom.
Each Democratic registered voter in the
10th district on Wednesday, April IS,
should march into the polls fortified with
that weapon; the same weapon for which
the peoples of oppressed nations have
died, not to preserve, so much as to strive
to acquire, and which we have been SO
privileged to possess as part OF our her.
itage as Americans.