Evening star., 1949-04-16
Letters to The Star
More To Citizens Association Membership
Than Merely Paving Dues

More To Citizens Association Membership
Than Merely Paving Dues
| To II. Eestor os Tns star
The number OF memberships tn citizens
associations is limited only by the time
which volunteers have 10 devote 70 solicit
| ing. for almost every one knowing the ptE-
pose Of the groups. is anxious 10 show his
interest in his own local area and IN the
District as q whole.
Admittedly many who pay their dues
feel that they thus have shown themselves 10
be civic-minded and do nothing more 70
promote the purposes Of their associations
Not that they are not well-intentioned: they
simply have other interests in the home.
the church the place Of employment. the
union. the parent-teaeher organization, etc.
until there is limit to the number OF
things In which they can take q really
active part and they stop short Of attend
ing citizens association meetings secure In
the knowledge that those who do attend
will act for the neighborhood's good.
Unfortunately this passive attitude oc
casionally permits some unscrupulous per
son to obtain Office in order to use the pres
tige of that office for his own personal
aggrandizement. TO add Importance TO his
individual opinions or to gain otherwise
by his position In the end. his nefghooFs
usually take time out TO clean house, but
not always before there has been unpleasant
publicity casting reflection upon all.
Newspapers naturally report the "un-
usual so it is up to members OF any kind
of organization TO see that Its activities are
not detrimental TO its avowed aims. 1t is
to be hoped that few events reported re-
Gently will awaken every one to the neces-
sity of taking a more active part in his citi-
zens association so that there may be no
discredit cast on the name OF the group
which represents him.
Before voting members should ascertain
the past record Of those who would repre-
sent them. Have the candidates by their
work for the community shown themselves
to be honestly interested? Have they given
freely of their time or have they talked much
and done little? Have they always con-
sidered both sides of controversial matters
or have they tried to force acceptance OF
their own opinions? Do they have the real
respect of their neighbors? BY their un-
selfishness they may be Judged. and votes
should be cast accordingly.
AN ACTIVE MEMBER.
Doctors and Druggists Advised
To Lower Costs of Service
To the Editor OF The Star
The physicians are putting up valiant
fight against "socialized medicine" / don't
blame them. They are right. The principle
of that movement is but definitely com
munistic It increases bureaucracy. But l
believe physicians and pharmacists are help
ing defeat themselves in their night. it
generally is known (and allowed for in most
other businesses that the spending spree
passed with the passing Of almost universal
employment and fat pay envelopes. Many
of the former free-spenders now are listen
ing to the raucous sound Of scraping the
bottom of the barrel and they are getting
scared Being familiar with the gravy train.
they are liable to get into a panic and nag
that train. They might even get excited
enough to build fire on the tracks to insure
that trains stopping for them. Few people
reason coolly or reach wise decisions when
threatened with drying-up Of the fountains
of personal finance. The commies are chort-
ling over these feelings OF unease. for they
see in those feelings q prospect OF large re-
cruiting from the former lavish throwers-
about Of cash
The men of medicine doctors and drug
gists) have taken advantage (compulsorily.
no doubt of the spending proclivities. to
keep their own incomes above the price OF
butter and eggs and girdles But they
should recognize the fact that prices have
been as high to the patients as to the doc
tors; and should temper their charges to
changed conditions. Arguing IN that same
line, as q palliative for lowered charges. are
the decreases In living costs-lowered for
doctors and druggists as much as for their
patients -.
Think 1t over, pill-rollers, and get hep to
yourselves and your patients. You are going
to notice sharp slowing up In the payment
of your bills. You are partly to blame for
that. slight modification of such bills
would work wonders. A notice reading "l0T
discount If paid within one month" would
do the work IMPATIENT PATIENT.
Differs With Mr.. Lawrence on Appeal
To Reason and the Moral Law
To the Editor Of Ths Star:
As a reader OF the column written by
David Lawrence. / was amazed at his ar
ticle, dated April 4, headed Churchill Seen
Putting Too Much Emphasis on Armed
Might in Talk"
Mr.. Lawrence states Mr.. Churchill as
sumes military might Is the sole answer
to the friction between the East and the
West and that II war Is to be averted there
must come collapse from within Russia
on the death of Stain or an acceptance
by Russia OF the weight Of the powers bal
anced against her. It seems to this writer
that the United States policy has deviated
very little from the thesis Mr.. Lawrence
reads In Mr.. Churchill's speech.
Mr.. Lawrence lays stress on an appeal
to reason and the moral law to drive
wedge between the RUSSIAN government anh
the peoples of Russia and the satellite
states. question whether Mr.. Lawrence
can mention an instance in history where
a people have believed the propaganda OF
foreign power in preference to the prop
aganda dished up by Its own rulers. Mr..
Lawrence must realize that our only contact
with the peoples Of Russia and the satellite
states is by short wave radio.
When Mr.. Lawrence speaks Of expound-
ing with spiritual courage and philosophy
of reason and the moral law" he speaks
MARKHAM philosophy. Such utterances are
strangely reminiscent Of another idealistie
dream of the past BY this. / refer TO the
Enrd peara Shin nf World War I