Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1954-11-04

eQltlOn OF the SATURDAY Evening
Post calls an article about tn,
League of Women Voters. =.
The title was taken from al
interview with the National Pres
ident, Mrs. John G.. Lee. Mrs. Lei
said she sometimes thinks of thu
league as The League of Fright
ened Women. Not hysterica
fright, it is the fright that mus
seize any intelligent and relative
ly informed person who look;
realistically at the mid.twentieth
century world and recognizes its
alternative imperativeS.
1t should be and in the case OF
league members it is, a construc
tive fear which makes them only
more intrepid in their determined
and dedicated fight to win for
their children, if not for them
selves, less grim and a more
gracious world in which to live
In view of the wide publicity
of the article several Montgom
cry County League Board mem
bers were asked the following
question: Are you frightened?"
Here are their answers:
Mrs. Thomas Smith, President:
frightened? yes, mostly of citi
zen apathy. Of course even if we
are aware of the furtive chican
cry of the communists, fascists
and their like are engaged in
and the potentials of the hydro
gen bomb, we in the league know
the Vigor of the democratic pro.
cess once it really gets going.
Once you face the facts then you
can start to do something about
them. That is why we are for.
ever trying to bring issues out
into the open. If every citizen
refuses to countenance political
smog and put real effort into
understanding and practicing de-
mocracy instead of just talking
it, why who would be scared,
them"
Mrs. Howard Koss, State Re.
sources Chairman: mo, don't
think any of us are really fright.
ened. We don't feel particularly
discouraged even though we feel
there is work to be done and
the way in which the league
works is effective. Getting the
facts and on the basis of these
facts trying to get the commun-
ity to understand the issues in
any given situation.
Mrs. Irving Lewis, Chairman
of the Committee on Local Gov.
eminent: "Yes, I am frightened
about the general apathy on the
part of voters in this county.
think everyone should realize that
our next county council will take
action on many serious issues
which will affect the future of
Montgomery County. They will
determine the level and equality
of county services including edu-
cation because they hold the
purse strings. Through their pow
ers in coming and planning, they
will determine the character and
appearance of the community. In
the heat of the current campaign
the facts are not being explored
as thoroughly and as frankly as
they might be. That is why we
hope that voters will stop and
think about the candidates and
will elect council which will
truly represent them"
Mrs. John T. Fishburn, First
Vice President: mo, I'm not
frightened. The only thing that
might concern me is loss of our
civil liberties. Like electricity and
the telephone before the visit
from Hazel, our civil liberties
have been taken for granted as
dependable and ever present con
veniences. The current interna
tional turbulence has made us
aware of the need for thorough
understanding and appraisal OF
our liberties and how they came
about. Armed with this know
ledge, / feel sure that the aver
age American will not readily re
linquish his individual liberties.
Mrs. Albert Hilberg, Voters
Service Chairman: yes, it i;
rather frightening to realize how
many voters approach election
day with a very scanty know
ledge of the candidates and the
election issues. 1t is a bit fright
ening to realize that approximate
ly only one.third of the registered
voters voted in the recent primar
les in Montgomery County, anC
only comparative handful arr
active in party politics.
1t is these fears about either
apathy that primarily concern!
the League. Much of their worl