Thursday, September 21, 1944
Believe it or not, I have actually received a message in black and white asking me to write an editorial on this political turmoil now boiling.
Well, you know how it is in election years when we all go crazy, and most anything can happen. One election year, we chose for our president Woodrow Wilson; four short years later we had gone so far down grade as to pick W. G. Harding. However, after going from bad to worse – we got Hoover, then a great popular upheaval gave us Franklin D. Roosevelt.
Since then the people have played safe in keeping Roosevelt at the head of our nation without further experimenting with fourth, third and second class raters like Hoover, Langdon and Wilkie.
While the campaign is now merely beginning to take on form, there are signs beginning to show that our great President Roosevelt is still as popular with the common run of people as ever he was. If I read this sign right, it means a great overwhelming of Governor Dewey this fall like the defeat which befell Mr. Wilkie four years ago…
Of course, in this election as in almost every election of my remembrance, democrats are fighting democrats. This is the strength as well as the weakness of our party. It has kept us out of office in many an election, but in the long run such an independence of spirit and voice has well served our country and the cause of democracy generally. Taking with complacency party dictatorship from political bosses and their machines is no way to serve the best public interest and a poor way to attract support of the great mass of independent voters and the really large liberal wing of the opposition party.
What makes the political bosses and their machines in both parties voice such bitterness against Mr. Roosevelt? Why, that is easy. He has stood out and still stands against their selfish and often greedy wants and ambitions. The presidential bee makes every politician crazy.
Mr. Lincoln said one of the symptoms of this mental distress was the aberration that the way to the presidential chair was over the political dead body of the one who occupied it.
That can easily explain a lot of the insanity we see manifested in high places every four years.
After all, principles and not policies; issues and not propaganda should win elections.
The record of Mr. Roosevelt, whether you like him personally or not, is truly great in the stress of the twelve most trying years in our history.
Our Army and Navy Boys
On last Friday, Mr. and Mrs. Lee Kessler, of Clover Lick, received the news through the Red Cross that their son, Lieutenant Earl M. Kessler was alive and well, but a prisoner of war in Germany. He was a navigator in the Air Corps and was reported missing in action over Germany on July 2. It is now known that at least five of the bomber’s crew of ten are alive.
Sgt. Charles W. Gum, of Millpoint, has been cited by his regiment of the 88th Infantry Division and awarded the Combat Infantryman Badge for actual participation in combat with the enemy on the Fifth Army Front in Italy…
Mason Vaughan, son of Mr. and Mrs. D. R. Vaughan, of Hillsboro, was home last week on furlough from the Army. He is in the Infantry, stationed at Camp Gordon, Georgia. He has been in the service two years. His brother, Robert, is in Italy.
George H. Vaughan F-3c with the Navy, is spending his furlough with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Herbert Vaughan. He has seen service in the South Pacific.
Private Robert M. Rose, who is stationed at Fort Belvoir, Alexandria, Virginia, is home on a 15-day furlough with his mother, Mrs. Alta Rose and other relatives.
Mrs. Berl Tacy and little daughter, Helen, spent last week with her parents at Pyles Mountain to be with her brother who has returned from overseas, where he has seen two years’ service.
MILK WEED WEEK
This is milk weed pod picking week. The floss is to be used by the Navy for life preservers. The school children are doing the work and able and willing hands they are, too. Thursday, they are to be turned loose and many a pasture field and commons will be gleaned. The directions are to pull pods when the seeds are brown, not to wait until the pods open.
LETTER
Mrs. Ernest Pyles, of Seebert, received the following letter from her nephew, PFC Arthur A. Cain, who is serving in France:
Dear Aunt,
Well, I know you think I have forgotten you, but I haven’t. I haven’t had much time to write to anybody. I sure have been on the go. I am getting along as good as can be expected at the present time. Hoping you are the same.
Tell Uncle Ernest he should be here and help drink some of the French cider. I sure get lots of it. I believe every house has some. The French people sure are nice to us. They would give you the last thing they have, I believe.
I have been on the front line ever since I came to France. I am in the 30th Division. So, if you hear anything about the 30th Div. you will know where I am.
Love to all,
Arthur
Stuphin-Workman
Miss Della F. Stuphin and Sidney E. Workman were united in marriage at the Marlinton Methodist parsonage Friday, September 15, 1944…
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Chief Petty Officer and Mrs. Harris Alder, Regents Park, London, England, announce the engagement of their eldest daughter Pvt. Joyce A. R. Alder to Cpl. John W. Warren, eldest son of Mr. and Mrs. Warren, of Buckeye.
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Mr. and Mrs. Carl Summerfield, of Cass, have announced the engagement of their daughter, Miss Rhoda, to Pvt. Howard Barb, who is stationed in England.
BIRTHS
Born to Mr. and Mrs. Milburn Sharp, a son. This is the eleventh child in this family, all living.
Born to Mr. and Mrs. John W. Miller, of Spruce Flat, a daughter.
Born to Mr. and Mrs. Robert T. Rider, of Millpoint, a son, named Henry Leeotos.
Born to Mr. and Mrs. Austin Galford, of Marlinton, a daughter.
Born to Mr. and Mrs. Ralph R. Lane, of Seebert, a son, named Berlie Lee.
Born to Mr. and Mrs. Odie L. Gibson, of Slaty Fork, a son.
Born to Mr. and Mrs. James Wilmer Shearer, a son, James Wilmer Shearer, Jr.
Born to Mr. and Mrs. P. T. Fitzwater, of Slaty Fork, a daughter.
Born to Mr. and Mrs. Norman S. Gibson, of Marlinton, a daughter, named Blena Shirley.
Born to Mr. and Mrs. Paul Hollandsworth, South Covington, Virginia, a son.
