Newspapers / The Journal-Patriot (North Wilkesboro, … / May 25, 1944, edition 1 / Page 5
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:-3 f ANOTHER “LITTLE AHD INCONSEQIENTIAL” LEOLOHHAIRE WRITES AM OPEM LETTTER TO MAJOR CHERRY Rocky Mount, N. G. May 16th, 1944 Mr. Gregg Cherry, Candidate, Sir Walter Hotel, Raleigh, N. C. Dear Sir: record—^not even publicizing the fact that you changed your vote and voted with the majority (after you saw that you were beaten) or that you shook hands with Valentine after the voting was over, can explain away the contempt and indignation which your fellow legion naires felt as a result of the insult you offered to the manhood, to the self-respect, to the patriotism, of a gal lant Private in the first World War. I read Marvin Revel’s “open letter” addressed to you and published in the News & Observer on May 9th. I attended the Convention referred to by Mr.. Revel, and I recall distinctly that after Valentine had present ed his resolution, the purpose of which was to eliminate your vote as a Past Commander unless you were al^ a delegate, you not only said everything Marvin Revel at tributes to you, but in the course of your speech you also said: “Let ME talk. Who is this Itimous Valentine? Noth ing But a PRIVATE—Raised down here in Nash Coun ty—Most of you don’t even know where Nash COUN TY Is, let alone Spring Hope—a one - horse lawyer from a country town”. Probably no two people will agree precisely upon the words you used, but if it be granted for the sake of the argument that none of the words attributed to you were actually spoken by you (you have not denied them), how can you explain the effect of the words you did use, the impression you made, and the deep feeling of inmg- nation you stirred up in the hearts of your fellow legion naires? “Nothing hut a Private!” Frankly, Mr. Cherry, whom do you think fights these bloody wars anyway? When “D-Day” comes, whose names will be first, second, third, fourth, etc., on the list of casualties? Will it be Priva,tes, or gallant and brave as they may be, only Majors, Colonels and Generals? What kind of a Governor do you think you would make for the returning Privates, their fathers, mothers, wives and sweethearts? If you lacked respect for him as a soldier, how could you respect him, or be willing to serve him, when he comes back here as an ordinary citizen? Cries of “Throw him out!” were directed against you from all over the house; others asked, “Who ever heard of you before YOU became Conunander?” One re porter covering the Convention wrote in his paper that your own Post, Gastonia, handed you a “slap in the face” by voting for the amendment and against you by 19 to 11. No amount of denial on your part—no printing of the I am a Legionnaire, Mr. Cherry, a Past Commander of my Post. But this is not a quarrel between us legion naires, nor is it simply a protest against your dragging the Legion into politics against the plain provisions of our Constitution, which you swore to uphold. These are involved, to be sure, but it goes far beyond that! In >fact. Your conduct on the occasion referred to indicates your fundamental thinking, your basic attitude toward those who come from the country and small country towns; toward those you consider “little and inconse quential”, whether they be Privates, ordinary citizens, or mere members of the Legislature while you were Speaker. It goes to the heart of the question of whether a man like you ought to be Governor of our State at a time when our men and women—so many of them Privates —may be returning, God willing, to their businesses, their homes to take up again the broken thread of their lives. PEOPLE ARE READING AND THINKING “NOW- A-DAYS”. BELOW IS AN EXCERPT FROM A LETTER FROM ONE OF THE MANY MOTHERS WHO HAVE WRITTEN LEGIONNAIRE REVEL; “I am glad about your open letter to Mr. Cherry in yesterday’s News & Observer, and I am sure that thous ands who read it will be grateful to you for your timely warning. It gives me the creeps^ to tlunk what mfght have happened if you had not written it. Folks every where must have stopped to do some serious thi^mg as a result of your letter. I proudly clipped it and sent it to my son in New Guinea. He will show it to his fel low officers and all the North Carolina men he meets . It goes to the heart of the question of whether a man like you ought to be Governor of a State that has so many of us “little and inconsequential” people in it. With the scads of money at your command I have been informed that you have canvassed North Carolina thoroughly for the absentee votes of oilr men and wom en in the armed forces; you have had letters and blanks printed and mailed at the same time indicating that you were instrumental in providing them with a ballot, and asking that they vote for you. I believe, however, there are enough of us “little and inconsequential” citizens; enough of us Legionnaires, also fathers, mothers, sis ters and wives of the members of our armed forces now fighting alongside of Valentine, to see that we do not lose in North Carolina what they are fighting and dying for over there. Yours truly. ROBERT DENNIS WILKES IS FOR RALPH McDONALD! VOTE FOR HIM FOR OUR NEXT GOVERNOR ON PRIMARY DAY, SATURDAY, MAY 27 (This advertisement paid for by Legionnaires and democratic citizens of the “inconpequential class” but nevertheless those interested in electing a man Governor who will reflect credit tn our State and its youth).
The Journal-Patriot (North Wilkesboro, N.C.)
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May 25, 1944, edition 1
5
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