I have just come back from voting and have a complaint against whoever would be responsible for the voting conditions in the First Ward of Connellsville. I had to drive around trying to find the place in which to vote and was appalled at having to do that in the first place, and then upon locating the area, was told no one was notified until last night that the place was changed. I think as voters, and our votes do count, we should not have to go looking for the place to vote. No place else in this town has the problems that First Ward voters have. It’s a disgrace that we as citizens, having the right to vote, cannot exercise our right. If the Fayette County Board of Elections doesn’t care enough to change some of these conditions, then I feel the people have the right to go higher with their complaints. Maybe most people don’t know what is going on and it’s time they do. I have approached many of the candidates and told them about this condition. When I approached Tom Duncan, he had already notified the paper, but he didn’t find out till the night before and actually that was too late to make any changes. The other candidates were also appalled when I told them what was going on. An election can be won or lost by one vote and that one vote could be because the people in the First Ward didn’t know where to vote. Is this another case like in Florida• Come on people, most of us have had family fighting for freedom, don’t we want to exercise our right to vote that many have died to defend??? We need to take a stand and get things back to voting privileges where basically the PLACE to vote can be found. Shirley Welsh, First Ward voter, Connellsville, e-mail Whose infamy was it anyway? Dear Editor: Several television programs recently have recalled the horrible consequences that befell the military in the Pacific during the 1930s and 1940s without telling the truth of the betrayal by our civilian and military leaders in Washington, D.C. The status of the military in the first two terms under President Roosevelt were disastrous as Gen. Douglas MacArthur pleaded for funds to build an Army and Navy. Navy Secretary Swanson pooh-poohed the idea that the Japanese would be a problem – ‘We can lick them any weekend!’ he proclaimed. The small number in the service at that time had to use broomsticks instead of real rifles for training. The military budget was cut annually. Without any military support, President Roosevelt boldly challenged Japan’s advance into China, Manchuria and Mongolia. The president cut off trade with Japan in 1941, including oil which threatened exhaustion of all such supplies by the end of the year. Japan decided then to attack the U.S. either in Alaska or Hawaii. The worst scenario that is not explained by historians is the fact that our military had broken the Japanese diplomatic codes for more than a year before Pearl Harbor. Roosevelt and his inner circle of military officials had decoding machines operating in several places in Washington, D.C. They were fully aware of exactly what were the Japanese daily war plans. Roosevelt insisted that the ‘Japanese be allowed Ôto fire the first shot’ so that the American people would rise up in horror and support the country’s entry into a war with Japan.’ At no time did Roosevelt nor his inner circle advise the Pacific commanders what they knew about the on-coming attack upon Pearl Harbor. Nor was there a decoding machine set up in Pearl Harbor or the Philippines so that the Pacific commanders would be aware of what was about to happen to them as quickly as Washington knew. They remained as ‘sitting ducks.’ Yet, when it was over, commanders and their staff were subject to court martial and all forms of humiliation, as if it were their fault that they were surprised by the actions of the Japanese. Not only did we lose greatly in Hawaii, but MacArthur lost his Air Force to the Japanese attack the next day. The military didn’t dare court martial him – he knew why he was abandoned on Corregidor and Bataan. President Roosevelt had directed all surplus war supplies to Stalin’s armies in Europe, leaving MacArthur to fend for himself. The national disgrace has yet to be admitted by Washington’s inner circle, led by President Roosevelt, Gen. George Marshall and hundreds of naval staff that oversaw the decoding of all the messages emanating out of Tokyo 24 hours a day. Conveniently, the military officials and President Roosevelt left Washington on the fateful weekend. Marshall remained in his office until an hour before the Japanese were to strike Pearl Harbor…then he was ‘out of town.’ Not one memo; not even a phone call to alert our people! America responded as President Roosevelt knew they would and he had the temerity to declare it as a ‘day of infamy’ without explaining whose infamy it actually was. Al Hopfer, Greensburg Save the old railroad station Dear Editor: My wife and I are in total agreement with the development of 5 Corners on the West Side. The only question we have: What will become of the old railroad station• Will it go the way of the one on Water Street or will it be saved by the Historical Society• We thought it would be a good tourist attraction/center and or museum. Tom and Laurie Cook, Connellsville, e-mail

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