Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-09-01
GOING HOME TO VOTE
Importance in Critical Contest of the Clerk
Vote.
Efforts TO Get the Non-Residenf
Voters to Go Home and Cnst
Their Ballots.

The votes cast by those employed in the
various executive department at Washing
| Ten VIII TINS year be reduced TO a minimum
| ihefe VIII not be, as in former years, a
| great exodus OF patriotic citizens who re-
| gard their homes here as Temporary and
| sun retain the right TO register and deposit
| their ballots in the several states from
| which they we're originally appointed to Of
hce. Focr years ago, when Mr. Cleveland
| defeated Mr.. Harrison for reelection, 1900
nen employed in the government service
| made two round trips to their respective
| legal residences-one for the purpose of
| registration and the other TO vote. The
| highest estimate places the number of those
| Who VIII this year participate TO that ex-
| tent in politics at 100. The clerks them
| selves, and TIE various campaign commit
| tees charged with the responsibility OF maxi
| ing sure that the voting population OF the
| District perform this duty of citizenship
| are alike responsible for this stay-at-hone
| policy. he clerks feel that they are now
| better protected 10y the civil service than
| ever before in governmental history and
| with ordinary good behavior are practically
| secure in their positions without reference
| to what changes in administration may be
| made.
| Prefer Safety.
| With this protection. they do not feel
| called upon TO imperil their comparative
| security 10y doing anything that might az
| ferwarc be construed as offensive rarticira-
ton in politics and become a matter of rec
| ord 10 be used TO their detrimcHt in ;h..
event they affiliate with the unsuccessful
| party. They have nothing 10 gain 10y voting
and nothing to lose 10y adhcring to tn.
! strict letter of the law that gives them l,I-
| petuity in Office. This feeling is strength
ened by the plank Incorporated in the q, M
ccrauc Platform adopted a, Chicago do
| caring against life tenure in Office. AID
| hence IL is considered the part OF Wisdom
| not to invite dsmissals.
| In addition, the clerks do not feel able his
| year to expend money in transportation aud
| other necessary travelling OUTLAWS They
| have Teen affected by the hard times in
| common with other classes. They have
! been seized with a spasm OF economy. and
| the unsettled outlook for the future Is caus-
| ing Them II hold fast to funds in hand
rather than hazard finding revenue in the
| bush. For this reason government employ
| es who have no direct rersoaal interest In
| the elections this fall viii not spend money.
lose time and jeopardize their own futura
| prospects by going home TO vote. Many
| of them would not make the journey and
| deposit their ballots even We're all their ex-
| penses paid. for fear that the action might
hereafter be construed to their detrment.
| Lack Of Funds.
| The campaign committees do net this
| year take the same interest in the matter
| as heretofore. None of then is troubled
| WIN a great SURPLUS OF lullus anu lntGe
| seems to be a growing disnclination TO
| waste any portion of their revenues on
| what must at the best prove an uncertain
| ty. The diversity of sentiment on the finan-
| oial question, and the great secrecy main
| tanned, renders X impossible to poll the de-
partments with approximate accIrlcy. The
clerks do not desire to invite antagcnsm
| by proclaiming their views from the house
| tops and the committees do not propose 10
take any chances paying a mans ex-
| penses TO his home and return for the pos
sible purpose Of enabling him TO vote
| against the candidate in whose interest the
| money is expended.
Since the last presidential election the
| Australian ballot system has been intro
Guced in states where II did not prevail at
| that time, while in others additional pre-
| cautions have been taken which guard AMI
| protect a voter in casting a ballot without
lis political preferments becoming known
| to any enc other than himself II is this ia =
| which has and will discourage the commit
| tees in assisting" voters, although the
practice will. of course, not be entirely dis
| continued but the voter will have to give
| an unusually good guarantee that he will
vote TO the advantage of the party supply
| ing him with transportation. The silver
| committee has announced its intention of
| having nothing TO do with sending depart
| ment clerks home to vote because of the
| combined influence exerted by the civil
service and the Australian ballot system.
Looking After Voters.
A rumber of local political organiza atoms
Il
ter under consideration and began per-
fecting arrange ments to see that a large
percentage Of those entitled to vote do So
as was the course pursued four years ago.
but the result has thus far been surprising.
! But comparatively small numoer of gov
| eminent employees have expressed will
| irgness to go under any circumstances, pre-
ferring to occupy a position of neutrality
| A prominent gold standard club here hell
| a meeting to raise funds to he expended
,,,aA h..
| entire subscriptions up 10 this time
| said to he less than $500 which would he
| but a drop in the bucket for the purpose
| intended. TIL friends of sound money do
| not feel constrained to furnish funds for
the possible benefit of those who favor free
| silver. There is no longer any method by
| which either Of the political parties can
he sure of their supporters when ii comes
| to the actual depositing of ballots.
Clerk Vote Important.
| The departmental vote here has IN times
| past been of material Importance in presi-
Genital elections. Twelve years ago when
Mr.. Cleveland secured the presidency by
carrying the state of New York with a
plurality of less than thousand the
governmental employees accredited to that
state Nigh. nave been able to change the
whole subsequent history of administrative
affairs. Both parties feel that every vote
is needed in such states as Indiana, ll-
nos, Michigan and Missouri. and each viii
endeaNor 10 select all those who can be
der ended upon 10 deposit the right kind OF
ballots and See that they go home But no
efforts will he made in cases where there
is the slightest uncertainty as each
would rather lose vote than run the
risk OF making Two for its opponents.
| 1t is estimated that Of the 35,rn en-
ployes engaged in the various executive
departments here about half of them retain
their citizenship in the states from whence
they Were appointed. And of those legally
| entitled TO vote something like hall voted
four wears ego. The estimate of 100 voters
| for the present year shows a remarkable
| falling off and serves to illustrate the ra-
| pidity with which politics is being elmi
| mated from the government service.
| Assessment Extended.