The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1902-02-18

what hat amounts to with schemers
and plotters. He wants the methods
In the south investigated as to cleo.
tons. Why. not extend the scrutiny
and inquire also into elections In his
part OF the Empirical around the
north
The New York Tribune Almanac Is
an useful publication. The Tribune Is
republican but 1t publishes some illu-
minating election facts in the Almanac.
The New York Evening Post has been
studying its election records in the past.
We nave the book. but avail ourselves
OF some of the figures reproduced in the
paper named.
The cry against southern elections
has been heard often that the votes
polled In some congressional districts
were shamefully small. and Of course.
intimidation and cheating were drawn
from 1t Ito point a moral and adorn a
tale" II YOU listen at these parts
ans there was never d small vote given
In all the north. in all the wears. but
the rascality Is confined totally to the
south. That is not true. but either
ignorantly or maliciously false. 1t ap-
pears that Crumpacker is no latterday
enthusiast and enemy OF the south. but
through the years has been pushing his
ideas and measures. He says now he
only wishes a committee to investigate.
Let them extend their inquiries and re-
searches northwarI too.
The Evening Fusl tells Crump. that
an investigation Of the Tribune Alman-
quiry he is so anxious to have made.
The fact is as given BY the New York
paper, hat votes on election day
anywhere are large or small according
to the interest which mas been felt in
the campaign. Mr.. Crumpacker might
begin his examination of the Tribune
Almanac by comparing the poll in his
own district with that IN the district of
Mr.. Moody, a Massachusetts, colleague,
who is also much stirred UP over the
small vote in the south. Under the APP
pointment based pom the census Of 1890
Mr.. Crumpacker's district had only
l5G, 149 people, while Mr.. Moody's had
169.41s: yet the vote in the eastern dis
trict at the congressional election OF
1900 aggregated but Is. S65. while the
total in the Western che was SO. 22O-
almost twice as great"
Now Crump. please Just tell how did
all that happen. What caused voters to
remain from the polls? Another glar-
ing instance of stay-a-waYs was in
Maine last September. Bouetelle was
| dead and an election was held to elect
his successor. The Vote in 1900 was
I %. 1874 for the elected r2pub.i-an-a small
vote truly for n district. But be-
hold: in the election Fer a successor in
1901. the elected republican received but
a contemplate 1875. Is something rot
ten in that district in Maine? If so. out
or a full vote in the south is conclusive
evidence that there IS oppression. bull
doing, a freeze-out. how about it in
the frozen region in Maine? How about
Massachusetts also? There are many
instances that speak that can be cited.
Small voting is not confined to the
southland. In the south it is known
that the whites often neglect to vote.
In the Augusta (Ga.) district. to illus
trate. in 1890 it CAV but 3,405 votes for
representative. In 1924. the vote was
90. 1872. In 1896. it dropped to 17.224- In
1898. there were but $3.50 votes Dolled.
This is a ''black district" as it is called.
There a been no change in the cleo
ton law and no new conditions or
limitations. Behold the vote. Like
causes produce like results everywhere.
The Evening Post gives CrumDacker
a hint in this wise:
M Crunpacker might we'll supple
ment his studies of the Tribune Al
manac with some inqulry-if he needs
to make anv-into the character of the
republican managers III such states as
Mississippi, men so d~isreputable that
President Roosevelt is appointing DEM
ocrats to federal Offices in many cases.
because he cannot find any decent men
of his own party. It IS plain that what
is most needed to secure large votes in
southern states Is the presentation of
respectable candidates by the oppoSi-
ton to the dominant democracy. int
we can have that the vote might as
we'll remain small"
You need not go far or search long
for an explanation of small votes being
cast. When it occurs there is no in
terest in the election n this may
| arise in many ways-because Of there
being but one candidate. and the oppo-
sition not voting; Or because the result
is certain and the minority refuses or
neglects to push a fight. Men require
| excitement and Indictment to be active
| in elections and go to the polls.