The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-04-05
VOTERS VINO DON'T CARE.
Experience Indicates That the Referenduu
Project Lacks Popular support.

When the, present Constitution Of
New York was submitted TO the voters in
1894, I,275,OOO electors took part In the
contest for Governor. OF these only
73S, 900 were recorded one way or the other
on the proposed new Constitution, and
$50 900. considerably more than one-third
OF the whole number. did not AXE the
trouble to vote one way or the other.
In the same contest two separate, propo-
sitions were submitted to the voters Of
New York city-consolidation and rapid
transit. On the question Of cons ohdation
275,OOo votes for Mayor in the city on the
same day, and on rapid transit la, 900 votes
only were recorded, ..
The figures from the recent New Hamp-
shire election on the question of nine pro-
posed amendments TO the Constitution OF
that State show like indifference to mat
tiers submitted to the voters directly. On
the question Of woman suffrage, which
had been discussed and agitated through
out the whole State for many weeks before
favor and Il 900 against, a total OF IS, 900
in State which two years ago cast s2,O
votes.
The explanation of the disparity Is that
the great majority OF the voters OF New
Hampshire were either Indifferent 20 the
proposed changes in their CONSTITUTE on,
woman suffrage among them. or were
unwilling to go TO the trouble of voting
A like result attended the recent submits
sion Of the high license amendments to the
Vermont Constitution.
No State In the country. perhaps. 10
more tenacious OF its customs and tradi-
tons than Vermont For fifty years II
had a prohibition law which successfully
resisted constant assaults.
Yet when in February the question OF
adopting a high license amendment or OF
maintaining the prohibition law was sub
mitted to the voters, a small majority was
recorded In favor OF the project, but less
than $4,000 voters participated In a State
the full vote of which is 65 900.
The record of all American States on
similar propositions is the samoa record
OF the Indifference Of a majority OF the
electors. The record OF American cities
on like questions is the same.
/ In the city Of Chicago last year 10000
>otes were cast, but on the question OF the
| issuance Of bonds by the city OF Chicago
| less than 200 900 votes were Polled and or
| the question of the direct election OF United
| States Senators a similar number There
was submitted at the same time to the voter
/ OF Chicago the question whether or not
! they favored a referendum for all public
! questions, In all 1900 voters were Ne
| corded against IL and $4,000 did not take
the trouble to declare themselves one way
or other.
$40 900 votes on the referendum question
$4,000 voters in that State did not take
the trouble to record themselves In favor
of the proposition, which 1t is constantly
asserted by its advocates is Of such over.
shadowing political importance that whole
communities are clamoring Tor the oppor'
tunity of taking the settlement Of public
questions into their own hands.
Wherever American States In recent
years have altered, or have voted upor
the question OF altering, their Constitution
even in matters OF great public importance
il has been found that large number Of
voters are entirely Indifferent to the ques.
ton, or, IL not Indifferent, are satisfied "a
abide by the determination Of the otheI
voters whose interest has been aroused.