The morning journal-courier., 1908-08-25
A FORCED VOTE.

Postmaster General Meyer Is griev-
ously troubled over the possibility
that over-confdence may so reduce the
enthusiasm Of the supporters OF Mr.,
Taft as to lead to that gentleman's de-
feat. He says: There are thousands
of voters In every state who do not get
out to the polls unless they feel there
is g. necessity for their vote. Therefore
II interest Is not sufficiently aroused
and the Importance OF this coming
election appreciated, several states may
be lost by default"
Mr.. Meyers apprehensions provoke
an interesting train of thought. Assum-
ing that part of the business of cam
paign committees is to arouse enthusi-
asm and get the vote out, the thought
suggests ITSELF whether at some future
date the art OF forcing enthusiasm as
farmers sometimes force their chick
ems or their squads, may not be carried
to a point where It will be necessary
for the state to step In, in order to
protect the ballot box against definite
form of corruption. The corrupt prac-
tees legislation already upon the sta
tute books of Connecticut, though by
no mean perfect, can be directly trac-
ed to the abuses in political manage
ment, which had their inception In the
need Of manufacturing enthusiasm In
the attempt to overcome superlative
confidence, or to present to the voters
8 the sense of their responsibility in TAX
ing nothing for granted, practices have
crept In which have been adjudged cor
rupt. Isn't 1t conceivable, that an ex-
traordinary attempt this year to over
come what Is VIGOROUSLY undemonstra-
tive thus far might introduce efforts,
which, from subsequent imitation,
would require the state to altogether
forbid in the future any efforts to fat
ten the vote market.
The art of enthusing the electorate
and getting out the vote is no such
small thing that serious evils may not
come in the wake. But there Is still
another side of this managing respon-
sibility to which Mr.. Meyer calls at
tention. Take here In Connecticut,
where 1t is deliberately proposed to
nominate for governor on the ticket of
the dominant party man, who has
lost Immensely in the confidence Of his
own people. 1t is true that the ma
chinery of the party, committed to him
in advance, is displaying It's ability tc
land delegates for him, but only small
percentage Of the registered vote of the
Republican party Is represented In the
poll. Throughout the rank and file o.
the Republicans Of the state there is 9
deep seated resentment at the manner
in which they are being led like lambs
to the shambles to crafty the power
of the bosses. 1t is no uncommon ex
perience to encounter Republicans wht
say openly that, II Lilley is nominated
for governor they shall not vote fol
him. They live In Waterbury, and II
every city in the state, where the vot
r~+L To = be
Suppose these ante-conventor
threats are carried to the council room
OF the party organization and 1t Il
there seen that what was said In warn
Ing before the convention had become
fearful fact that large protest will
be entered at the polls. A situation vii
be at once created, which will give {
new meaning to the words Of the post
master general Are, then, any mean
to be adopted which will drive the nut
tering voters into line? Is 1t to be tn
proposition then Of the Republican
managers, that their stupidity In Sep
tember is to be cured at any cost 0
justice by the whip In November
These and other questions group them
selves gravely and apprehensvel,
about the early fears of Mr.. Meyer
whom we take to be practical poitici
an enough to believe, that the best wa
to get the vote out for his party tickle
is to exercise wisdom before the tick
ct Is placed in nomination. It Is no
enough to do 1t In a national conven
ton. Good work there should be fol
lowed by good work In state conven
ton A stitch In time saves nine.