The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1910-01-21
COMPULSORY VOTING.
-eaAt every electienawe hear tales

V1OlaLlOHS o. lie Corrupt FIhCllGG 49,
reports Of men who. would not come
toHthe rclls because they were not
paid, and each session 81 the Legfsla-
ture witnesses efforts to get i'm the
future, by law the free vote Of every
citizen, 7. This the State l. entitled to,
| but SO far -the--laMs- passed have not
succeeded in securing this result. How
then would compulsory lvotingr do ?
This idea il not original, but il sug-
/ eested af by the letter of Mr.. =.
Herbert .Shriver, one of our most
prominent and public spirited cit
zens, as remedy for 1.-The lack
fofi interest many men take in
tthe afrairs Of the state ana County.
Its novelty may be startling, bat j. At
+not worthy or serious consideration2
Should a man be permitted to retain
privilege he does not exercise?
Every citizen owes duty to the
State. AS it protects him. in life,
property and personal freedom, 20
must he render it in return such SER
vices AZ may BE- required I'm time OF
peace, pay taxes to support and con-
W duct It'll affairs, and i'm time of war,
render. up his life. if necessary. These
obligations must be fulfilled willing
~ or unwillingly- =za=sr-gf-zaf62-f
The State il also entitled TO have
the views of its citizens upon all ques-
tions affecting it, interest. This 1t
asks for always, but does not receive.
Tt IL due III, asNWell is taxes or mill
tary service, then why not compel it
to be rendered =? $500 EEy
1t is a sad thing to witness the in
difference displayed y7many men,
men of the best type, in business and
exemplary lives they lead, where
the voting is concerned. They will ex-
press freely their views on all -ques-
lions until the trouble Of going to the
polls on election day to give force to
them arrives, and then they are too
busy And then there is another class,
who have Of recent years considered
their vote as a chattel, a thing for
barter and sale, and If not successful
in their efforts to- dispose Of it, do not
vote. Both classes are equally per-
nicious and injurious to our civic life,
as both are equally Indifferent to the
high and -inestimable value of the priv
ilege secured for them by the blood
Of their forefathers. If their regard
for it can not b. changed, Should 1t
not be. taken away q? Voting is not a
natural right, it is simply privilege,
given us by the State to be freely ex-
ercised for its benefit
There is very little in this life that
we are sure of, that is appreciated,
very little that we are secure in the
possession of, that Is guarded. 1t is
the doubtful things or those we are
struggling for, that appear valuable.
The diamond at our feet is frequently
overlooked for the glittering piece Of
glass i'm the distance. The advant
ageswe possess are ignored in contem-
plating the possessions of one we deem
more favored. We feel perfectly Sc
cure i'm the possession of our right to
vote, wouldn't insecurity cause US to
value II more .,.,-...-t-.
If the constitution could be amend
ed, making ittthe duty of every one to
give one day in the year to the State
and &c. to the polls and vote, and every
one tobeEed, the condition of things
would be much improved. No longer
would it be necessary for rival candi-
dates to worry about the vote coming
out, they could devote themselves dur
ing the Campaign To convincing the
voter that their principles were right,
and the voter could then give the
State his best judgment. No need
then to worry about the colored vote
in Northern Central and Western
Maryland. which always attends-the
poles, for the full white vote would
be present on election day. THE oc-
casion for a great deal OF corruption
would thus be eliminated
And why shouldn't the constitution
be 50 amended, coupled of course with
fine for failure to vote, and GER
tain number of failures to be visited
by Acknowledgement? Allow no ex-
cuse, except physical disability, make
the rich man give up his pleasure or
business, and the poor man, his. work,
for at least "a part Of one day in the
year, for the good Of the state.
OF course this may appear revolu-
tionary, vet it is due to the present |
light regard in which our vote is held. |
But make the right to that vote one
that we can lose by neglect to exer-
else, and we are sure It will be valued
more highly and our State will be bet
ter off. t. not the suggestion worth
considering I? No man surely should |
b. allowed to have political privilege
he is unwilling to exercise. -