The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1910-07-22
THE PROPER SOLUTION
Boise, Statesman

Boise Statesman
How to get voters to go to thu
primaries and to the polls on election
4 day is a question that has puzzled an6
still puzzles political managers, anG
those who have at heart the best
interests of the state and nation.
At every primary many voters stay
away; at every election many neglect
to register and vote.
This carelessness makes it neces-
sary for somebody to go to great
expense to provide carriages to haul
voters to and from the polls who are
able to walk there. Were it not that
they are sent for in carriage or an
automobile many would not go to
the polls at ALL
Somebody must go down In his
pocket and pay for these carriages
If that somebody happens to be the
officials elected, is it any wonder that
they should by some hook or crook,
mostly crook, get enough more than
their salaries to pay this extra ex-
pense? If the interests put up this
money they do it for purpose and
is it to be wondered at that the men
so elected should serve the masters
by whose money they we're elected?
One of the great men of this state
in the course of a private converse
ton incidentally let drop remark
which if carried out into practical
legislation would solve not only this
perplexing problem but several 9th
ers.
He suggested that legal penalties
be provided for those who neglect to
come out and vote at the primaries
and at the regular elections, such
penalties even going to the extent,
in case of repeated neglect, of abb
solute Acknowledgement, or the TAX
ing away of some privilege or exact
ing some penalty that may be de-
vised.
The suggestion is well worth pom
dering. Everyone who has had any
thing to do with practical politics
knows how difficult 1t is to get people
put to the polls either for registra-
lion or at elections.
Only comparatively few attend
he regular primaries where the
whole machinery of our government
5 set in motion.
Something drastic Is necessary to
cure this evil. Suffrage is not a
privilege, 1t is duty imposed on the
citizens of the state. 1t is just as
much duty as it is to serve on jur-
es. At bottom it Is just as much
command on part Of the state to
very citizen to go out to the primar-
es and take part and to express his
ointment at the ballot box as 1t is
o serve on jury or to take up arms
When necessity arises. And 1t is per-
ectly within the prerogative Of the
tate to impose penalties for the vio-
alton of its command in this direc-
ion.
When man who has neglected
o vote at any election makes appli-
alton to be registered it would serve
good purpose to hale him before
udge of competent authority to ex-
lain why he did so and in case he
ould offer no good excuse, to fine
i'm and issue a stern warning not to
eglect in future. Let 1t be known
hat the failure to exercise the suff-
age will result in the franchise be-
lg taken away and 1t will not be
steemed so lightly as 1t is in some
uarters today. Fl
The Statesman commends this sug-
estion to our law makers. Let them
mink it over. Were bill to be de- I,
gned and passed by the legislature ;
long the lines suggested, it would ,
lake Idaho the most observed of all 4
he states Of the Union and an ex-
mple would be set here that would
| time be followed all over the ma 8
on and result in incalculable good.