The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1910-10-02
THE STAY-AT-HOMES.

THE STAY-AT-HOMES.
Since statehood there have been
two elections held IN Oklahoma in
which congressman have been chos-
en- and comparison Of the num-
Der OF votes in the different CON
gressional districts bring 10 Hight
"A most remarkable state OF affairs
produced by the "stay-at-homes.
In the First, Second and Third
congressional districts there Was a
slight gain over the 1907 election in
1905. but in the Fourth and Fifth
districts that are represented by
democrats there was loss OF votes
that Is sufficient TO arouse every
democrat to an intense interest in
his party affairs The Fourth dis
triCt lost more than four thousand
votes and the Fifth district lost
more than fourteen thousand votes.
In the first election there was more
or less doubt concerning which par
ty would win the election, and the
people generally went to the polls
The next year in the close districts
they voted reasonably well, but in
the two districts that were over.
Whelmingly democratic the voters
took but little interest in the con
gressional election, hence the vast
falling off in the vote
Here are some figures that will
make interesting reading to every
voter interested in the welfare of
his state:
In the First district there are
62,Si1 voters, in the Second SLIGO,
in the Third 1857. in the Fourth
1906 In the Fifth SO,S59.
Following is the vote pollcd in the
1907 election: First district i4.427.
Second 5l,055. in the Third 50,Oll,
Fourth 5GSl6, Fifth i6,SlS. In the
1905 election the First district cast
iG,OG2. Second $1,000, Third 50.l77,
Fourth 1861 Fifth 32,lli These
figures show gain in the First
district of 1885, Second 5,026. Third
i63 and a loss in the Fourth of l,22g
and also loss in the Fifth of H.
i3i. In the First district % per
cent of the votes were cast, In the
Second 60 per cent, in the Third
6I per cent, in the Fourth 56 per cent
and in the Fifth 40 per cent.
II Is seen from these figures that
in the solidly democratic districts
where the people did not attach
any importance to their vote that
there were SO many stay at homes
mat 1t really endangers the result
OF the election. 1t is said that the
census OF the Fourth congressional
district shows gain in population
since 1907 OF $1,000 people. If
majority of the new Comers are
republicans and if every republican
goes to the polls on the Sth of No
vcmbor, and all the stay at homes
are members of the democrats par.
~, there Is danger of republican
victory. The same conditions are
true In tne Firth district.
Then there remains but one prob. /
lem IN facing the democratic party .
in Oklahoma and that one problem .
is TO Set The people to 40 TO the .
polls and vote. in the opening speech .
of Lee Crucc, the state democratic
standard bearer calls the attention
OF the people TO the stay at homes
on election day ana urges them TO
30 TO the polls. lie never said "A
more practical Thing in his life than
when he appealed to the people to
use their elective franchise II is the
one thing needed by the democrats
in the state Of Oklahoma, It is the .
one thing needed to oternally bury I.
the republican party. and all the l
campaign needed is to devise means l
Of interesting the voter in the rc- |
suit sufficiently TO induce him TO
leave IDS work and to 20 TO the
polls. The farmer in the southern
portion OF the state will be very
busy in November, but there is no
excuse for his staying away from
the polls. The best friend to the
democratic party is the man who
" orks TO get out the vote in No
'ember.