The Washington herald., 1912-10-27
Plans Near Completion
For Battle of Ballots
In District on NOp. S

Der 5 next requires no such degree oi
manhood. not to say heroism. as that
manifested by the Chinese in winning
their liberty. They. like our Revolu-
| tionary ancestors. took chances. To show
their desire for Independence It was nee
essary for them to raise millions OF
money. and. in addition. to get their
guns and face the neadman's az.
- No Expense Attached.
we take no risk at all. Aside from
the District Of Columbia Suffrage
League. which is doing all the work
and spending all the money-and they
! have little enough to spend, and every
one Of them is working for nothing-no
one spends penny to show his senti-
| ments. He has but to walk to the polls
mark his ballot, sign II. tear on his
| name, and drop both ballot and name
into the ballot box.
That's all. Yet the one suggestion
, made by the knockers is that only q
bakers dozen in each neighborhood will
have patriotism enough to do even that.
Perhaps the knockers are right. II
50. the result will. at least. be In
structive. for II will show how far the
civic sense may become atrophied.
In fact. such a result will be a
warning which may well appall the peo-
PIE Of the United States.
IT community of a third Of a mil
lion souls. unquestionably intelligent in
most respects and going through the
motions each year Of celebrating In
dependence Day can. in a brief period of
thirty-eight years. have so completely
forgotten the lessons Of the American
revolution, the English revolution, the
winning Of the Magma Charta. and the
other deeds which have made glorious
the Anglo-Saxon name. theorists may
well rejoice. and believers in race prog
ress must hang their heads in shame.
Many May Not Vote.
Il make no claim to prophetic gifts:
at the same time. I don't believe the
vote will turn out that way.
True, a lot OF people will not have
heard OF the election. for We have had
no millions with which to advertise.
Having no voting habit. a lot more
will forget to go to the polls
Still others. discouraged by repeated
defeats in the past. cowed by master
ship. political and economic, and fearful
OF offending, will fight shy Of the polling
place.
Many others, however, will vote and.
I believe. will vote for freedom.
How. you ask. will 1 fill out my
own ballot?'
Waving the Presidential question. in
which / am not mixing this year. II
should. OF course. vote for self-govern-
ment.
.'On the matter Of Commissioners. I be-
lieve emphatically In the commission
form of government. provided the people
control the Commissioners instead of be-
ing controlled by them. shall vote for
election of Commissioners
Yes, I'll vote for a delegate in Con-
gress. True. he can't vote for anything |
He can't even talk on anything except
District affairs. and he represents moth
ing to US in comparison with what two |
and our proper share of Rep
resentatives would represent Still, a |
mere friend at court, talking when per-
mitted. and working with the District !
and appropriation committees may, if
the right kind Of a man. help some And |
I shall certainly vote to have him elect
ed. An appointed delegate is worse than |
no delegate at all: for he would. unques-
represent the interests which
now control the District.
Need More Watcher.
'One point I must emphasize. We
want many more watchers at the polls
Some would like to see this vote prove
4 fiasco. We have already enlisted over
hfty watchers. and secured more than
sixty polling places from public-spirited |
business men. Most watchers however,
,annot watch all day. We should have
several dozen more: especially since We
Ire likely to have many more polling
places. We earnestly appeal for many
volunteers to help at the polls.
do We pay? Not a cent. Every
'ody. as said. works for nothing. But
here are some patriots in the District.
We know. and We believe we have not
ound them all.
" What are the watchers duties?' To
'e on hand from a. m. to p. m, hand
allots to voters. explain how to mark
he ballots, see that they are signed, and
rop them into the box. If he can't
york all day. let him state the hours he
an work.
why sign the ballot?' To discourage
epeating.
"'Why tear Of the Signatures For
he protection of the voter. He may fear I
D have 1t known he voted a certain way:
ut the mere fact that he voted cannot !
ossibly hurt him. i
You suggest voting by mail?' Yes. I
ome may find 1t more convenient They :
eed only cut the ballot out Of the paper. !