The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-09-10
THE DIMINISHING VOTE

Syo.e~,, lamentations over our Decreasing
.,..,oua+oa.. nnnear IN the Richmond Times
T,4snatrh and other newspapers OF pesSln'iS'''
.,,~r If thought. These, contemporaries fall 1h'o
,ha error common to all deyotees to stansncs'
rr,o-, consider figures and fail, or refuse to re-
v.-a The facts We are told that the vote at the
virginia Democratic primary last mohih was
uttla more than $4,000; that the Demoefa''e
vote for Wilson in 1912 was 10000, ~hle III 'ne
senatorial primary Of 1911 the Democrats Oh
.,a state cast $4,000 votes. In 1905 the total
VOTE cast in virginia for president including all
r.~,,ss was 1861 900; in 1912 the total showed
slight decrease.
From present indications the vote at the regu-
lar ytrytria state election in November will be
,ese Than that at the primary. Possibly II VIII
mt reach or exceed $4,000. in the August prl-
mary there was no opposition for governor anu
sor the other Offices to be filled the candidae'es
aroused little interest
Since the adoption Of the new constitution In
virginia the Democrats of the State have come
"a realize gradually that the Republican strength
on,stda the Ninth district amounts to nothing and
,s not IN be feared Nothing else in politics Is
30 difficult as to rouse men to enthusiasm "heh
there Is no opposition to speak of or to induce
them to fight and exert themselves while there
IL nobody to fight--unless 1t be to stir citizens
To battle when they know their cause Is absolute
hcpcfcSs- and they cannot fna'~e-eteh
decent showing at the polls People OF both par
ties In Virginia stay away from the polls at gen
eral elections simply because they kno" 'hAt
44aa CN1a iAq md q
the other for exertlon AT the election next No
yember probably there viii be no opposition
70 the Democratic nominees Taking a practical
view of things and having a large supply OF
good ordinary human common sense, the average
Virginia voter. especially in the country VIII
see no reason why he should trouble himself 10
vote merely for the sake of voting. in an election
the result of which he knows beforehand, and
which is certain. Given an actual contest with a
principle at stake and results in doubt virginia
citizens will vote fast enough. In the great bat
tie between Stuart. Democrat. and Slemp, Repub
ncan In 1910, the Ninth district supposed te
contain onetcnth of the vote of the State. cast
more than onefourth as many votes as were
given in the entire State for president two years
later In the senatorial primary in 1911 more
than ninetenths OF the registered Democratic
vote Of the State was polled.
We surmise that the same causes operating II
Virginia account for the diminished vote else
where in the country. We have come away from
exciting issues, which seemed to the voters to b.
almost of life and death. Fortunately partisan
hates and rancors are disappearing We ar
voting now on economic questions and natter
of internal policy-not the fierce sectiona
and race divisions with which we had to dea
IN the years following the civil News
papers and speakers appeal now to the thought
rather than the passions Of voters and man!
men who could be melted by passion or fear t
any amount of exertion and fiery zeal are no
much influenced by debates on the tariff. TIL
last really exciting general election we had II
this country was in 1896. when Mr. Bryan ideal
lied the free silver doctrine. and by his persona
magnetism and aggressive eloquence stirred tn
Democrats and alarmed the Republicans. TIL
contest Of 1900 was languid, comparatively, BIZ
cause the issue of Imperialism failed to appea
10 the emotions or the imagination Of the pub
He The election Of 1904. with Judge Parker a
the Democratic nominee. and with no issue tina
anybody has been able to discover unto this day
visa little more than dreary farce In 100
the Democrats were beaten two months befor
election. and knew it. in 1912 the Republican
practically were in the same condition.
The decrease in the vote is encouraging rattle
than discouragine. 1t indicates that the cour
try is coming and more under the contro
OF the thoughtful voter, that partisan and part
feeling as political factors vanishing; tina
the element which was carried to the polls b
Its passions and by torchlight professions an
fantastic parades is staying away and having les
and less influence; that bribery and repeatin
are becoming lost arts 1t is to be remembered
also. that in the South the coored vote, ono
arge and potent has gone out of sight.
CANADIANS AND THAW.
In long and carefulIv DranareA letter III