Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1916-11-08
PRACTICALLY, ON {. THIRD or Vo.
TIERS OF IOWA STAY AWAY
FROM POLLS.
CENSUS FIGURES SHOW
NEGLECT or PRIVILEGE
Large Per Gent Of Men Fail to Vote at
Every EIsetion-ons Of Reasons
Why Unworthy Men Are Able to
Control Po'ities-Iowa Candidates
spsnd Large Sums in Campaign.
Special to Times-Repubiican.

special to TimeS-Republican.
Des Moines, Nov. s.. Practically
one-third Of the men Of Iowa who are
entitled to vote do not do SO. This is
revealed by a comparison Of the cen
sus figures with the total vote cast
The census Of Iowa for 1915 shows
that there are 720,134 males in this
state Fl years of age or over. In 1914
the total vote for governor was 422,-
$40 showing that about 40 per cent of
the voters did not go to the polls. In
1912, at the last presidential election
about 81 per cent Of the voters did not
vote for president and about IS per
cent did not vote for governor.
The total vote cast at the election
yesterday Is not yet compiled but 1t
will reveal that q. Goodly per cent Of
the voters did not exercise their right
Of franchise as Is always the case.
The biggest vote ever scast in Iowa
was in 1900 when 530,355 ballots were
voted on president. This was when
William Mckinley was elected over
William Jennings Bryan.
One OF the arguments which has al
ways been brought against woman's
suffrage Is that a large per cent OF
the women would not vote II they had
the opportunity, especially when in 80
many cases their usbands and the men
folks are more or less Indifferent
about voting. It is also one of the
arguments against the efficiency OF q
government by the people.
1t is often pointed out that this Is
one of the reasons that unworthy men
ARE so often able to control politics. The
indifference or disinterestednes Of so
many voters, it is pointed out, make it
possible for men who want office for
their private gain or business organi-
cations and corporations who want
legislation for their own benefit. to get
control of the government.
Candidates Spend Large Sums.
More than s1,0O0,O00 was spent by
candidates during the campaign which
closed with the selection yesterday, ac
cording to an estimate made by the
state officials.
In addition to the money expended
by the candidates, the cost Of the cleo
ton to the counties will exceed $780,
900. it is estimated. The election ex-
pense in Polk county usually is high
Ter than in any other county. In 1914
this county spent s7,D07 In preparing
for and carrying out the election.
AS the election is over all candi-
dates. whether successful or not, will
be required to report their campaign
expenses. The candidates for state Of
flee will file expense statements with
the secretary Of state, and candidates
for county office will file with the
county auditor.
Harding Spends Most.
Attic no official statement has been
issued,T It is estimated that $150,OO0
was spent during the campaign in
Iowa furtherins the candidacy OF w.
l.. Harding for governor.
Z. r. Meredith spent about $4,000
in his race for governor, 1t is esti-
mated. @
The candidates for other state Of
fees did not meet with exceptionally
heavy expenses.
Candidates for state, county and
township offices competed for election
yesterday. It is estimated that there
were nearly 1900 active candidates Of
which nearly 5000 were for township
Offices In the ninety-nine counties
there were nearly 1880 candidates for
county offices. There were more than
200 candidates for state representative,
and more than sixty for state senator.
Greater This Year.
Owing to the unusually bitter cam
paign carried on this year, the ex-
penses of the active candidates were
greater than usual. 1t Is claimed to
have been one Of the most expensive
as well as hardest fought campaigns
Iowa has ever had.
Nov. II is the final date for filing
expense statements