Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1916-11-15
MANY FAIL TO VOTE
At LAST ELECTION
Practically One-Third of Voters OF
Iowa Stay Away From Polls.
CENSUS FIGURES SHOW
NEGLECT OF PRIVILEGE
Large Per Cent Of Men Fail to Vote
at Every Election. Iowa Candi-
dates Spend Large Sums
in Campaign.

Des MoineS, Nov. 13.-Practlcally
one-third of the men of Iowa who are
entitled to vote do not do SO. This is
revealed by comparison OF the CEN
lsus figures with the total vote cast.
The census of Iowa for 1915
shows that there are 720,134 males
in this state II years of age or over.
In 1914 the total vote for governor
was 422,579 showing that about 40
per cent of the voters did not go TO
the polls. In 1912, at the last pres!-
dental election about 32 per cent Of
the voters did not vote for president
and about 80 per cent did not vote
for governor.
The total vote cast at the election
this year is not yet compiled but it
will reveal that goodly per cent Of
the voters did not exercise their right
of franchise as is always the case.
The biggest vote ever cast in Iowa
was in 1900 when 53O.355 ballots
were voted on president. This was
when William Mckinley was elected
over William Jennings Bryan.
One of the arguments which has
always been brought against woman's
suffrage is that a large per cent OF
the women would not vote If they had
the opportunity, especially when in
so many cases their husbands and
the men folks are more or less indif-
ferent about voting. 1t is also one OF
the arguments against the efficiency
of government by the people.
1t is often pointed out that this Is
one Of the reasons that unworthy
rsfn are 50 ofteq able to con rol poll
! tics. The Indifference or disinter-
estedness of so many voters, it is
pointed out, make it possible for
men who want Office for their privat :
gain or business organizations and
corporations who want legislation
for their own benefit, to get control
of the government.
More than S1,0O0,000 was spent
by candidates during the campaign
which closed with the election last
week, according to an estimate made
by the state officials.
In addition to the money expended
by the candidates, the cost OF the
| oil tn thn will
100000, it is estimated. The elec-
ton expense in Polk county usually
is higher than in any other county.
In 1914 this county spent $7,007 III
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
Office will file expense statements
with the secretary of state, and can
tidates for county office will file with
the county auditor.
Candidates for state, county and
township Offices competed for cleo
ton Nov. Z. 1t is estimated that there
were nearly 1900 active candidates
of which nearly 5000 were for town
ship offices. In the ninety-nine coun
ties there were nearly 1,S00 candi-
Gates for county Offices. There were
more than 200 candidates for state
representative, and more than sixty
for state senator.
Owing to the unusually bitter cam
paign carried on this year, the ex,
lenses of the active candidates were
greater than usual. 1t is claimed tC
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
IcXpense statements.