Evening journal., 1918-08-31
AMERICAS OVERSEAS SOLDIERS AND THEIR VOTES

~ o all present appearances II will he tmprsccsbe TO
take the votes OF any considerable number OF sol
ders in The American Bxpeditionary Forces overseas,
Notwithstanding the efforts of The states have made
will make FOR that purpose. The War Department
has given assurance Of its desire TO cooperate with the
states in hs taking OF the votes Of soldiers but points out
d1culties which apparently will make the vote in
complete that II viii be unsatisfactory II taken Many
OF the American regiments scattered among French
regiments men from one State arc mingled with men
from other States, in The trenches others on
the march, others in The OF the trenches and still
otbas in the engineering corps far from The nring line
Owing 10 Che necessity for censorng all mall secret
ballot can0t be taken The War Department cannot
undertake 30 do anything THAI will at any time interfere
with tho regular military activities or that Will hamper
t1e officers dn their work In summarizing The limitations
upon aid II give TO the States In taking the votes
Of citizens IN tho army overseas the War Department
says:
THE War Department will not be responsible In any
way for obtaining the vote OF anyone in France IN
any other part OF Europe but will assist the States to
secure the votes Of in the military service far
as " may be possible to do without interfering with
military duties
If VIII moi be possible to take the vote OF any soldier
who is actively engaged In military operations unless
such soldier be nble TO cast his vote by Transmitting
executed ballot through the mails as ordinary
pondence.
I'm will the War Department furnish to States
or 20 election officials thereof lists OF persons who have
entered the military service therefrom Neither the
War Department undertake 10 forward TO who are,
or who are supposed TO be- IN the military service blank
ballots any other species Of election forms literature
which may have been addressed to them care Of the
War Department Of any bureau office Of the War
Department for their use or guidance in connection
with casting their votes at either primary a gem
eral election However, when qualified voters Of
tain State are known 10 be in the military service as
members Of certain Organization, but the organza-
tlona address is unknown the War Department will fur
nsh such address upon receipt OF request therefore from
the State election official thereof.
"The censorship which is imposed upon every
letter coming Of France cannot be waived in favor
Of mail purportng TO be votes Of persons in the military
service.
where State laws require that oaths shall be ad-
mnlstered and certificates made in order 10 validate
the votes officers Of the military service will be
mtted but not required 10 administer such oaths and
make such certincates provided that this will in no
way interfere with active military operations.
where the state laws require the sending OF election
commissioners TO take the soldiers votes the military
authorities will place at the disposal Of such commits
sioners every assistance that found be compatible
with the exigencies Of the military situation In most
instances however, il will be impactlcable TO permit
commissioners TO take the votes"
That cannot fail to be dscouraging 10 political
candidates who have been depending upon the soldiers
votes abroad 30 pull them through at primaries and
elections.