Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-10-12
Circulation Every fOO1N
Evening Yesterday i OOx -
SATUR DAY, OCTOBER l., 1918.
Compuisory Voting.

Compulsory Voting.
The Massachusetts Constitutional Con
vention having advanced the proposition
in the form of amendments, the voters of
that State, on election day, will be called
on 10 express their opinions on nineteen
proposed changes in the State Constitu-
ton. II Is apparent already that not more
than three of these proposed changes are
inviting much popular debate. One Of
them provides the initiative and refcren-
dunn The other two permit the Legs
laturc to establish compulsory voting and
biennial elections The biennial election
was overwhelmingly defeated when up
for q vote once before.
The initiative and referendum amend
ment includes = provision for compulsory
voting, and therefore the interest III the
result of the voting Is very great. 1t is
urged that If men, especially the many
intelligent citizens who would know how
10 vote. but are Indifferent about voting,
were compelled to yote-Or 10 give good
reason for declining they would almost,
without exception, unless they arc entirely
lost to a sense of public responsib bility. 20
10 the polls The bringing Of thee men
to a recognition Of their responsibilities
would II IS declared, raiSC the tone Of
public hfe Furthermore that business
men who have great interests at stake
would be more likely TO accept the op-
portmity which they already have, but
which too many of them neglect, TO under
take the influence of public opinion IN a
conservative directiony Especially il is
Indicated great questions would no longer
be decided BY a pitiful fraction Of tho
electorate; and that it would no longer bs
possible for those who happen to be
fad or socislistic scheme to force their
theories upon the community by casting
i majority Of the votes actually thrown
although IN u complete poll OF the eiec-
torate they would be in the minority
We have gone 10 great lengths ln
the extension OF suffrage The ext thing
is 10 go as far aS We can IN inducing the
Proper exercise Of suffrag" SAID a prom
the Consli,u lonsi Convention and he
added; As To the methods of enforcing
compulsory voting, that could be decId-
cd by legislative authority The mere fsct
of having TO explain the reason for not
gong 10 the polls and perhaps paying .
fine for not giving an adequate reason
would in my opinion and IN the opinion Of
meT who have gwen the subject thought,
be sufficient incentive
At the present time compulsory voting
does not exist anywhere n the United
States. Many wears ago the State Of
Missouri inserted III the charter Of Kansas
tax of 81 so should be LEVIED upon every
male resident Of legal age but exempted
from the payment of this tax all those who
voted ut the general election. In Kansas
CITY vs. Whipple, 1876 Mo 4Sl. this Law
was held to be contrary to the state
Constitution as discriminatory and as I'M
posing . penalty upon electors for failure
10 exercise the free right OF suffrage. an /
action which could not be made cornpuls- /!
ory.
Compulsory voting Is mentioned in only /
one of thc constitutions Of the A. States. /
This is the constitution Of North Dakota.
which providcs that The Legislature
may prescribe penalties for failing neg
iecting, or refusing to vote al any general |
election Thus far the Legislature mas |
not passed any act IN execution of thus |
rermlssIve power.
There are compulsory voting laws IN |
Austria, Belgium, SPAN, Switzerland,
New Zealand and Tasmania
In Belgium it IS SAID by an authority on
the subject, the argument that won over
the leaders of public opinion was Suf-
Irage is not ar individual right OF the
citizen which he can use and abuse as his
and particular interests dictate
{ ~ rather junction and duty which is
to hlm in order 10 insure the
good government and the general interests
1f the nation. Every free government rests
= the national will as expressed by the
Aoctorate- But this national will which
alone ought TO make the Law and control |
he government, viii never be expressed
)r known II the voters neglect to 60 to the |
,ois. Too much neglect Of thus duty will
lot only hinder the expression of this
viii, but will render it uncertain and
doubtful, and even fsisify it by dispIacing
he true majority.
Belgium has, by Law, organized the
means for enforcing compulsory voting in
I way that is very simple and not at all
evere. After the closing Of the polls the
'residing officer Of each polling place
lraws up and sends to justice of the
'eace list Of the electors who have not
oto'd. In the following week every elector