Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-09-24
ASK GOVERNOR TO
CONVENE ASSEMBLY
As AID TO ELECTION
n.,oc,o,;c State Committee
Fears That Under Present
Conditions Some Cannot
Vote.
THE TASK SEEMS TOO BIG

r7,l.ss some measures are taken TO pro-
via, moro election clerks OF some more
sr..,dv method of voting those who are
registered, IL will be impossible, IN some
districts, for all who are now enrolled WITH
th. right of franchise 10 cast their ballots
on election day. :,
This T,.rtincnt fact was really the I'M
portant development that was discussed
at 4 meeting of the Democratic State Com
mittee at Dover YESTERDAY.
Nhen members Of the State Committee
cot their heads together 20 discuss matters
relative 90 the extra number of voters TINS
fall and how the election districts where
tho registrations were heavy would hahdie
IN, voters, IL was learned that IN one
voting district IN Sussex county, III
C.nrgetown, there are nearly SOO men
registered and half as many women
With one more registration day ana the
women of that section who have not
nre,s,cr,d announcing they are going to
excrcise their right Of franchise, no one
even assumes that all can he accommo-
dated on election day within the time
specified by law.
In addition 10 this district, where the
registration Is the heaviest, there are
three or four other districts IN Kent and
sussex counties, the Democratic COM
mitte,msn learned, where conditions are
almost as bad.
To describe how voter shall vote re-
ouircs more than minute, even though
the explanation is clear enough for IT TO
be understood without any repetition.
To put IL into effect requires more time.
But IN this Sussex county district, re-
frrrcd TO, three voters would have TO
vote every minute OF the eleven hours the
polls were open If all were 10 be accom-
modated That is conceded to be Inn
posSihle. for there may he some contest
over A voter that might take up the time
az IA. entire board for ten minutes, per-
hans a half hour
The committee discussed how the situa-
tion was to be met. II decided to instruct
Henry X. lsascs, State Chairman, TO
ask Governor Townsend TO cau special
session of the Legislature Of one day, IN
order TO solve the problem, but the ques-
tion then arose, as 20 what the committee
would suggest in the way of a recommeda-
ton, even should the Governor comply,
With hut one set of registration books
and all the names enrolled III II IL seemed
difficult To devise some plan whereby,
even should an extra set of clerks or cleo
,ion officers be named, that they could
handle the situation. IL was suggested by
a committeeman that the same method
he usd that large banks have installed
That is a double set Of books. One set oil
election clerks could take all the names
frnm A % NJ, and the other group OF clerks
from y TO z in this way all whose names
began with letters from A to NJ would
he handled bv one set Of clerks and the
others bv another group Whether this
would work out satisfactorily and what
the handicaps would be was discussed
and left 10 the governor and his advisers
70 decide. 1t seemed, however, TO be one
idea worthy of consideration.
In Is likely that amendments TO the
election laws st the next Legislature may
eubodv changes that, wherever GOO votes
and upward are registered IN one district
there shall be a division OF the district
made 30 that all can be accommodated
carefully and without rushing the
voter.
As would be the case with men, If they
knew little about election machinery, II
is not likely that the new voters, being
absolutely unacquaInted with voting
could be expected 10 vote as rapidly a:
the men, political leaders state. With The
DELAYS that must occur, IN aiding the Wo
men 10 vote and the tardlness and slow
ness that must Of necessity follow, 1t Is
doubtful II even one voter minute car
be voted There are eco minutes that the
polls are open, and political leaders say
that in q district where 600 or more an
registered, it can be easily figured ou
that late voters are going TO be deprived
OF chance TO vote under present con
ditions and methods of voting.
Robert {. Macauley OF Philadelphia
Single Tax nominee for President OF tn
United States, came TO Dover yeSter
dsy and conferred with Kent county
officials relative 10 putting the Single
Tax ticket on the official ballot.