The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1921-12-04
Open Cburt Letters to The HeraIA
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Ceived several communications
about, and inquiries for further in
formation on, the amendment
proposed to any suffrage bill which
might be presented to Congress for
consideration.
l am led to believe by the Eist
Of the letters received that the
writers imagine no such drastic"
law had ever been talked" about
in the United States.
The amendment l offered is as
follows:
That: Any qualified voter lin
the District of Columbia) within
the meaning of the term as
generally understood. who fails
TO vote at any election (primary
or generaD provided for the Dis
trict of Columbia in any act of
Congress, and who cannot estab-
lish the necessary proof why he
did not vote, as shall be pro-
vided in the act by appropriate
legislation. shall. upon convic-
ton. be sentenced to not less
than one year at hard labor in
the penitentiary.
SO far as / am aware no State
now has upon its statute books a
law providing a penalty for not
voting either at primary or gen
eral election. However such a
penalty has been the subject OF
debate in a more or less academic
way for some years. Magazines
devoting space TO political govern
ment have carried articles of that
nature; and the subject has been
talked with more or less heat at
conventions on the science of gov
eminent The penalties suggested
have been from a small fine to a
light jail sentence.
The reason always given for the
suggested penalty is that the bet
ter class Of citizens fail to vote at
the primary elections. thus max
ing ii easy for the ward politi-
clan" to select the least desirable
candidates from the standpoint of
the city's welfare. 1t has ALWAYS
been argued that If a penalty-and
l merely suggested a severe one
for not voting becomes a part of
the election laws that the bet
ter class of citizens taking an ac-
tive part in the selection of candi-
dates, a better candidate may be
had, a better man will be elected,
and better city administration
will result. But the cause and
effect would be true in any election
for any office either local. State or
national.
1t has been my experience that
the greatest kicker against our
Legislators is from that class who
do not help nominate the candi-
dates or help to elect them after
nomination. That is the complaint
of the best" citizen when he does
happen to be nominated, and his
| complaint should he be elected.
The best available statistics on
| the number who vote give the
average about as follows:
At primaries. 80 per cent: AT
off year general elections. so per
cent; at Presidential elections. SO
! per cent.
Always the political campaign
manager makes his excuse for us
| ing so much money to nominate
and elect candidates on the basis
that the voter is hard to get in
terested in politics in an active
way, and that IL is necessary &c
spend thousands Of dollars for ward
workers and taXicabs to take the
voter to the precinct voting booth
Somewhere there is screw
| loose. I am firmly convinced il Is
the voter who. is at fault. The
| politician is only taking ADVANTAGE
Of the opportunity afforded him. He
is out for the money and glory
and command and conquest
A penalty for not voting would
compel the voter to become active
In politics. The ward politician
| would disappear. Better men
would run for once. We would
have better city. State and ma
tional representation in our leg
| islative halls.
The method is simple. The cost
| of election Is not increased. But
great saving TO the tax payer
would result. And a more efficient
government would he the ultimate
| reward.
G. w. AYERS