The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1922-11-03
BALTIMORE LETTER

Baltimore. October 2nd. 1922.
The last week of the campaign is
drawing to a close. and the politicians
who are bearing the burden OF the
campaign work, are showing more ac-
tiviJv than they have at any time
since the primaries settled the NOM
nation. on September 18th. While the
apathy which has been evident in
both parties for months past is still!
apparent. the voters who are regis
tered are beginning to attend meet
ings, and are taking politics TO i
somewhat greater extent than they
have since the present campaign
started. even before the primary
election But the unusual lack of pop
uIar interest is still manifest. and the
party workers on both sides antiCi-
pate more than little difficulty in
pCrsuading the voters to east thell
ballots next Tuesday. Both parties
are handicapped by a serious lack OF
funds. and at both headquarters the
officials in charge seem to be at sea
because OF the unsuccessful efforts
to raise the necessary money to pay
the pills already contracted, and to
be contracted before the wind-up next
week. The absolutely necessary. legi-
innate. expense of a state wide cam
naign amounts to a considerable sum
Room-rent. clerk hire. publicity. meet
ingS, travelling expense Of speakers,
not to mention other necessary out
lays. amount To 4 small fortune. ana
the employment Of runners and auto
mobiles on election day 10 get the vot-
erS to the polls. adds greatly TO the
cost and these expenses are dbSOlu
tely necessary, for there are literal
~ thousands OF registered voters in
both parties who expect to be hauled
to the registration offices to be regis
tered. and who will not 90 to the
polling places on election day unless
they are called for and taken there to
vote. and taken back home after their
ballots are cast.
The chief reason for the short reg
istration in both City and State this
year. was because OF lack OF funds
in both parties, to pay for runners and
automobiles to look up the men ant
women entitled to be registered, and
take them to the registration offices.
Tens of thousands of men and WON
N were left unregistered simply be
.ause they were not hrltcd up and
hauled ont to do their duty. and. il Is
4 notorious and singular fact. that the
women are more insistent in this re-
gard than the men. and Will not take
the trouble 10 register unless solicited
% do so. and invited to ride in al
automobile. even when the polling
place is only a block or two away
from their own doors. In one instance
4 women sat all day in her parlor
waiting to be hauled TO the regiStra
ton office. which was around the cor
nor. and was very indignant because
no one called for hcr,and when told
that it was not thought necessary be
cause Of her nearness To the booth
she replied that plenty of other WON
en- were taken there in autos and she
would not walk. when others Wh'
were no better than she. We're consid-
cred important enough to be taken IN
IN auto. It is all we'll enough for the
newspapers and professional uplift-
nrS and reformerS to preach from day
20 dav. that ii is the duty of all |
register. but very few. in proportion
% the whole number, will do so, un
css urged by people who have per
sonal interest in the campaign. or I'M
less their is some overwhelming is
sue. which rouses the public to such
an extent. that everybody is ready Il
90 out. and prepare to take part in
the fight.
The outlook however is decidedly
favorable to a great victory Tor the
Democrats. Notwithstanding the APP
parent apathy which is really great
OF among the Republicans than among
the Democrats. All the usual signs
point To the election of the Demo
cratic candidate :or the Senate. anC
at least four and possible five mem
hers OF the House of Representatives
and ii the Democrats are not victOri-
Gus. ii will he their own fault, or tbs
fault OF certain leaders. who are OF
ten mercenaries rather than real par
ty leaders-but there is no indication
now of any detection in the ranks
here in Baltimore.
PAUL WINCHESTER.