Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1922-10-19
Indifference AS To
Election Is Noted
Many Fail to Qualify For Election
Interest Only About 80 Per
Cent-Small Number of
Votes is Forecast
NV Initrd Prcss.N


Washington Oct. l9.-The extent
Of popular Indifference to the appeal
Of politics this year is revealed in
the registration figures now being
compiled by the United Press.
These figures emphasize two facts
previously apparent to political lead
ers from their general observation.
/. That the public generally, the
country over, is about 30 per cent less
interested in this years congressional
election than it was in the presi-
Dental campaign IN 1920.
,. That the only places where in
terest approXimates on exceeds that
Of 1920 are those where local issues
have aroused partisanship.
II has been so apparent FOR weeks
that the electors were not even IN
terested enough to qualify themselves
20 vote i'm November, that both par
ties. but the Republicans i'm par
ticuar. have been centering their
campaign efforts on that one thing
Just getting people to vote. The Re-
publicans contend that the lack Of in
terest means the people are satisfied
with the Republican control Of Con
gress and intend to continue it. SO
they assert that all they have to DO
to win is TO bring out approximately
their normal vote. Indications are
that both they and the Democrats Will
fail in this
in 1920, the Republicans and Demo
,rats combined polied q tOtsl Of 90
100000 votes. This year total OF
less than 2O,000,000 is looked for.
Tie big cities are indicative OF the
general state cf mind. I'm New York,
registration this wear fell off 10000
from 1920. In Chicago, S09,434 vot-
ers registered this year, where mil
lion had been expected. In 1920, the
registration was SSI,190. Chicago
registration figures were typica! Tor
the entire State of Illinois.
IN PENNSYLVANIA Where Pinchot
and McSparran have been campaign
ing for the goyernorship, it Is estl-
mated that registration is - per cent
lower than two years ago. PlttSouf%h
had $4,000 registered voters then,
and this year hut $1,000; Philadelphia
had l5O,37 then and virtually loo'-
coo less this year. ,.
81. LOUIS dropped 10000 from 1920,
in spite Of the intense interest IN the
Reed Brewster senatorial hight. n
Minnesota where there is no reGistra-
zion outside cities party leaders c''-
nc.t a vote of about G00,OOO lnsteal
of the 79S. .O0O cast in 1920. Indiana,
on the contrary. expects to exceed IT.
1920 registration of 100000 and ITS
vote Of 1.25G,O00. Indiana is always
interested in politics, however.
California. which has local issues
also shows increased registration, l.
500 293 as compared with l'373,0C5
+, 1920. In Denver ana Colorado, i
sharp droo is shown. Denver reg'a-
tered $1,000 in 1920. this year Su'Joo.
Wisconsin has no registration for ger
eral elections. but the campaign wore
Itself out there in the primary cor
test, and the 100000 Republican votes
VIII 20 mostly TO LaFoliette.
Massachusetts,, which votes on beer
and wine in addition TO congressional
candidates, shows heightened inte,reesstr
WITH Boston registration Of 209,-
600 again POI. 900 two years ago.
In Washington, Oregon Montana,
and other Western States, re2lstra-
t;on is about the same as in 1920.