The Wolf Point herald. (Wolf Point, Mont.) 1913-1940, 1924-08-07
By WILLIAM L. DALEY
National Editorial Association Spec
ial to the Herald

AASoAO
full strength of the army than those
which confront the national commit
tees in charge of presidential cam
paigns. The latter have real prob
lens on hand in overcoming the com
placency of the average party mem
Der and the alarming Indifference OF
the American citizen as to the exer-
else of the electoral franchise. In
the headquarters of the various po-
litical parties here, in New York
and Chicago, the organization plans
for the campaign will embrace the
all-important question of bringing
out a large vote in November. The
leaders are thoroughly cognizant of
the Importance of the stay-at-home
vote. which. it is said, is sufficient
to change the result of the preslden-
tial election in a vast majority of
the states.
Several representative leaders were
interviewed by the writer this week
concerning their plans for the cam
paign. 1t is natural that these pollt-
zeal chieftains should stress the char
acteristics, influence and qualifica-
tions of those heading the various
national tickets, but, underneath this
formal attitude, a note OF concern
as to the actual numerical strength
of their parties is easily observable.
AS recognized leader described
the situation: "The mental attitude
of the average voter that his or her
vote does not count, must be changed
if party systems are to survive.
There is another group which is sat
isfied that their party will vim be-
cause of surface indications. 1t may
be likened to the complacency of
newly married couples who are
gradually awakened to the truth OF
things. Less lip service and more &C
tual voting is something that all par
ties need today"
There are a number of political
leaders who have expressed some
concern over the woman vote. 1t
is true that in the presidential cleo
lions of 1920 the women voted IN
impassive numbers in all states. But
the politicians are now fearful that
the woman voter generally is losing
her interest in the electoral fran
chise, at least insofar as a national
ticket is involved. Several prominent
campaigners even go so far as to say
that many women voted four years
ago for the first time and that the
novelty having worn off, they will
not go to the polls this year.
It is pointed out, however, that
there are, of course, exceptions to
his statement in regions where local
issues are bitterly contested, and the
women voters are persuaded to turn
,ut in large numbers. Those who
actively supported legislation which
conferred suffrage on women insisted
hat it is desirable from many points
If view that women should part1c1-
,ate more freely in public affairs.
The national leaders of political
PARTIES feel that it is time that the
heory of the chronic Pathfinder
hat his particular vote bears little !
no significance should be changed.
these chieftains believe that the 6
,est results may be obtained from In
ensive educational work in various /
,recincts. The opinion has been ex-
ressed that there are too may fault /
inders within the various parties
yho complain of the shortcomings f
f their leaders or representatives
4 legislative assemblies without do :
ng anything at election time to bring a
bout desirable changes. In other 4
lords, active party workers resent 4
he claim of grumblers to party la ]
els when their actions indicate that y
hey are anything but helpful to 4
arty welfare.
1t is a sad commentary upon the a
.merican citizen generally to realize &
nat not SO per cent of those quail a
ed are voting. Simon Michelet, a 4
Washington lawyer, has made an in q
mate study of the absentee voter H
Figures compiled by him y
low that for every 100 votes cast A
,r president in 1920, there were SO Z
ay-at-homes, the total absentee vote
the vast aggregate of 25,-
5000. This stay-at-home total is
rived at after deducting 8,467,625
squalified citizens of 81 years and
yer, including about 6,200,00 alien
unnaturalized foreign borns and
rer 2,O00,9 900 illiterate citizens,
hite and colored, disfranchised I'M
n the election laws of IL southern
ates. The stay-at-home vote, the
udy disclosed, is not characteristic
any particular section, but is more
less common to every section, north
south, east or west.
There are many potential voters
no claim that the right to vote in
veral states is hedged in by re-
Iirements which are very discourag-
to a person who really desires to
the voting privilege. Some
about the registration sys-
but this is a necessary procedure |
make certain the right of citizens
vote The registration lists of u !
voters are doubly necessary
establishing the right of the citi-
n to cast a ballot and to prevent
plication and fraud. History has
instances of fraudulent registra- |
n but such practices have been
actically wiped out by stringent
,ction laws. Cases have been re-
rded where frauds have been per-
trated upon the public by the bal
ing system, but the present secret
I11+ -, n Ioxr11o1~,a ~ ~ o1aa+o11 IA 81