The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1924-09-10
Our 100000 Slackers
Editorial in the New York Eve
ming Post.

Ou1 q SsVVOSVVV O1oNhO1 -
Editorial in the New York Eve
ming Post.
There is a cynical saying that peo-
pies have the kind of government
they deserve. 1t approaches the truth
when governments are based on the
ballot box and the popular will. The
apathy and plain laziness of the "good
citizen" who rarely votes in prim
airy and goes golfing or duck-shooting |
on election day is one of the things I
wrong with Americas kind of free
government. If bayonets barred him
from the polls he would shoot his
way to the ballot box, as Oklahomans
ing their Khan troubles.
Yet, since the "good citizen" feels !
voting is a duty rather than pri
vilege or a right, he stays away.
Undoubtedly this has put power in
the hands TO selfish minorities and is
exactly what the bosses want him to
do. Certainly it is one reason why
special privilege blocs flourish in con-
gress and it explains why the two
great parties have lost much of their
ancient power.
For it is the unvarnished truth that
one-half of the voting strength of
these United States does not take
the trouble to go to the polls. In
1902 about 27,OOO,OOO qualified voters
stayed away from the ballot boxes.
| Yet that November day at the polls
saw the greatest number of voters H.
our history, because it was the first
presidential election for the newly
enfranchised woman citizen. In 1920
there were no fewer than 54,420,0OO
native and naturalized citizens Of
voting age in this country. Of these,
however, only 26,674,000 took the
trouble to go to the polls and pass
upon the qualifications of presidential
candidates.
Our record grows worse and worse.
Eighty per cent of the qualified vot-
ers balloted in 1896. Four years lat
err only 73 per cent voted. In 1905
this fell to sc per cent. Despite the
clamor of the Bull Moose movement
in 1912, only 62 per cent of the voters
got to the polls. Four years ago the
total vote dropped to about so pei
cent. In 1920 about half of Americas
sovereign citizens, her free-born ma
tives and her qualified alien-born, were
4 slackers.
The native record is worse than
that Of the naturalized voter. This
is clear from the census of 1920,
which shows there were then 21,000,-
900 more native-born voters than
there were total votes cast for presi
dent that year.
1 These are amazing and ominous
showings. The American citizen is
lying down on his job. 1t is so dis
quieting that a nonpartisan national
organization is shaping to remind the
Stacker of his duty. More than 1000
clubs and some 5000 chambers of
commerce, boards of trade, business
mems leagues and civic, professional
and commercial groups are interest
} ed in this nationwide effort ITO get
the vote"
Chronic tay-at-homes are to be
smoked and shamed out Voters are
. to be reminded that where they see
evil in government, when they are
displeased at the way taxes are ex-
pended and Disguised with the man
ner in which the life, happiness, health
and general welfare of 112,000,000
Americans are being regulated by
public officials, the way to better
things runs through the ballot box.
All voters are to be urged to have
a party home and to see that its roof
does not shelter blocs and minority
groups and that such parties are made
and kept responsible. The lack of
party responsibility had been an abid-
ing curse at Washington. If the vot-
er does not like his party he is urged
to try to remold it nearer his hearts
: desire, and, failing in this, get out
and into another. He is asked to
have a party membership and use it
, as the instrument for registering his
{ views on men, movements and gov
eminent.
: This is an excellent move. 1t de
serves to go far. Along some such
r way runs the road back to party re-
, sponsibility and genuine party gov
= eminent. If carried through, it will
be cold poison for blocs, selfish min
7 critics and the personal ambitions of
! petty men.
= Compulsory voting is not the
/ way. That is alien to the very spirit
: of free people. It would be one
: more interference with the rights of
) the individual and one more leg-iron
Stacking his personal liberties. Plans
for taxing the Stacker to the polls
will not do. Any vote that must be
whipped to the ballot box by force or
taxation is not worth bothering about.
/, What is wanted is an aroused and
thinking voter.