Evening star., 1924-10-20
The Duty and the Right to Vote.

y conspicuous political evil OF TO-
day, the source ut ii multitude Of pUliti-
al woes. is the failure uf So many
potential voters 10 90 t. the polls and
cast their ballots. The right and
power 10 exercise American SOW
.reignty. the highest political privi-
lege the world has known. are spurned
ike scriptural pearls cast before
swine.
In the election Of 1912, for instance,
the stay-at-home potential voters eX.
ceeded in numbers those who went to
the polls and voted for and elected
Wilson. The political army command
ed by General Apathy was stronger
than that which followed to victory
General Woodrow Wilson.
The Star heartily favors every
device to rouse the American cleo
torate from this dangerous. deadly
apathy. In pursuance of this thought
The Star prints on it's first page today
the slogan: THE United States expects
every American to do his duty-vote!"
May this appeal stir the conscience OF
some who have heen tempted to be
slothful, Indifferent and neglectful.
AS a corollary to this slogan The
star prints another: THE United
States expects every American to
have the right to yote-therefOre vote
Tor national representation for the
District of Columbia
The Nation would be obviously and
ted
that all Americans vote as a duty,
and at the same time prevented Il
community Of nearly half a million OF
highly qualified Americans from vot-
ing.
\ mere oversight. Il tritling sin of
omission in the wording of the Con-
stitution, understands BILE and eXcusable
IN view of the excitement and the
Misunderstanding bitterness of con-
troyersy which characterized the fran.
ing Of the instrument, is all that
stands in the way Of tho America niz-
ing of the political aliens Of the Dis
trict of Columbia.
This oversight will he corrected
without hurt to anybody by adoption
Of our pending constitutional amend
ment
The wonder is that our political par
ties. so worldly wise in presenting the
glad hand and the helping hand TO
groups ot qualified Americans strug.
Cling toward rational enfranchise-.
meut, are not cOntendins for the
aonor and the future benefit ef rccog-
milton as the Districts most helpful
champions.
4 conspicuous political bluntler of
this decade is the failure OF our par.
tisan leaders to recognize the exist
ence and potential power of the fine
strong American community collected
and organized at the seat of Govern
ment. The far-seeing political leader
will perceive that this community, like
the people of territory preparing for
statehood. will at some time surely be
raised from political impOtency, not to
statehood. but to the enjoyment Of
some substantial measure of .Ameri.
can rights and power. The wise poiiti.
cal leader will he that one who hastens
ahead of all others to greet the pros.
pectiye newcomers into the American
politica, family and to facilitate their
entrance into rights and powers to
which OH American principles they
are already entitled. In accordance
Will, historical precedent such n leader
will enjoy the grateful appreciation Of
the community which he champions,
cOncretely expressed when it emerges
from impotency. and will avoid its en-.
during resentment, based upon right
Gus Indignation. against those who
slur the community and battle tempo
rarily its reasonable and wholesome
aspirations for AmericanizatiOn.