Evening star., 1924-09-30
WOMEN TRY TO GET
MORE OUT TO POLLS
League of Voters Campaign
Aimed at Stay-at-Home
Citizens of Nation.
BY MAYMER OBER PEAK.

If you wake up some morning and
find the roof of your garage or barn
painted in big red figures: if after a
tireSome day at home or Office you
tune in" for a bit of sprightly jazz
and pick up instead a lecture on why
YOU should vote; if on November
you take down your telephone re-
ceiver and before getting the num-
ber asked for have to answer the
question-"Have You voted YETI
do not imagine the ku kluX is on
your trail; that the political bosses
have got control of the air. or that
'Central' is trying to get fresh with
YOU.
Far from it. 1t is just the League
of Women Voters trying to remind
YOU by means of these little devices
of your simple duty as a citizen.
At national headquarters in Wash
ington, housed in the historic old
building on Seventeenth street which
was once the War Department. this
influential, non-Dartisan organization
of women is conducting a, unique get
out-the-Vote campaign. Here a small
army of trained league leaders is
making an intensive drive to rout
the voters of the country from the
trenches of apathy and ind Inference
into which they have fallen. employ
ing tactics new in political cam
paign.:.
Alarmed by the growing lack of
interest in politics, as indicated by
voting statistics of the last four pres
ldential elections, which show "A
steady decline in the percentage OF
voters who go to the polls, the
League of Voters has undertaken to
arouse the Stay-at-homeS to the dam
ger lurking in the rule OF the minor
itE and to the knowledge that the
only way they can restore democ-
racy and count toward good govern
ment is through the ballot box.
Drive Well Mapped Out.
This campaign is not a visionary,
1dealistic affair. but an extremely
practical, Well mapped-out. clear-cu1,
educational campaign. The league
has set a goal of - per cent increase
over the 1920 vote, with definite
plans for attaining it. Its appeal to
the public is to stop, look and listen.
but not to vote on the run without
knowing what is what.
ear in and year out" declares
Miss Belle Sherwin of Cleveland.
Ohio, newly elected national presi-
dent of the league, Intelligent citi
zens discuss government-what is
right and what is wrong with it.
Fault is chiefly found with the use
and misuse of governmental ma
Chinery, criticism that indicates an
interest but which cannot be con-
structive if it ends in talk. No mat
ter how just the condemnation may
be. it is only destructive unless back
ed by ballots. The ballot in the last
analy is is the voters only hold on
government. Honest administration
and efficient management may be pro-
moted by public opinion, but are
gained only by votes.
"A small vote can be manipulated:
a large vote is beyond the power of
bosses to control. If a huge vote
can be brought out this year, there
will be something like a revolution
in this country, for it will become
what it is now only in name-a gov
ernment by the people.
Unless intelligent voters do come
TO the fore at the coming election"
continued Miss Sherwin, the United
States is approaching an election in
which illiteraCy will have a menaC-
ing influence. There are about 4,3O0,-
600 illiterateS over 21 years of age in
this country. At every election the
party machines bring out controlled
illiterate vote, while the intelligent
vote. uncontrolled by itself, sits
supinely by without trying to see
mean.
We talk of Americanization We
even carry on Americanizat ton work,
and yet those who boast of education
and knowledge of public affairs are
the very ones who neglect the ballot
ing privileges and responsibilities.
Nobody can call himself an American
who does not perform citizens duty,
which is the casting of an Intelligent