The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-08-02
MANAGERS HOPE FOR MUCH AID FROMLAZ VOTE Radio Expected To Stir Stay-At-Homes To
 Action
By THOMAS l.. STOKES (Rx Leased Wire to Age-Heraldl


 WASHINGTON, D. O., Aug. l. Campaign managers of the two politi cal parties and of the independent move ment, are scratching their heads this year to devise means of turing to the polls in November the so-called stay, at-home vote, realizing that it may have a strong bearing on the final result.
 This is the reason: Fifty per cent of the people in the country who are qualified to vote are not voting, it has been learned from comparing census figures with ballot totals. This stay at-home vote, if it went to the polls could elect any candidate it centered upon.
 Of course, campaign managers dc not expect to rouse all this vote, ol even a majority of it. But every vote from the ranks of those who have moi been voting is gain, and because oi the peculiar situation this year, into 7 which all kind of doubt has been thrown by the addition of another political movement, strong efforts are being made to wake these non-voters up to their responsibility. Radio To Help
 Campaigns of education are being em. ployed. The republicans started one type some months ago, through clubs in colleges. of the country. The radio it is believed, will stir some of this vote to the polls this year, carrying the speeches of the candidates to thousands who otherwise would not be reached ol attracted.
 The figures in the 1920 election give some idea of the situation, There were 52,41S,S95 qualified men and women voters. Of this number, 26, ,713, ,S3S voted, while 25,T05,063 stayed away from the polls. This means that fol every 100 people who voted, there were 96 who did not vote.
 A good example of how a large vote affects the situation was in Kentucky which sent the greatest percentage tc the polls in 1920 To every 100 votes there were only A who stayed at home Through Kentucky is regarded as. 8 democratic state, Cox carried the state by only slightly over 4,000, out oi over 100000. votes cast for the repnb- lican and democratic candidates.
 Mississippi At Bottom
 Mississippi stood at the bottom in 1920, only 82,492 voting out of S76,- 106 over 21 years of age, or T36 staying away from the polls to every 100 who voted.
 The best percentage iH 1920 was significantly for the present campaign in the group of states where all three movements are going to stage their hard est fights, including Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri, North and South Dakota, Kansas and Nebraska, the stay-at-home vote here, if mustered out this year, may play a prominent part in the re- suit, the percentage was 59 not vot- ing to 100 who went to the polls.
 Campaign managers arg taking the stay-at-home vote very much into con sideration. William NJ Butler9 chair man of the republican national com mittee, recently called attentions to thu effect he believed the radio would have in drawing out those who have beer staying away from the polls.
 The three movements are being aided also by a non-partisan movement start cd here recently by a local attorney, Simon Michelet, formerly secretary to the late Senator Knute Nelson, of Min nesota. He has begun the organiza- tion of national get-out-the-vote clubs, which is making good headway.