Idaho County free press., 1924-07-24
MIR. PULSE COMMENTS ON
FREE PRESS EDITORIAL
Editor Free Press F:

Editor Free Press:
Your editorial urging voters to ex-
ercise their franchise 1 trust will be
given serious consideration. There are
over 5000 voters In Idaho county. How
many are registered and will vote at
this coming primary, the responsible
ity for whose results lies with people
who neglect their citizens duties. and
yet desire to share all the benefits,
and by failing to vote allow a small
minority to inflict its will on the ma
jOrity?
1t seems almost incredible. but ney-
ertheless true. that in 1920, DESPITE
the enormous vote, over half the quail
1fied voters failed to vote For every
100 ballots cast, statistics show that
there are ninety-six lazy voters who
could have decided the election Com
piled figures show that out of fifty-two
million voters in the last presidential
election, but twenty-six million exart.is-
ed their right of the franchise. In that
year the total vote was eight million
more than in 1916 and eleven million
more than in 1912, but for every vote
cast in 1920, there were ninety six
stay-at-homes.
Kentucky made the best record
twenty-four stay-at-hOmes in each 100. |
pennsylvania the poorest, 1.S51. .24S |
voters out of 4,33034S. Idaho has |
siXty-three stay-at-homes for every 100
votes cast.
dt is apparently a national prob
lem as well as local, and a deep puz-
zle to all political parties, and a cam
paign should be inaugurated of a gen
eral character to convert this DORM
ant army into patriotic CITIZENSHIP.
IL surely is serious problem and a
crime that Idaho county, the largest
county In the United States, should
lose representative because of this
apathy and negligence. Candidates do
more or less to get out this vote. but
their is limit TO their activities, linn
lung the expenditures involved and To-
eating and transporting these stay-at-
homes to the polls, because of the en-
actment of the corrupt practices" act. j
so IL is up to the voter to be a live
iiuzen ana IL physically possible to go
o the polls; duty he owes himself J
and his fellowmen, rain or shine. snow
II blow.
The stay-at-home voter is the great
american CRATER. His excuse. If be r
las any. is his business or social en- n
agements. The real truth is that he
brlbed to stay away from the polls
y his own selfish interests He is
ne bribe-giver and bribe-taker. He NJ
as bought and sold his own vote. u
We could name many instances of only A,
ecent occurrence where just a few
otes, and even one vote would have
the whole destiny of men and
leasures, both in our state and nation
'e never can know how good or how vi
al popular government can be made
ntil the people take a proper interest
elections. FIR
1t is my opinion that votes are lost e.
'cause of having to register every
70 years, an unnecessary duplication
Id If this law was repealed, il would Sal
can tremendous saving to the tax- w.
.yers. The new vote could easily no
Ken care Of In every election bv co
me officer in every community. des. FIt
mated by the county commissioners. AN
These elections now cost the tax Aai
yer about $1.O0 for every voter. and
IRE. The saving would maintain all
our highways. viii
T. II pIrTcE