Evening star., 1925-02-08
HOW THE VOTERS TURNED OUT
BY FREDERIC ]. HASKIN

Leaders of the drive that was made
TO get the largest possible percentage
of eligible voters to the polls last
November are more encouraged now
than they were early in December.
when the first unofficial returns and
estimates of the total vote were made
public. At that time 1t appeared that
in spite of a nationwide, non -parti-
san campaign, in which score of
organizations participated, II would
be found that proportionately a
smaller number of voters had partici-
pated in the 1924 presidential contest
than in that of 1920, and there was
general disappointment over the
showing.
Now, however, the complete official
returns have been compiled, and ii is
seen that the 1924 total shows an in
crease over that OF 1920.
The increase is small, it is true, but
it is an increase. When Harding and
Cox staged their memorable struggle
only 49.1 per cent of the eligibles, or
26,646,273 out of a total of 54,165, ,907,
went to the polls. At the recent cleo
tion the total vote was 29,138,935 out
of a possible total of 56,941,5S4, or
51.2 per cent. Thus there was an in
crease of 2.1 per cent in the light of
the increased population, while there
was a percentage increase of AZ over
the number Of the voters who per-
formed their duty as citizens in 1929
This, as the National Association of
Manufacturers summarizes it, safely
took the election out of the class of
minority representation and placed
it in the category of majority repre-
sentation in national government.
The showing is not enthusing when
i f.Enrr ms r-iC TO mo do rxrith
centage of the possible vote polled
regularly in other countries, such as
England, France and Germany, or
when it is reflected that there were
2,795,677 more eligibles in 1924 than
there were in 1920 and the total vote
cast was increased by but 2,492,662.
The stay-at-hornes of four years ago
do not seem to have been brought out
in any appreciable numbers, for all
the work that was done on them. One
organization alone distributed 25,000,-
600 stfckers, folders and window
cards urging voters to Vote as you
please-but vote," and that repre-
sents only part of the effort and
money invested in the drive. AS an
advertising proposition the campaign
would not be rated a success How
ever, progress was made, and those
interested in the movement say that
that fact will insure it's being car
ried on in 1928.
Wyoming Heads the List.
Wyoming showed the greatest per-
centage increase, 37.7, and wins the
miniature overstuffed ballot box. or
whatever prize may be deemed most
appropriate. In 1920 51.4 per cent of
that States eligibles went to the
polls, while last November 70S per
cent performed. The gross gain is
1914 per cent, as compared to popula-
ton. but the percentage increase is
almost twice that.
mississippi comes second with a
percentage increase of 36.1; Texas
third with 81 and California fourth
with 26.1. However. it is to be noted
that Mississippi and Texas polled
but s.4 and 21.8 per cent. respectively,
of their eligibles in 1920 and their
figures for 1924, 1913 and 27.7, are net
impressive.
In all, 2S States showed percentage
increases in 1924, although three of
them were less than 1 per cent,
while the other 90 States showed per-
for Florida down to g of / per cent for
Idaho. South Carolina has the dis
tinction, If such it may be considered,
of having polled the smallest frac-
ton of her possible vote, 63 per cent,
while Georgia ranked second in this
respect with 11.3 per cent. and Mis-
sissippi third with 1928 per cent.
The 20 States that performed more
poorly in 1924 than in 1920 are
Florida, Alabama, Tennessee, Arkan-
sas, South Carolina, Maryland, North
Carolina, Montana, Kentucky, Della
ware, North Dakota, Virginia, Ohio,
Louisiana, Maine, Arizona, Indiana.
Missouri, Nevada. and Idaho.
All parts of, the country are repre-
snted in this list. so that it cannot
be said that Indifference to citizen
ship obligations is peculiar to any one
section, although it is to be noted
that the worst offent>s are in the
South Strangely enough, the States
that made the very best records
four years ago are included among
those that slumped at the recent
election.
Delaware topped the honor roll in
1920 with a percentage of 75.4, but
dropped to 69.4 in 1924. Indiana was
second In the Harding election with
TAI per cont, dropping to 7i.7 per cent
when Coolidge swept the country, and
Kentucky was third four years age