Evening star., 1926-10-22
PUNISHMENT URGED
FOR VOTE SLACKERS
Lenroot Proposes Plan to
Drive All Government
Employees to Polls.

Punishment for Federal employees in
shington who fail to vote in future
national and State elections was a
form of political reprisal advocated
by Senator Irvine l.. Lenroot of Wis
consin at a Republican rally last
night at the New Willard Hotel.
The Wisconsin Senator. recently de-
feated for denomination, suggested
policy of demeriting any eligible voter
in the Government service who neg
lects to exercise his right of fran
chise. Dement'S for vote "slackers, ;"
he declared. should be made to show
on the official rating OF the offending
employe. Senator Lenroot said he be-
lieved that form of reprisal without
severing employees from the Govern
ment service, would be drastic enough
to convince them of the desira bility
of voting.
Would Keep Close Check.
He explained it would be an easy
matter for the Government to issue n
questionnaire to be placed in the
hands of every man and woman in the
Government service. He added that
the replies could be checked readily
with the proper election officers of
tn various States. In this manner,
Senator Lenroot said, the admins
tration, whether Democratic or Re
publican, would be in a position to
know the names of all Stacker voters.
Sena tor Lenroot said it would not
he feasible to apply this rule at the
coming election, mainly fo~ lack of
sufficient time. He stressed that 81
o1icih1o side
the State to mail their ballots. There
should be no excuse, he said. for Gov
ernment employees failing to exercise
their right of franchise.
The meeting. addressed by Senator
Lenroot vas one of the largest politi-
cal rallies here in the present cam
paign It was arranged by the
League of Republican Organizatio
of the District for the purpose. ac-
cording to Chairman Edgar G. Snyder,
of stimulating interest in the coming
elections among the thousands of
State voters resident here.
Praises Coolidge Regime.
Besides touching on the question of
voting, Senator Lenroot praised the
administration of President Coolidge
and the accomplishments of the Re
publican Congress. referring particu-
larly to tax reduction and the reduc-
ton of the public debt.
The Wisconsin Senator's conclud-
ing rema rks were something in the
nature of a swan song. He said he
was taking his defeat a the polls in
a philosophical manner and that he
hoped to work for the success of
others of his party who are candidates
fn, tho nd Ln,1-1
That all is not bright and rosy for
the Republican party in Maryland
this Fall was made plain by Repre-
sentative Fred \. Zihlman who is A
ca anddate to succeed himself and who
was one of trio of Republican can
didates in Maryland to address last
nights rally. The two others were
Mrs. William F.. Chase of Riverdale.
candidate for clerk of the Court of
Appeals, and Mrs. Mary T. Stock IF
Bethesda, candidate for the State
Senate.
Appeal for Votes.
These three candidates made ap-
peals to the Maryland voters in
Washington not to fail to cast their
ballots for their party's candidates
next November.
Edward F. Colladay, Republican
national committeeman for the Dis
trict, introduced the speakers. 9th.
ers who spoke were Samuel ]. Pres
colt. chairman Of the Republican State
committee. and A F. Chaffee of Ne
braska, reading clerk of the House
and director of the voters informa-
ton bureau at the local headquarters,
823 Fifteenth street
The entertainment program in
cluded songs by Mrs. Fred S. Pur
nell soprano, wife of Represe entative
Purnell of Indiana; Fred East. bari
tone. and William F. Raymond. tenor