The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1926-06-24
PLAN AFOOT TO STIR NON-VO-
TER TO DUTY.

John Hays Hammond, chairman of
the department of political education
of the National Civic Federation, in
announcing Monday a nationwide
campaign to be made by the fedora
ton, with the cooperation of the
American Legion, for the purpose of
awakening a keener sense of civic
patriotism in the millions of non-vot-
ers in the last two national elections,
said:
"The scandalous corruption revealed
in the recent primary election in
Pennsylvania, the notorious violation
Of the national prohibition law, with
its ugly climax of murderous gang
warfare at Chicago, and the shocking
milk graft cases at New York involy-
ing the health of more than 100000
men, women and children, represent,
in distinct phases, the present apathy
toward law and decency.
Non-Voters Blamed.
"That such condition can exist is
due solely to the negligence of the in
dividual voter. If crime and hypoc-
risy are to be done away with and
a sense of public order restored, the
movement must arise from local COM
munities throughout the country
which, in the end, determine public
opinion. We are a democracy. The
vote of the private citizen alone can
save us from becomming a corrupt
democracy. Public indifference spells
calamity"
Mr.. Hammond said an expert, nom
partisan committee would make
study of the direct primary as opposed
to the convention system of making
nominations and that the results
would be reported in November.
The drive for better citizenship will
open with appeals for cooperation to
more than 100 national organizations
and will lead up to Nlocal meetings,
September 81, in 1000 cities and
towns. The conferences will be called
by the Legion's Americanism COM
mission, Frank c. Cross, national
director, acting for the National Civic
Federation, and will be composed of
representatives of commercial, labor,
church, educational, professional, pa
triotic, civic associations, women's
clubs and the like. In this way the
leaders of the drive expect to reach
all classes and occupations.
The point that will be emphasized
at the meetings is the necessity not
only to turn out on the ordinary regis
tration, primary and election days but
to enroll in political party.
To Enlist Boys and Girls.
In conjunction with the endeavor to
arouse adults to their obligations,
vigorous campaign also will be con-
Quoted to stimulate interest in practi-
cal politics on the part of the future
voters, the 100000 high school boys
and girls; the 100000 or more uni
versity and college students who are
graduated annually; the Boy Scouts
and Girl Scouts-now numbering
about 1,000,000; the 100000 boys of
the Order of the De Molay, indeed, the
youth of the country.
More than 100000 high school and
college students are receiving train
ing in the fundamentals of Federal
Government trought the national and
and Intercollegiate oratorical con-
tests on the Constitution of the United
States. 1t is proposed that, to round
out their education in citizenship, the
participants in the contest be offered
postgraduate courses, so to speak, in
the practical methods whereby the
principles of government are carried
into effect through the machinery of
political parties.
The personnel of the federation's
department on political education is
as follows: Honorary chairman, Elihu
Root, chairman, John Hays HAM
mond; the vice-chairmen: Alfred E.
Smith, Governor of New York; Arthur
Capper, Senator from Kansas; Frank
L. Polk, former acting Secretary of
State; Frank o. Lowden, former Gov
ernor of Illinois; Robert w. Bingham,
editor, Louisville; Mrs. Charles H.
Sabin, member executive Committee,
Republican National Committee, of
New York and Mrs. Benton McMillin,
Tennessee member Democratic Ma
tional Committee.