The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1926-11-08
WHY THEY CAN'T GET OUT
THE VOTE
BY n. ID. Cochran

Little if any Roadway is being made toward per-
suading citizens to register and vote by telling them
it is their duty by abusing them sackers if they
don't vote
There has been plenty of preaching at Them
plenty Of abuse and calling Of names But still about
so per cent Of eligible voters don't vote So that
method isn't effective.
Unless there is something to stir them to action
people won't take the time and bother to register
and vote. Punishment for not voting, like depriving
voters of the right to vote if they don't exercise it
when they have the right won't do the business. Too
feel there is punishment in exercising the right
That is, they have to to the voting BOOTH maybe
stand in line and wait their turn, answer the
old questions year after year and then go to the
booth again election day and lose time waiting their
turn to vote.
some issue is involved that interests them
enough they'll take the time trouble to register
and vote If they strong for against somebody
running for office they'll vote. But if it is merely to
choose between two sets of candidates and they don't
know any Of them, they don't any in wasting
their time to do something they don't anything
about doing.
Members of party organizations vote, of course
They either hold political jobs hope to hold them
There's something in it for them. But voting doesn't
prove that they love their country any than
those who don't vote love it. Voting is no proof Of
patriotism. Neither is holding office.
The machinery of the party organizations is made
up of job-holders would-be jobholders. Political
conventions made up mostly of delegates who
job-holders theoretically they public servants
Practically they masters.
In the next Republican national convention for
illustration, the delegates will be found United
States Senators and Congressman, collectors of
toms and internal revenue United States marshals
district attorneys other officials employees of
Federal Government, Governors, State Senators and
representatives, State, city and county officials and
employees Of their friends
There won't be many Federal officials in the
Democratic national convention because they're
holding many Federal jobs under Coolidge But State
county and city officials will be therepeople who make
their living out of politics.
And it suits their purpose if voters who don't
hold office and don't belong the organization, don't
register and vote for it is easier for machine politicians
to keep control of party organizations if voters
machine can't control stay away from primaries and
conventions.
After nominations have been made by the organ
ization bosses then they want all tagged with
their party label to vote at the election They rely
the great majority having the party habit fixed
that they'll vote the party ticket made up by the
BOSSES Independent voters then have only choice
between the machine-made party tickets.
When there is real fight people will
register and vote The longer the sham battle be-
tween the old parties is kept up the larger the
number of non voting citizens will be-
In the meantime the system of registration should
be changed that voters have registered they'll
stay registered until they die or move to other
voting precinct. The duty stuff is bunk doesn't
mean anything Efficiency and convenience suggest
that people register and vote by mail.