Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-07-23
Press Sees Non-Voting Crux
Continuing for Long Period

John Hays Hammond, who as an
expert engineer has attacked many
battling problems and solved them, has
turned his attention to new field
and is trying to find out why the ma
jority of Americans Of voting age and
qualifications do not vote. He is
chairman of the Non.partisan National
Civic Federation, whose QUESTIONABLE
on the subject Of voting brought in
some $4,000 replies from all over the
country. These replies were varied
and interesting, but the press seems
to feel that the solution of the non
vote problem still is a long way or.
Just what Mr.. Hammond, as chair
man of the Non-partisan National
Civic Federation, can accomplish with
uuestionnaires and the formation OF
committees remains to be SEEM" says
the San Francisco Bulletin, which de-
clares, Voting apathy is SO ancient an
evil In America that we have become
almost callous to it." The YoungS-
town Vindicator quotes Mr.. Hammond
as saving that failure to understand
that political parties are the basis OF
American Government is responsible
for the fact that citizens retuse TO
vote and that they resent the part
they have to play in elections ana
to this the indicator answers that
il is probably not so much resent
ment as neglect and lack of interest. "
Recalling that Edmund Burke lis
often quoted as holding that 1t was
impossible to indict a whole nation,
the Butte Daily Post still thinks Mr..
Hammond's statement that last NO
vember 10000, 000---tWo-thlrds or the
eligible voters Of the United States
were not sufficiently concerned to go
to the polls" is in reality "a most seri-
ous Indictment for lack of patriotism
against more than majority or Amer
lean citizens"
Discussing the resentment of the
people against party bosses, the Lex
ington Leader states: IF the average
citizen will boss his party, whichever
it may be, there will be no other boss.
Politicians have power only because
thew have votes to use as they choose
the ballots of those who permit party
managers to think and act FOR them.
In the opinion OF the FHnt JouFnai
Petty politics in State ana munllpal
affairs is the logical result of choos-
ing inferior material for office. The
men who SO smoothly run great cor
norations could administer as eftec-
lively the affairs Of their cities. coun-
ties and States. Men who could serve
in public office and refuse to do so
are civic slackers."
X X y y
John Hays Hammond, chairman
of the Non-Partisan Federation, sees
in the general dishonesty ond corrup'
ton of party politics principal cause
| for apathy on the part of citizens,
remarks the Schenectady Gazette, as
| il agrees that probably this has
| something to do with it, for all Of us
know that many voters think any
thing connected with politics means
| corruption Yet to prove the con
trary, we also are familiar with the
| fact that when corruption is obvious
| the people can be aroused to crowd
to the polls in order to GUST dishonest
| officials"
politics lags because no one of
marked caliber cares enough, under
| the primary system, to lead" says
| the Portsmouth Morning Sun. AS to
the people, the Nashville Banner
thinks, ''the great majority of Ameri.
cans today have neither interest in
nor loyalty to any political party
many voters lack confidence in the
aims and purposes of political parties
and consequently refuse to assume
any responsibility for the selection OF
public officials"
Mr.. Hammonds proposed remedy fol