Evening star., 1928-10-25
u. S. WORKERS MAY
GET TIME TO VOTE
President May Give Employees
Partial Holiday on
November s.
BY J. RUSSELL YOUNG.

So great is President Coolidges de-
sire to see the largest possible vote cast
throughout the Nation on November 6
that he is now considering issuing an
executive order excusing Federal EN-
ployes from duty on election day for a
sufficient length of time to enable them
to cast their ballot.
Besides this, Mr.. Coolidge is con-
templating a journey to Northampton,
Mass, his home town, for the purpose
of personally placing his ballot in the
box on election day. 1t is not neces-
sary for him to go home to vote. He
could take advantage of Massachusetts,
absentee voting law and mail his vote,
but he feels that by going personally to
the polls he would be setting good
example and that this action on his
part would no doubt influence many
persons who are now Indifferent to the
Importance of exercising their rights OF
franchise.
May Issue Order.
It is thought likely that Mr.. Coolidge
win very shortly reach decision re-
garding the matter of an executive
order granting sufficient time off from
work to the Federal employees on elec-
ton day. The proposal was made to-
day by Luther G. Steward and Ger
trude M. McNally, president and sec
retary-treaSurer, respectively. OF the
National Federation OF Federal En-
ployes, during a call at the White
House.
Mr.. Steward explained that consid-
erable confusion has existed in the
minds of Federal employees during pre-
vious years due to the absence of any
general regulations governing absence
of employees on election day for the pur-
pose of exercising their right Of fran
chise. He stated also that If the Presl-
dent did issue such an order 1t would
make it possible for many thousands OF
men and women, not only in Washing
ton, but elsewhere throughout the
country, to go to the polls who might
otherwise be prevented because OF lack
of time.
Mr.. Steward said that heads Of
the various governmental departments
could excuse employees of their indi'
vidual departments for voting purposes
on election day, but he thought Il
would be more convenient and impress
sive as well as more expeditions If the
President himself issued one order COW
ering all the departments. Mr.. Steward
left the White House under the i'm
preston that the President would lose
no time deciding this matter one way
or the other.
Seeks to Encourage Voting.
Regardless of their politics or theil
preference of candidates in the coming
election, President Coolidge believes thai
employees of the Government shoulc
be as ready to exercise their rights Of
franchise as those not In the Fedora
service. The President has severa
times since becoming President ex.
pressed himself very frankly on this
subject and has otherwise acted in 9
way to encourage voting on the part Of
the employees of the Government.
Those with whom the President ha
discussed the probability of his goinl
to Northampton to vote are confiden
that his sole purpose is to encourage
others to vote when the time comes
1t has been suggested, however, thai
such a journey might also serve as q
rather definite gesture on his part ir
behalf of the candidacy of Hoover anC
Curtis and that it would be especially
effective in Massachusetts,, which has
developed into one of the real battle
grounds of the campaign.
If the President does go to Massachu'
sets, he will be accompanied by Mrs
Coolidge.
Election day this year will be 6
memorable one for John Coolidge, th'
Presidents son, because he Will cast hi
first vote. 1t is understood that John
who is living in Hartford, Conn.,, viii
vote by mail.
If the President and Mrs. Coolidge
go to Northampton to vote they viii
not tarry there long. They will go di-
rectly to the voting place and, probably
take peep at the little frame home or
Massoit street and drop in for briet
visit with Mrs. Lernira Goodhue, Mrs
Coolidge's mother, who has been Ill in
hospital there since last December.
There is very little likelihood that thu
President will make a speech while II
Massachusetts,.
Former Senator owen of Oklahoma
Democrat, who called at the Whit'
House today to pay his respects t.
President Coolidge expressed great sur
prise that Senator Norris should sup
port Gov. Smith.
"A man of my temper certainly woul.
not accept any promises from mar
who has sworn to uphold the Consti
tuition and who then permits 20,00I
speakeasies to run right under his
nose. and pay tribute to his politica
associates" Senator Oven said.