Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-09-23
341,465 CITIZENS
. OF VOTING AGE IN
VOTELESS CAPITAL
Census Shows 331 ,443 Eli
gibIe, Deducting Unnatural
lied Alien Total.
1906 ARE WOMEN,
AGAINST 10000 MEN
Not More Than 10000 Here Who
Are Voters in States, Accord
ing to, Party Workers.

BAL, 465 persons of voting age, the Gen.
sus Bureau announced today in its
tabulation Of the population here, OF
81 years of age and over. Only 10,o22
of this total are unnaturalized.
Should national representation be
authorized here, the records, which are
based on the census Of April 1, 1880,
show that there would be 331, 443 per-
sons entitled to vote after deducting
the alien count.
From the general total Of Sal. 465,
the strength Of the woman's vote would
be more powerful than the male by
19,847, there being 180, $50 women and
10000 men residing in the District.
This represents general increase of
1920 during the last decade.
OF the total of 331,4 43 persons actu-
ally entitled to vote but disfranchised
by law. observers have estimated liber-
ally that 10000 maintain legal resi-
dence in States where they resided be-
fore moving into the District. It has
also been estimated that IS 900 Of this
number cast their ballots at the presi-
Dental election in 1920, which was said
to have surpassed that cast in any
election.
Advocates Of national representation
for the unfranchised District of
Columbia pointed out today that
these estimates are of practical
value, now that there are avail
able the official figures of the 1880
special census for the number of Dis
trict residents who possess and exercise
the privilege of voting in national cleo
tons in the outside States, and who
are willing to proclaim the fact.
S26,S6O without Suffrage.
The number reported by the Census
Bureau was 15.l05. including Alaska
and Hawaii, or exactly "a per cent OF
the entire population of the District
81 years OF age and over. In other
words, according to the observers view
point, OF the Districts population Of
voting age, 341 ,465, there are 1885, $50
who are without the voting privilege, or
who, possessing the privilege, refrained
for one reason or another from declar-
ing the fact to the census enumerator
According to those who have made
close study of the situation, pleas
made by District residents, who wish to
exercise the privilege of suffrage, have
been answered in the past with state
ments that a very large proportion of
the adult population of the District
votes or has the right to vote in the
States. They pointed out that the
special report of the Census Bureau
makes this answer appear little more
than an evasion by those who are op..
posing the demand of the DISTINGUISHED
residents.
The census director, In reporting the
results OF the special enumeration on
September 10. 1880. admitted that some
errors In the computation may have
crept in, due to the failure Of enumera-
tors to ask the question of voting resi-
dence. He was also quoted, however,
in his statement on that day, that "the
number reported is fairly complete"
Regarding this phase, it is pointed
out that It has been common talk
that of the total population of
the District $4,000 or even 1000
vote in the States, having legal resi-
dence there, and even after the Census
Bureau made public its figures similar
assertions have been made. But they
asserted that 1t Is uncomfortable that
an error of such magnitude could have
been made by the bureau. They added
that it is one thing to estimate the
number Of voters residing here and an
~SAASA eAAAB w NOAAAe
Departures for BalIoting.
Leaders Of one of the major parties
estimated that in the Presidential cleo
tions Of 1908, 1912 and 1916 voters Of
their party went from the District to
vote in their home States as follows:
1908, 5000; 1912, 10000, and 1915, TO-
600. Observers said that 1t was safe to
assume that there were similar num-
bers of the otheF> major party who also
went home to vote and this would
double the above figures. 1t is said that
the result tailed favorably with the
estimates given for the 1920 election.
Based upon these estimates from local
party workers observers added that II
seemed reasonable to assume that there
are not over 10000 residents here VINO
could vote or could qualify as such
In the States. They further asserted
that there appears to be nothing
tangible upon which to base hgner
estimate.
A suggestion has been made that the
civil service employees residing here
have hesitated to tell the census
enumerators that they took part in the
elections on the theory that civil service
rules prohibit political activity OF sucn
employees. Observers pointed out there
Is nothing In the rules of the civil serv-
Ice which in any way interferes with
the right Of these employees to vote.
They added that this line Of argument,
set up In an effort to explain the fall
ure OF the census to show greater
number OF voters, Is not In the least
convincing.
The Census Bureau in its national
compilation of the population of voting
age in the United States placed the
number at 72,943, 624 in 1890, compared
with 60,886,520 in 1920, the increase
amounting to 12,057,104, or 1913 per
cent. All Of the general total are not
eligible to vote, several million being
unnaturaliSed. Men of voting age ex-
ceeded women in 1880 by only 1,169, 800.
numbering 37,056,757, compared with
35,086,867 women.
District Exceeds 10 States.
In its summary by States Of the num-
Der OF persons enumerated by census
takers the Districts 24l, 465 exceeded
that OF each OF 10 States: Montana by
22,054; New Hampshire by 47,410, Utah
by 76,967. Idaho by 1886, Arizona by
1880, Vermont by 12l,O39, New Mex
leo by 124,509, Delaware by 1858.
wyoming by 208,51l and Nevada by
280, Ell.
In three States the voting-age popu-
lation was only slightly in excess of
that OF the District-North Dakota ex-
ceeds the District by 1911, South
Dakota by 44,S43 and Rhode Island
by 1882.
The national figures in comparison
with the votes cast in the last presi-
dental election reveal that only about
one-hah OF the people eligible to vote
IN the United States 60 to the ballot
box In presidential election.
nj the OAa goa ..... nd