The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1932-10-14
BY DIR. HARRY ELMER BARNES

OF articles on lack OF interest shown by
American voters.
BY DIR. HARRY ELMER BARNES
In previous article I pointed out
the marked decline in voting in
terest on the part Of the American
electorate. Today I shall discuss
some reasons for this and possible
ways Of reviving popular interest in
exercising the right of suffrage.
To a considerable extent this lack
of interest in voting is due to the
lsrge-scale and complicated nature
of contemporary politics. This has
destroyed that sense Of immediate
personal interest in elections and
that curiosity about candidates
characteristic Of the earlier type of
rudimentary local politics.
A sense Of vagueness and futility
has superseded rather keen per-
sonal interest in politics that direct
ly and Yisibly concerned the every
day life Of the individual and in
candidates who were the personal
acquaintance Of all or most Of the
voters.
Cynicism Is Generated
Undoubtedly, another source of
political indifference is the cynicism
generated by modern partisan
politics and the accompanying cor
ruption and incompetence. This
creates the impression that it makes
little or no difference. as to which
party or policy prevails.
1t also might be pointed out in
passing that this apparent lack of
vital differences between party
methods and policies has become
essentially true in American DO
litical life today. This state of
affairs offers decisive refutation
of the thesis that democratic gov
eminent is bound to create parties
with marked differences as to policy
and procedure in government.
One of the most disconcerting
aspects of the democratic debacle is
that people seem as Indifferent and
incompetent with respect to the So
called remedies for democratic fail
ures as they are with regard to the
processes of traditional democracy.
1t has often been held that the
remedy for democracy is more de-
mocracy, namely, direct primaries, |
the initiative and referendum, and
the recall Of judges and of judicial
decisions.
Need Intelligent Interest
The unfortunate fact is that if the
people could make successful use of
such devices they would not need
them. If they could develop the in
terest and intelligence essential to
any effective exploitation of such a
mechanism as the initiative and
referendum, they would be able TO
govern without it.
These remedies" for democratic |
failures make the same demands |
upon interest, attention and DELHI
Grafton that are required for the
success of conventional democratic
processes. If the people can not
muster enough interest and ration
atty to handle a general election,
1t scarcely can be imagined that |
they will do much in the way OF |
successfully operating direct pri-
marieS or popular referendums.
The experience with these devices |
of radical democracy in the last |
generation has shown that they fail
as often as democracy of a more
moderate type, and for the same
reasons.
Professor Harold F. Gosnell has
been investigating this problem of
voting under a democratic system
abroad and has embodied his con-
illusions in a recent volume entitled
why Europe Votes"
Examining the situation in Great
Britain, Germany, France, Belgium
and Switzerland, he shows that
there is far greater interest in
casting ones ballot abroad than /
prevails in the United States. He |
recommends as measures which |
might improve the situation here:
CD Direct popular election of |
the President; % proportional rep
reSentation; CD the short ballot;
"a permanent central registration
of all voters; 90 complete notifica-
ton of all eligible voters; Co can
collation. of voting privileges for
failure to vote, and Cd a more clear
and direct formulation of party
issues.
These are suggestions worth pom
dering. Certainly democracy hardly |
can Be regarded as functioning when |
only half Of its adult citizens have !
enough interest to turn out to regis
ter their choice as to our chief
executive.
Democracy Is majority rule. IF |
the majority does not indicate it's
preferences, popular government |
becomes farce.