The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1940-11-01


could challenge his decision. He
might make mistakes; he might
be stupid, even ignorant; but he
was the works" and his word was
law. SO II is when the American
voter casts his ballot. In a crisis
such as we are facing today in our
national life. what group can we
count on when it comes to voting =?
II seems TO me we must count on
those independent voters who have
the horse sense that enables them
to see through bunk and get TO
the heart OF a crucial issue.
Who Are They?
Our democratic ideals imply that
the country can always depend on
the consensus OF Judgment OF
the average man for the wise d.
rection we need in any given Sit
uation. The average man does
not rate with the so called intel
lectuals nor with the rich. He is,
however, far more numerous than
all the privileged and favored
classes put together. At the bal
lot box he counts accordingly. The
well-to-do still count for more
than their actual number, because
OF the influence they exert on
those associated with or dependent
upon, thsm, but their influence
Is waning.
And yet, even when great issues
are at stake at the polls, there is
often a fairly close decision. 1t
was certainly so on Lincoln's sec
ond election. Furthermore. the
Islander of that time has never
been exceeded unless 1t was dur
ing Washington's campaigns. In
more recent times do not forget
that the Honorable Charles Evans
Hughes went to bed on election
night in 1916 fully convinced he
was the country's next President.
He awoke the next morning a de-
feated man.
Voters Disagree
In the national election four
years ago, Notwithstanding the
tremendous sweep by states made
by the Democratic Party, there
were 100000 men and women
who voted on the other side.
These 100000 Republican voters
were by no means from the priv
LEGGED and intellectual classes.
Among the 100000 voters on the
winning side there was a large
proportion OF the highly educated
and the well-to-do. Included in
these millions was also @ consid-
cradle percentage of the so-called
middle class, not exactly intellec-
tuals and certainly rot rich.
II would appear that out OF the
100000 votes cast for the two
major candidates there were 34,-
0O0, 600 voters who tied each other
One vote for, balancing another
against. | am considering now
the popular vote, not the electoral
vote where the ratio made the re-
suit heem like a thunder clap OF
popular opinion. The 17.000,G 00
vote where the ratio made the re,
see 1t that way. They know that
shift in less than million votes
some say 100000 in a number OF
crucial states would have given
LGndon majority OF the cleo
toral votes and put him In the
White House. II even In a land.
slide like four years ago a shift in
less than two and a half per cent
OF the voters might have changed
the final result what can we ex-
pect now where the contest may
realty be close
Armies Of Independent Voters
On November fifth, more than
ever before, party lines will be
ignored by millions. Great num-
bers Of Willkie Democrats have de-
clared themselves, and, as was the
case four years ago. there is a
flood of Roosevelt Republicans. |
am now making no definite fore
cast, but il certainly seems To- me
that the results next Tuesday will
he determined by the independent
voters. What makes independent
NGltl VI NdAitAN Ollt td1lOi 10 us
content with blind partisanship and
disgust with party leaders. Again
it is sheer restlessness and dissat-
isfactioh with the way things are
going As the veteran Arizona
Senator Ashurst gracefully declar-
ed. on his enforced retirement af-
ter 40 years in the United States
Senate 1T is the privilege OF the
people to displace an official and
substitute another for any good
reason, or for bad one, or for no
reason at ALL"
That implies what we all know
that there is no accounting for
what the electorate may do in any
given situation. Facts. reason, Wis
ion. principle, may all play their
part, but so do ignorance. preju-
dice. and passion Remember that
people are governed by their emo
tions far more than by their in
tellect, These confusing doubts
aEe-tke marks.-o Esoxereigns-
the way down through the pages OF
history. And by what reason
should we expect any more from
out 44,000,000 sovereign voters on
Tuesday than could be expected OF
kings, emperors, or dictators?
Ny Own Beliefs
I, however, have great faith in
out voters regardless OF their
party, race, or creed provided they
will take their God and their con-
science into the polling booth with
them. As consider the map OF
the world today who. in his right
mind. would want to swap the
American electorate for any other
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