Evening star., 1944-11-07
Vote|ess DC.
Again Watches
From SideIines
400, 900 Residents
Are Estimoted to
Lack Franchise

Washington residents sat on the
sidelines of a national election
again today.
The only people living and work.
ing in the Nations Capital who were
able to take an active part in the
selection OF new President and
Congress were the comparatively
few who maintain legal residences
IN one of the 48 States.
Limited to sideline role were all
the bona f1de" residents of the Dis
trict Of Columbia, deprived of the
right to vote because they were
born here or decided to make Wash
ington their home.
Conservative estimates place ths
number Of persons Of voting age liy-
ing here without voting residence
In one of the States at 100000 or
more. Their election activity was
restricted to roofing for one side
or the other, listening to the re-
suits of the voting by millions of
other American citizens and joining
In parties to celebrate" tonight.
Campaign Funds Raised.
Many voteless Washingtonians
already had given a practical DEM
onstration Of their political interest
by contributing to party campaign
funds.
James c. Wilkes, chairman of the
Republican State Committee for the
District, reported that $4,000 had
been raised among local residents.
Russell Balderson, chairman Of
the Democratic Central Committee
for the District, said the Democratic
organization still was collecting
funds and had not made a final
report.
The s11s,oso in Republican con-
trlbutions here included $1,000
raised by women's preconvention
committee under the leadership Of
Mrs. Thad Brown; $3l ,582.5o col.
lected by the Finance COMMITTEES.
headed by Edward F. Colladay; $65..
727.50 raised by the Dewey -Bricker
Club, under the presidency of James
A. Councillor. and s10,780 sent di-
rectly from here to the Republican
national Committee.
Mr.. Wilkes said the amount col.
lected is far greater than any raised
previously among local Republicans
in a presidential campaign, and also
exceeds the 100000 quota set. The
fund-raising was done entirely by
volunteer workers, he said.
Most of the money was trans
mitted to the Republican National
Committee, although some was used
to buy radio time for Gov. Dewey's
broadcasts and for senatorial and
congressional campaign purposes.
Thousands Leave to Vote.
Thousands of persons with direct
personal interest in the election had
deserted Washington to vote in
their home States, leaving the White
House, the Senate and House Of
f1ce Buildings virtually empty today.
Many Government workers who
maintain a legal residence in States
permitting absentee voting already
had cast their ballots by mail. Po-
litical leaders estimated that alto
gether some 125,000 persons from
Washington were exercising the
privilege Of voting in other States.
Even they, however, had no voice
in the choice Of local government
for the Capital city.
The local Dewey -Bricker Club and
the Republican State Committee for
the District planned an elaborate
affair to be held in the Presidential
Room of the Statler Hotel, start
ing at 7 pm. Election returns will
be shown on a 12-by-20-foot score
board and broadcast oyer a public
address system. Various enter.
tainment acts also were planned.
Democrats Plan Party.
The Democratic Central Commit
tee OF the District is holding its
open house" party in the Burgundy
Room of the Burlington Hotel,
starting at pm, to hear the elec-
ton returns.
Local headquarters of the Re-
publican and Democratic National
Committees, their campaign work
completed, were expected to be vir-
tually deserted tonight. 1t was said
at the Democratic headquarters in
the Mayf1ower Hotel that virtually
every one there would be in New
York at national headquarters of
the party organization. The Re-
publican committee offices at 1887
Connecticut avenue were expected
to remain open, but with little
activity there, since most of the
workers not going to New York
planned to attend the party at the
Statler pofel