Evening star., 1944-10-06

My fellow Americans - am
speaking to you tonight from the
White House. I am speaking par
ticularly on behalf OF those Ameri-
cans who, regardless OF party, very
much hope that there will be re-
corded a large registration and q
large vote this fall. know from per-
sonal experience how effective pre-
cinct workers of all parties through
out the Nation can be in assuring .
large vote.
We are holding a national elec-
ton despite all the prophecies Of
some politicians and a few news
papers who have stated, time and
again in the past, that it was my
sinister purpose to abolish all cleo
tions and to deprive the American
people Of the right to vote.
These same people. caring more
for material riches than human
rights, try to build up bogies of
dictatorship in this republic, al
though they know that free elec-
tions will always protect our Nation
against any such possibility.
Nobody will ever deprive the
American people of the right to
vote except the American people
themselves-and the only way they
could do that is by not voting.
The continuing health and vigor
Of our democratic system depends
on the public spirit and devotion Of
its citizens which find expression in
the ballot box.
Sacred Obligation.
Every man and every woman In
this Nation-regardless of party
who has the right to register and
to vote, and the opportunity to
register and to vote. have also the
sacred obligation to register and to-
vote. For the free and secret ballot
is the real keynote of our American
constitutional system.
The American Government has
survived and prospered for more
than q century and a half, and it
Is now at the highest peak of its
vitality. This is primarily because
when the American people want a
change Of Government-even when
they merely want new faces'-they
can raise the old electioneering bat
tle-cry of throw the rascals Cut."|
1t is true that there are many
undemocratic defects in voting laws
in the various States; and some of
these produce injustices which pre-
vent a full and free expression of
public opinion.
The right to vote must be open
to our citizens irrespective Of race,
color or creed-without tax or arti-
f1cial restriction of any kind. The
sooner we get to that basis of po-
litical equality, the better it will be
for the country as a whole.
Candidates in every part of the
United States are now engaged in
running for Office.
Normal Desire to Win.
All of us are actuated by a normal |
desire to win. But, speaking per-
sonally, should be very sorry to
be elected President of the United
States on small turnout of voters.
And by the same token, If were to
be defeated, should be much hap
pier to be defeated in a large out
pouring Of voters. Then there could
not be any question of doubt in
anybody's mind as to which way the
masses of the American people
this election to 60. 4
The free and full exercise of our
sacred right and duty to vote is
more important than the personal
hopes or ambition of any candidate
for Office in the land.
The administration which must |
cope with the difficult problems of
the war, and of peace and
reconstruction should be chosen by
D clear majority of all the people
and not part of the people.
In the election Of 1920-one of the