Evening star., 1950-10-14
Political Study
Hits Denial Of
District Vote
Science Association
Finds Valid Reason
Lacking in System

There is no legitimate reason
why residents of the District
should not have a vote, the Amer
lean Political Science Association
contends after a four-year study
of political parties and voting pro-
cedure.
A brief but pointed reference
to the disfranchisement of Wash
ingtonians is contained in a re-
port, released late yesterday.
which covers the study made by
the associations committee on
political parties.
The 30,000-word summary. in
discussing ''undemocratic limita-
tions" to voting, declares that
action is indicated to extend the
suffrage to the inhabitants of the
District of Columbia"
No Sound Reasons.
Denial of the vote to the pop
ulation of the National Capital
today cannot be based on sound
reasons of general policy" the re-
port says.
During a press conference in
the Hotel Statler yesterday, DIR.
James K. Pollock, of the Univer-
sity of Michigan, president OF the
association, said there would be
special justification for denying
the vote to a felon, person who
is insane, or others obviously re-
stricted by similar causes, but
there is no justification at all"
in the case of the District.
I'm spite of all the talk OF bu-
reaucrats in Washington, the vote
here would be a highly intelligent
one, which would make a great
contribution to the democratic
process" he said.
The report. in discussing the
national situation, contends Amer
ica's two big political parties are
archaic" and that political party
organization sis still substantially
what it was before the Civil War;"
Sweeping Changes Urged.
In calling urgently for sweep
ing change" the 16-member COM
mittee unanimously warned Of
growing voter cynicism land the
shifting of excessive responsibility
to the President"
1t also pointed out emphat-
ically that failure to strengthen
party system might eventually
lead to the disintegration of the
Republican and Dem ocra tt C
Parties and the growth of ex-
tremist parties, each frantically
bent on imposing on the country
its particular panacea."
The report also charged that
the alternatives between the
parties are defined so badly that
it is often difficult to determine
what the election has decided.
even in the broadest terms"
The members of the committee
called national party conven-
tions "unwieldly, unrepresentative
and less than responsible" bodies.
Changes Suggested.
Several suggestions to eliminate
barriers to voting were contained
in the report. One called for
holidays to permit larger numbers
of persons to vote, or holding
elections on Saturdays or Sun
days, for the same reason.
Another suggestion said denial
of the vote in some States because
of educational barriers, white pri-
maries or social pressure should
be overcome by "a combination of
legal change and educational
efforts"
The short ballot was recon-
mended on the ground that it
would be less likely to confuse
voter knowing too little about so
many candidates.
Realease of the report COIN
cided with opening of national
offices OF the association. in the
Dupont Circle Building, and the
appointment of Edward H. Litch-
field as executive director. Chair
man of the committee that made
the study is Prof. E. E. Schatt-
schneider.