Evening star., 1952-04-23
6. .0.P. Readies
Registration for
D. {. Primary
Office to Be Open
Daily to April 30;
Volunteers to Aid
By Crosby S. Moves

H street NV. buzzed with ac-
tivity today in preparation for a
heavy registration of District
Republicans for the G. o. P.
primary here.
The registration period starts at
noon tomorrow and continues
through April 80. The Office will
be open daily, except Sunday,
from noon to pm.
A crew of workers was busy this
morning putting up a long regis
tration counter and conspicuous
window signs. The Office, which
formerly housed a B. & o. Rail-
road ticket Office. was made avail
able to the G. o. P. by the Riggs
National Bank.
Chairman Joseph C. McGar-
raghy of the Republican State
Committee was on hand at noon
to brief 30 volunteer workers in
how to register primary voters.
Sees Greater Interest.
He observed that "here in the
District there is greater interest
this year in the primary than we
have usually SEEN"
Republican leaders have printed
10000 registration cards in prep
aration for an unprecedented
turnout of prospective voters.
Certain changes in the proceed
ure, Mr.. McGarraghy said, have
been made this year to "set up
a system whereby everybody who
is qualified will have a chance
to register conveniently" He ex-
planned the qualifications as:
/. The registrant must be Re-
publican.
2. He must have lived in Wash
ington for at least one year pre-
ceding the registration.
8. He must not have or claim
voting privileges in any State.
4. He must be over 81 years old
No Challenge Planned.
AS to the first of these qualif1-
cations, Mr.. McGarraghy added:
II don't think anybody who is TAX
ing registrations should challenge
any registrant on his political
Affiliations. That should be done.
if necessary, by some one else. The
registering should be done with
complete impartiality."
Explaining the residence re-
ouirement, the committee chair
man said it was not intended as
a means of keeping down District
registration.
"We do it because if a person
has a real vote elsewhere we don't
want them to jeopardize their
right to vote by registering here"
he said.
It was pointed out that in ad-
dition to the central registering
place, voters may register for the
primary with the chairman of
their election district. To find out
the name and address of their
chairman, residents may call the
central Office at National 0486.
The city has been divided into
43 districts for the election.
Manning the central registra-
tion Office will be a group of some
35 volunteer workers, most OF
them long time members Of the
local G. o. P. committee.
Registrations this year will be
made on numbered cards instead
of on a list sheet as in previous
primaries. AS they are filled out,
the cards will be turned over to
district chairmen. The chairmen
will notify residents of district
meetings where delegates to the
local convention will be elected.
Active Campaign On.
Both the State Committee and
the Eisenhower Club have been
carrying on an active campaign
to turn out a record vote. Com
mittee workers are instructed to
avoid indorsing any particular
candidate. Club literature urges
voters to vote for Ike.
The Democratic primary will be
held June II.
The opening Of the registration
period will be highlighted by a
speech by Senator Taft at 8 pm.
tonight in Constitution Hall. The
meeting, sponsored by the District
Republican Club, is open to the
public.