Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-09-29
Starts Drive
For Absentee Votes
Hart Puts TotuI
At 100000 in
District Area
BY JOHN v. HoRNER

upOll fSepuUllCdllo VIII live VI
work in Washington to join an
intensive october campaign de-
signed to get out absentee votes
for the election November 6.
Estimating that there are $780,
900 persons in the Metropolitan
Area who are qualified to vote in
their home States, Mr.. Hart said
the party would fall far short Of
its obligation If it does not get
more than half of that number
to cast ballots by mail.
The chairman's plea reflected
IN a measure, at least, Repub-
lican concern over G. o. P. pros
poets of victory in the presiden-
tial and congressional elections.
Il call on all Republicans liv-
ing or working in the District of
Columbia to go all out in getting
absentee voters to vote during
the next 81 days." Mr.. Hart said.
Urgency Is Emphasized
II cannot emphasize too
strongly the urgency of your
efforts"
The campaign, largest of its
kind ever conducted here, will be
pushed through newspaper ad-
vertising. radio spot" announce
mentS and cards on buses and
streetcarS. The chairman said
the Republican State Committee,
which he heads. is 100 per cent
behind the drive. Operations will
be directed from the Republican
Absentee Voters Bureau at 1415
K street NV.
I'VE think of Washington as a
city without a vote,' Mr.. Hart
said, but. according to the latest
estimates, there are 100000 reg
istered out-of-State voters in the
Metropolitan Area.
I'VE will fall far short of our
obligation if we do not get more
than half that number to vote. y
The chairman pointed out that
only 40 cities in the United
States have populations as large
as the number of out-of- State
voters in the Washington area.
Narrow Victories Cited
He said the G. o. P. commit
tee is not interested in Just the
total number of voters, but is
more concerned with the indi-
vidual vote. He cited several eX-
amples of elections by narrow
margins.
Last month he recalled, Rep
resentative Hale, Republican of
Maine. retained his seat in the
House by only % votes. He said
residents of Metropolitan WASH
ington cast 800 votes in the
Maine election, thereby provid-
ing the difference between VIC
tory and defeat.
In 1854, Mr.. Hart continued,
Republican Senators were cleo
ted in Ohio and New Jersey by
less than one vote per precinct.
Also in 1854, he said, Republican
Milward Simpson won the gover-
norship of Wyoming by LIP
votes out of a total of more
than 1000 cast,
But there is the other side
of the picture. too, where the
close ones went to our oppon-
nents," Mr.. Hart went on. For
instance, in 1852, President Eli
senhower lost the State of
Kentucky by total of only 700
votes.
1948 Election Recalled
"In 1913, a change of three
votes in each precinct in Illinois,
two in each precinct in Iowa
and one in each precinct I'M
Ohio would have resulted in al
Republican Congress.
Mr.. Hart disclosed that the
District Republican Committee
has made extensive preparations
for the october campaign.
More than a year ago the
District Committee enlisted the
help of Republican chairmen in
all AZ States which permit
absentee voting.
Each State chairman selected
a legal resident of his State now
living in Metropolitan Washing
ton to serve as absentee voter
campaign chairman here.
This group is working closely
with the party committee here
and with the staff at the Alb
sentee Voters Bureau, headed by
Mrs. Faith Gwynn Fisher.
New Names Obtained
In addition. the District COM
mittee sent forms to all known
registered Republicans in the
area, requesting them to list
names and addresses of friends
they thought were entitled to
vote by absentee ballot.
AS a result of these efforts, the
committee obtained 10000 new
names. Mr.. Hart said. This is a
net gain because there is an an
nual "attrition" of about S per
cent, due in part to moving away
from Washington.
Thus. the net gain since 1862
is approximately $4,000.
The chairman said he hopes
and believes the campaign organ
ization will turn out from IS to
35 per cent more absentee voters
than ever before. It is impoS-
sible to estimate exactly how
many voted by mail in 1852, but
the Republican bureau serviced
almost 100000 callers then. MIR.
Hart announced that De Witt
BallPw Is serving as diroctn,. ne