Show American Tradition Voting-Age Voting Minority Push Pushes s Choice in as Always Before n By James Jame t Marlow MarIo V WASHINGTON WASHINGTON-An ASH I N G TON TON-An An old American tradition still stin olds holds true and Tuesdays Tuesday's elections prove it again Its It's this Our government is elected by only a minority of the people able to vote vote although although Its It's elected elected elect elect- ed d by a majority of those actually actually ac ac- ac- ac voting Why Because so many people of voting age dont don't take part in inthe inthe inthe the elections All this has happened happened happened hap hap- again and again in American Ameri Amen can history The total count from Tuesdays Tuesday's Tuesdays Tuesday's Tuesdays Tuesday's Tues Tues- days day's vote was not yet complete as this was written early carlyon on Wednesday so the figures here will ill be approximate But even if they're off a couple couple couple cou cou- of million the point still will willbe willbe be bc proved Say that Tuesdays Tuesday's vote to totaled totaled to- to That's a fair guess And say the winner got votes to for the loser But you say say that is a majority of the votes cast in Tuesdays Tuesday's election But But But- It is in fact Its It's a clear dear majority majority ma ma- of 52 of of the votes cast But But But- That still stin is only a small part of the total number of people In this countr country who are of voting age This will show how The census Js bureau figures that this year there are about p people ople 21 years or older older and and therefore old enough to vote vote vote-in in this country Some of those m may maybe a y b e about are are aliens and mentally deficient people who cant can't vot vote But for forthe forthe forthe the sake of illustration let the figure stand Remember Only about 50 of those voted So a 8 total of votes is a minority minority of of the total number of people of voting age although its it's a 52 majority majority ma ma- of the votes actually cast ast Therefore a minority of people people peo peo- pie of or voting age were able once again to set up a a. government of their choosing for Cor the majority of oC voting-age voting people Some Examples A few examples will show theres there's nothing new about this When Warren G. G Harding was elected president in 1920 only votes were cast out of an estimated voting-age voting population population population lation of Harding got of the votes cast That was wasa wasa a a 60 majority for Harding But But But- That vote he got was Wa only 29 of the total number number number num num- ber of people of voting ag age Take the first election of Franklin D. D Roosevelt In 1932 when there were an estimated people of voting age Only took the trouble trouble trouble trou trou- ble to go to the polls The vote for Roosevelt was wa that year Although that was a majority majority of 57 of the total vote cast it was only 30 of the total number of people people peo peo- plc of voting voting- age J Just st one more example Some are indifferent and forget forget for for- forget get that the fullest expression of democracy is a vote by all aU the people Some for one reason br another cant can't get to the polls Some ar south southern rn Negroes who are blocked from voting Others are southern white men who dont don't vote because because in in inthe the normally Democratic south the the Republicans are no real opposition tion So since the Democratic candidate candidate can can- is a cinch to win wina a a lot lotof lotof of ot people who might vote to beat beata a Republican dont don't bother to vote |