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University Daily Kansan Thursday, May 5, 1960
Political Apathy Hinders U.S. Voting
(Editor's Note: This is the first in a series of articles concerning the political education of the American people.)
By Tom Turner
The fraternity man was greeted at the door of the squatty, low-income dwelling by a young man, dressed in overalls and apparently just-awakened from an afternoon nap.
The resident looked a bit puzzle
"Have you registered for the coming city election yet, sir?" the KU student asked.
The resident looked a bit puzzled.
"Naw, Iaint,' he drawled. "Don't see much sense in it. I don't know nothing about who's runnin' or anything. I'd just as soon let the folks who know what they're doing do the voting. I might vote for the wrong person."
At another residence, an elderly man replied:
"I've never voted in my life. Don't see much sense in starting now."
IFC a Sponsor
The University of Kansas Inter-
Fraternity Council was co-sponsoring
KU Zoologist Writes On Snakes, Lizards
William E. Duellman, assistant professor of zoology and assistant curator at the University of Kansas museum of Natural History, has written two publications about research on snakes and lizards which were released by the University Press this week.
The pamphlets are entitled "A Taxonomic Study of the Middle American Snake, Pituophis deppi" and "A New Subspecies of Lizard, Cnemidophorus sacki, from Michoacan, Mexico."
a drive in conjunction with the Lawrence City Junior Chamber of Commerce to facilitate getting the people of Lawrence to the polls to register in order that they may vote in the current Lawrence city elections.
The project involved a house-to-house canvass of residents and an offer of a free ride to the City Hall for those who had not yet registered.
According to Junior Chamber of Commerce reports of the canvass, these responses were typical of at least 35 per cent of the citizens contacted. The typical reply:
"Well, I just don't know enough about it."
These negative, couldn't-care-less attitudes were not typical of any one income group, section of town or race, the report continues.
The problem of an uninformed public is a big one. During the 1930's, the journalism profession began to catch up with the growing American government and public interest in politics. Fuller, more detailed reporting ensued and, eventually, the modern institution of interpretive reporting evolved.
Radio Helped
The broadcasting industry further contributed toward a more informed voting public. President Franklin D. Roosevelt perhaps introduced politics to radio with his "fireside chats."
Today, no issue, no political event is left uncovered, unwitnessed by the eyes of communication.
However, a busy America does not always have the time to read, analyze and consider. As a result, organizations have been formed, crusading for an increase in public interest and understanding. The crusades are
NEWTON—(UPI)—Cleanup operations were underway here today in the wake of a flash flood described as the worst in this south central Kansas town's history.
Flash Flood Soaks Newton
It claimed one life and forced approximately 100 persons from their homes. About 30 persons, mostly aged, invalids and children, were rescued by boats rushed here from Wichita.
Torrential rain measuring more than four inches at Hesson, northwest of here, sent the creek surging from its banks to cover an area of more than a dozen square blocks. For the first time in the memory of long-time residents, water crept to within two blocks of the Harvey County courthouse and three blocks from the business district.
Ned Walker, 14, drowned when his raft capsized on flooding Sand Creek, normally a small stream which skirts the northern and western outskirts of this city of about 13,000 persons.
Political education groups are active in Lawrence. The Junior Chamber of Commerce and the Inter-Fraternity Council were not the only participants in the "get-out-the-vote" campaign. The local American Federation of Labor-sponsored Committee on Public Education knocked on doors and rang telephones. Union workers checked master lists at the registration desks at city hall.
termed "political education."
Fight miles east of here, near the village of Walton, surface water ran a foot deep over U. S. Highway 50.
While the polls hummed, a Lawrence housewife answered a call at her front door:
The League, too, rang doorbells and telephones to "set out the vote."
"Mildred," said the woman at the door. I'm just checking to see whether or not you've registered to vote." The woman at the door was Mrs. Smith, a member of the Lawrence chapter of the League of Women Voters.
On the campus of KU two organizations urged their members to back this campaign. The Kansas Collegiate Young Republicans and Collegiate Young Democrats were asked by their parent parties to co-operate.
Groups Helped
Sand Creek began receding late yesterday and some residents returned to their homes.
These four organizations: one independent, one a branch of a larger organization, and two of them novice partisan organizations work not only to "get-out-the-vote," but to educate the students and citizens of Lawrence—to keep them informed on the pros and cons of current state and city legislation. The object is not only to get people to vote but to know what they're voting for.
How do these organizations function? What are their purposes? What role will they take in the 1960 elections?
Coming articles will deal with each group. Tomorrow, The Committee on Public Education (COPE) will be reviewed.
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The enactment of these two measures more than doubled the potential number of American voters according to United States census figures. Since then political education has been growing in importance on the Amerincr scene.
"The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex."
And Amendment XIX:
Amendment XV to the Constitution of the United States says:
count of race, color, or previous condition of servitude."
"The right of a citizen of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any other states on ac-
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May 21
Constitutional revision to be put forward to prevent non-members from voting and to add two members to the committee.
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