Speech #710020147

Mr. President. is that desirable? I have been one of those who. though regretting the tremendous number of citizens. estimated by the New York World last summer at 30.000.000 who are eligible to use the franchise and who decline it. oppose forcing citizenship. the vote. or naturalization upon anybody. I think a much healthier political situation will exist when elections are determined by the conscientious exercise of the voting privilege by those who voluntarily. through a sense of duty and knowledge of political issues. make decisions at the ballot box. than to have the balance of power in elections in the hands of those. whether aliens or native born. who are not voluntarily prompted by their own sense of duty to exercise the duties of voting. but -who. when enfranchised. are often lashed and driven like dumb cattle into voting party labels without any voluntary. honest. sincere desire or intelligent conception of what theory or policy their vote may register. Indeed. the suggestion that nonenfranchised citizens should not be counted for the purpose of apportionment has already been made. and considerable agitation to that end has been made by a distinguished Member of the House of Representatives from my own State.