The news fa this publi
cation is released for the
press on receipt.
THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA
NEWS LETTER
Published Weekly by the
University of North Caro
lina for the University Ex
tension Division.
SEPTEMBER 10, 1924
CHAPEL HILL, N. C.
THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA PRESS
VOL. X, NO. 43
B E. C. Brin.ion, S. fl. Habho. Jt.. L. R. Wilsoo. S. W. Kniaht. D. D. Oartoll, J. B. Bullitt. H, W. Odum.
Entered Ba aBcaad-claBB raattar NuTember It. 1911, at the PoBtofflce at Chauol Hill, N. G... under the actef Aa^uat 24. 1912 '
SOCIAL SCIENCE RESEARCHES
YOUR DUTY TO VOTE
The Federal Council of Churches of
Christ in America is putting on a Get-
Oat-rhe-Vote campaign in ali the states,
extending from August 30 to November
i>. That there is need for such a cam
paign is shown by the table which ap
pears elsewhere. The table ranks the
states according to the percent of qual
ified voters in each state who actually
voted in the presidential election of
1920.
The table shows very clearly that
there are vast differences among the va
rious states in the use of the ballot. In
Delaware, for instance, 75 percent of
ail qualified voters actually voted in the
1920 election. In South Carolina and
Mississippi less than 10 percent of the
qualified voters actually cast a ballot.
North Carolina ranks thirty-seventh
with only 44.6 percent of her ^qualified
voters voting in 1920. The'poor show
ing of North Oaroiina is due somewhat
to the fact tlmt relatively few negroes
vote. However, if only white voters
are considered, less than 60 percent of
the qualified white voters actually voted
in North Carolina in 1920.
“It is known, although not genej;ally
accurately known, that negligence in
the'exercise of the suffrage is a charac
teristic of American citizenship. Only
^ percent of qualified voters went to
the polls in 1920. Twenty-six and one
half million voted; twenty-seven and
one half million stayed at home. In
Ohio 1,000,000 did not vote. In Massa
chusetts in 1922 the state offcials were
chosen by one-sixth of the electorate.
In the same year thirty-three states
elected governors, but only two-thirds
of the qualified voters wentto'the polls.
In Philadelphia in 1923, only 26 percent
of the women and 49 percent of the
men qualified to vote exercised the
suffrage. In St. Louis, in 1920, only
49 percent of 800,000 registered voters
went to the polls, and only 28 percent
voted on the new constitution.”
Attention has been called ‘,.by the
National Manufacturers Association to
another alarming symptom,—a rapid
decline in the percentage of qualified
voters who go to the polls.
1896, eighty percent voted
1900, seventy-three percent
1908, sixty-six percent
1912, sixty-two percent
1920, forty-nine percent
This shows a decrease of forty per
cent in twenty-four years.
The real and growing menace of this
situation is apparent. A democracy
depends for its .safety and effectiveness
as a form of government upon an in
telligent electorate, a voting electorate,
an honest electorate, and public-spirited
leadership. When fifty-one percent of
the qualified voters do not go to the
polls, and possibly two-thirds of the
women voters stay at home in a nation
al campaign, it indicates great indiffer
ence. An indifferent electorate makes
it easy for self-seeking groups to get
control of the governments of counties,
muncipalities, states, and even of the
nation. It is known, although there
are no statistics, that the better quali
fied voters, including church people,
are especially at fault about register
ing and going to the polls.
Some Factors
Aside from the general indiffer
ence to the use of the ballot by the
potential voters of America, it might
be of interest to note a few factors
which help to account for the rank of
the several states.
The states with large ratios of native
white population usually rank well in the
use of the ballot. States which have
moderate or high negro ratios, like
most of those in the South, cast a small
vote in comparison to states with large
ratios of native white population.
^ States which have large ratios of
foreign-born population, like New York
and others, also rank below the average
in votes cast.
States in which the vote is about
evenly divided between two political
parties usually cast a relatively large
vote. Indiana and Kentucky are illus
trations. An overwhelming majority in
one party within a state usually results
in a light vote, other factors being
equal.
Agricultural states with large ratios
of farm tenants, and states with high
rates of illiteracy also tend to rank
low. Farm tenants who vare con
stantly shifting from place to place do
not remain in one place long enough to
vote, or they lose interest in the ballot
altogether. Such is the jease in all the
Southern States, and especially in the
cotton-belt counties, where the;vore is
often ridiculously small. In Pitt county,
for instance, out of a population of 46,-
000 only 4,960 votes were cast in 1920.
In Edgecombe with 38,0000 inhabitants
only 3,367 ballots were cast in 1920.
The low rank of the states of the
South in the use of the ballot is . due to
the fact that almost every factor that
helps tOs account, for non-use ..of Jthe
ballot is found in the South. In the first
place all southern states belong to one
political party. About one-third of the
inhabitants of the South are Negroes.
More than half of the farms of the
South are cultivated by tenants, mainly
share-renters and croppers who are
forever on the move. Two-thirds of
all the white illiteracy in the United
States is in the South, not to mention |
negro illiteracy. These are major social j
ills which must be improved before it is i
wise to insist on the universal use of the i
ballot. In view of the harm that might;
result from the use of the ballot by |
those less capable of wise decisions and i
less interested in safe and sane govern
ment, it is imperative that the more in
telligent of our voters become more
diligent in the use of the ballot. |
A democracy depends for its safety
upon an intelligent voting electorate. ,
Let's emphasize the getting out of the ,
intelligent vote. ;
SOCIAL SCIENCE RESEAECfi
One of J the most important steps
taken by the University^ofiiNorth Ca
rolina is' the recent organization by
President Chase of an Institute for
Research in Social Science. The pur
pose of this institute is to make com
prehensive and careful studies into
North Carolina and Southern Social
and Industrial Problems from the home
base and to publish these results from
time to time as they may be most ser-
viceable. I
The institute makes available from '
eight to ten research assistantships in ^
the University, paying a stipend of ^
$1,500 a year with provisions for field
work, tabulation and analysis of find
ings, and publication of results. Each
holder of such position must have had
at least his Master’s degree or its equi
valent in graduate research experience
and training, ^he board of governors
of the Institute consists of the follow
ing: President H. W. Chase, chairman,
E. C. Branson, D.D. Carroll, J.G. deR.
Hamilton, A.M. Jordan, L. R. 'Wilson,
and Howard W. Odum, secretary. The
institute has been made possible by
the grant of approximately $100,000
from the Laura Spelman Rockefeller
Memorial, distributed into three annual
payments of $35,600 each. The Insti
tute is already under way, having held
three meetings and having begun sev
eral projects of important studies,
among which are those in county
government and county affairs described
elsewhere in the News Letter.
LOOKING AHEAD
North Carolina progress is no longer
a matter warranting vain boasting.
The time has passed when really
marvelous advancement is a thing so
new as to be aperpetual wonder. There
is enough development behind us indus
trially, educationally, socially, to justify
us in taking state achievement for
granted in a large measure. And still
there are thousands of people who have
not waked up to the realization of what
is going on around them. They are losing
the stimulus that comes from knowing
the story of their State’s awakening;
they are missing the opportunities in
herent in sane forecasting of the future
by the things accomplished in the
past. Let Tarheels never become con
firmed braggarts, but let them open
their eyes to the prodigious events ail
around them. Only the superficial will
become self-satisfied from what they
see, for it requires little analysis to dis
cover that there are yet many things in
which we as a peopla are lacking.—
Asheville Citizen.
COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
Six years ago the North Carolina
Club at the University issued a
Year-Book of 188 pages on County
Government and County Affairs in
North Carolina. No publication of
the Club ever aroused a- more pro
found interest in this and other
states. The edition was quickly ex
hausted and only the file copies are
left in our library lockers.
A little later the State Associa
tion of County Comissioners in its
annual meeting at the University
appointed a committee on Improved
County Government, with E. C.
Branson as the executive secretary.
This committee realized (1) the ur
gent necessity for better county
government in North Carolina—
si/ch a plan as would be possible
under North Carolina conditions,
(2)that the cost of county govern
ment for all purposes whatsoever
is rapidly rising (from nearly six
million dollars in 1912 to twenty-one
million dollars in 1922, or three and a
half times as much), (3) that county
taxes cannot very much longer con
tinue to increase at this rate without
such revolt among the taxpayers as
will imperil every worthy civic en
terprise whatsoever, (4) that simple
uniform account-keeping and report
ing upon ali public moneys received
and expended is absolutely neces
sary, (5) that fiscal control in a uni
fied county government under defi
nite authoritative headship is the
way out of the jungle of county
government, (6) that the taxpayers
must receive a one hundred percent
return for every tax dollar paid,-or
as nearly so as is humanly possi
ble, (7) that everybody knows some
thing in a vague indefinite way about
county government but that nobody
at present knows enough of the
bare-bone facts in North Carolina\
From that day until this the Secre
tary of the County Government
Committee of the State Association
of County Commissioners has left no
stone unturned to secure an ade
quate field research fund in order to
dig out the facts and to base a
workable plan for improved county
government on some adequate fact-
foundation.
Field Research
As a result the Deparment of
Rural Social Economics at the Uni
versity has at last secured $18,000
to cover three years of County
Courthouse Studies in typical rural
counties of the state. The Univer
sity School of Commerce has re
ceived a similar fund with which to
make similar studies in the ten big-
city counties of North Carolina. As
early as possible the coming fall
three field agents from the Depart
ment of Rural Social Economics
here will be at work in three typical
rural counties and later on in the
college year in three other such
counties. Our hope is that v/e can
cover eighteen rural counties during
the three years. These field agents
will work under the direction of
Profs. E. C. Branson and S. H.
Hobbs, Jr., and the end of their ef
fort will be to present a plan for
Improved County Government in
this state and to do so on a fact-basis.
Each of the three field research
assistants is registered for a doctor
ate degree in Improved County
Government, and also they will be
registered in the University for col
lateral studies in writing their final
doctorate dissertations. Their work
is therefore two-fold, first field re
searches in the county courthouse,
and second University studies re
lated to Improved County Govern
ment.
What About Your County?
Manifestly our work will be con
centrated upon counties in which
we are formally invited by the
County Commissioners. This an
nouncement is made in order to
put the county authorities in the
rural territories of the state upon
notice so that they can if they
choose send in invitations at the
earliest possible moment. The coun
ties chosen by the University Insti
tute of Research will be confined to
the counties issuing such invitations
to us. It is easy to see that our
County Courthouse Studies cannot
succeed without the cordial cooper
ation of the county officials. The
county commissioners in any coun
ty of the state interested in the
work we are undertaking to do
will please let us have invitations at
the earliest possible moment.—E. C.
Branson, University of North Caro
lina, Chapel Hill, N.C.
WELFARE RESEARCH
The School of Public Welfare in
cooperation with the State Depart
ment of Public Welfare is putting on
this fall some special studies and pro
grams in a Four-County Demonstration.
From its headquarters at Raleigh
the State Department of Public Wel
fare, in cooperation with the Univer
sity School of Public Welfare, is
planning a similar project. There are
several purposes of these efforts. To
demonstrate what the North Carolina
plan of Public Welfare can do with sim
ple but adequate organization in rural
counties is one purpose. To undertake
certain experiments for which the need
must be shown to exist is another pur
pose; to demonstrate the merits of the
North Carolina plan to other states,
which are watching it, is another pur-:
pose. Other purposes involved^are to
work out a wholesome cooperative ar
rangement with all other agencies
working for the public good and to
provide a standard method- for field
work and training of social workers
and public welfare leaders at the Uni
versity of North Carolina.
This cooperative plan has been made
possible bj a grant of $60,000 from
the Laura Spelman Rockefeller Me
morial, this grant to be divided equally
between the State Department of Pub
lic Welfare and the School of Public
Welfare in installments of $10,000 each
for three years, Plans are being worked
out with much care looking towards
bringing about tbe best results desired
by North Carolina counties.
CHILD EMPLOYMENT
According to the report of the child
welfare commission just made public
the condition with reference to the
employment of children in North Caro
lina has greatly impoved during the
last few years and this state now
ranks among the highest in this partic
ular. The commission has been work-
ihg on this report for months. Data
were gathered from more than six thou
sand /industrial plants for this report,
which showed a total of 10,426 children
between the ages of 12 and 16 employed.
Only one percent of these were illegally
employed.
The child labor question has given
child welfare organizations and indus
trial plants considerable worry during
the past ten years, but gradually the
problem is being solved. North Carolina
has made much progress in her social
legislation and every few years sees
additional protective measures written
into law. Federal child labor laws have
thus far been declared unconstitutional.
Another is now before the national
congress. The North Carolina law,
however, goes about as far as any
national law thus far proposed has gone.
It combines with its mandatory sections
public school attendance. It furnishes
common ground upon which the citi
zens of the state may combine to
advance the education, health, and pub
lic welfare of its children, the child
welfare commission is charged with the
administration of this law. Children
under sixteen may be employed in in
dustrial plants under certain conditions
if a certificate is first procured.
North Carolinians should be proud of
the record this state is making in re
cent years in child employment. There
is always danger as a state be
comes industrialized, as this one is fast
becoming, that there may be a tendency
to lower social and health standards.
The fact that the opposite is true in
North Carolina should be all the more
gratifying.—Cherokee Scout.
BKCKETT’S CREAM
i have endeavored to visualize my
dream of a fairer and finer State. I have
outlined the means by which I hope to
make this dream come true. And the
means all reach out to a single end—
a larger hope, a wider door for the
average man than he has ever known.
With a six-months school guaranteed
to every child; with the forces of dis
ease routed from their ancient strong
hold; with the curse of rum lifted from
every home; with our fields tilled by
the men who own and therefore love
them; with our harvests free from the
crop lien’s deadly blight; with modern
conveniences'and wholesome diversions
within reach of every country borne,
our dear old State, released from her
bondage to the blood-kin tyrants of
Ignorance, Poverty, Disease, and
Crime, will begin to realize her finest
possibilities in riches and grace; will
assume her rightful place in the march
of civilization; and from the blue of the
mountains to the blue of the sea there
will spring up a hardier, holier race,
not unlike the giants that walked the
earth when the sons of God mated with
the daughters of men.—Thos. W.
Bickett, Ex-Governor of North Caro
lina.
EDUCATION AND INQOME
Many parents living in rural com
munities are doubtless debating whether
they should send the boys and girls who
completed the courses in the small dis
trict schools last spring to high schools
this fall. One question they probably
ask is: Will it pay in dollars and cents?
The United States Department of
Agriculture and various state agricul
tural colleges have made a number of
investigations of the difference be
tween the incomes of educated and un
educated farmers. All these studies
show that in the majority of cases the
better trained farmers receive the bet
ter incomes. The results cited in the
following studies are typical of these
investigations.
The Department of Agriculture re
ports a survey of three representative
areas in Indiana, Illinois, and Iowa,
which shows that tenant farmers with
a high school education receive an
average annual income of $526 a year
more than the men with only a common-
school education. A college education
will add to this average $463 a year
making the income of college graduates
$879 more a year than the labor earn
ings of men with only a common-school
education.
Cornell University has estimated
that a high school education is worth as
much to a farmer as $6,000 worth of
bonds bearing five percent interest,
i and that a college education is worth
i twice that amount.—Gastonia Gazette.
A DLMOCRiCY OF NON-VOTEKS
The following table, based on data compiled by the Federal Council of
Churches of Christ from official sources shows the percent of the qualified voters
of each state who voted in the presidential election of 1920, a record year.
While 1920 was an exceptional year, less than half of the qualified voters cast
a ballot.
Delaware ranks best with 75. percent of her qualified voters voting in 1920.
South Carolina comes last with only 8.5 percent of qualified voters voting.
North Carolina ranks 37th with only 44.6percent voting.
Department of Rural Social Economics, University of North Carolina
Percent Qualified
Voters Who Voted
in 1920
Delaware 76.0
Indiana '^4.1
Kentucky 71.8
Washington. 71.7
West Virginia 71.7
Utah 70.4
North Dakota 70.2
Missouri 67.6
Ohio 67.6
New Hampshire 67.4
Iowa 63.6
Nevada 62.6
New Mexico 62.3
Montana 62.1
Idaho 61.6
Illinois 60.3
Minnesota 69-4
New Jersey 59.2
Rhode Island 58.0
Kansas 57.9
Connecticut 67.7
South Dakota 56.2
Colorado 66.1
Nebraska 55.7
Rank States
Rank States Percent Qualified
Voters Who Voted
in 1920
26 Michigan 66.6
26 Wyoming 64.3
27 Massachusetts 63.3
28 Oregon 62.9
29 /New York 62.7
30 Wisconsin 52.3
31 Maryland 62.2
32 California 48.9
33 Oklahoma 48.2
34 Arizona 47.3
36 Maine 46.9
36 Vermont 45.2
37 North Carolina 44.6
38 Pennsylvania 42.7
39 Tennessee 35.4
40 Florida 28.9
41 Alabama 22.1
42 Arkansas 20.8
43 Virginia 19.3
44 Texas 18.5
46 Louisiana 14.0
46 Georgia 10.5
47 Mississippi 9.5
48 South Carolina 8.5