SIP-9—" Jotter's" reference to deliberately abstaining from voting at the General Election— or for that matter, at any local election---when a citizen cannot in conscience support any of the Parties ex presses the opinion held by practically everyone I know. And all of them are good citizens who have acted as such since this war commenced, and before.
It would be really interesting, if you can ventilate the matter. to learn if this attitude is genefal amongst your readers and if so, the reasons for their Conscientious objection to the present Parties. My own personal opinion is that most people are, or were, interesteed in politics. but tor years have suffered a sense of political frustration because their supposed representatives, both in Parliament and in the local councils have deserted them. A propaganda machine which only " talks one way " is now as irritating as the resounding brass of tinkering symbols. viz.: the absentee representatives, who don't know what the electorate are thirtleing, but suspect the worst.
Other readers may have different views, hut the Scottish Nationalists have elected an M.P. apparently because the Scots also have a consciehtious objection to the present Parties comprising demociats, dumrnycrats and dammecrats, of our present Dudocracy.
A. G. Boum 29 Newstead Road, Liverpool, 8.
Ste, — Usually I derive benefit and joy from " Jotter's contrihntion to ,
THE CATHOLIC HERALD. it is with all the more dismay that I read his paragraph dotting sorb, the use — or rather nonoise of his vote I fully sympathise with his difficulty in deciding which Party he should vote for, and I realise the impossibility of selecting a party which he can wholly support Such a Party would have ICI be one hundred per cent. Catholic—in policy if not in membership. And such a Party cannot be found in England to-day.
Surely though, that does not mean that Catholics should deliberately alestain from voting ? We might as well disfranchise the whole Catholic electorate, What good can that do ? No high motives will be construed by anybody—we shall ones more be judged merely apathetic.
We must make the best of a bad job—and there seems to be only one way of doing this. Each of us should select the best from each Party programme, study the 'personality of the candidates themselves, and support those who, in our opinion, are likely to be of the greatest use to us as Catholics.
Abstention will lead us nowhere. It will merely be i grand excuse to abstain for those who would haye done so in any case. The percentage of the whole of the electorate who usually fl to vote is colossal. If every Catholic in the country used his vote, such a combined effor: would be bound in the
long run to have a real effect. No doubt_ the proportionate representation of the parties would remain much about the same, but the very fact that Catholic electors were closely studying the candidates and were using their votes accordingly would be bound In lead to a greater representation of Christiania, in die House of Commons.
May I suggest another course of action ? Granted that none of the three principal parties offer us all we want, it is up to us to see to it that the Party of our choice offers us some thing better next time. We can do that only !rain seithin the Party. Our very presence therein must sooner or later make itself felt, if we are worth our salt.
May I beg " Jotter," then, and any, others who feel as he does, to think again ? He must use his vote, and hp must join one of the political parties.
RICHARD A. B. Boum
22, Kinnaird Avenue. Bromley, Kent_
SIR the coming General Elee
tion I intend to vote for the hest man, not for any particular Party. I will ask the candidates questions on such subjects as church schools. the family living wage, and contraceptives, and vote' for the candidate who has ,views most in harmony with Catholic social teaching.
T. W. ADKINS.
56, Griffin Road, Plurnstead, S.E.18.