SUFFRAGE EXTENDED.

The Harvard alumni have passed the resolution requesting the Corporation and Overseers "to take such action as will procure, by proper legislation, an extension of the right of voting for overseers, hitherto restricted to members of the Alumni Association, to all graduates of five years' standing from any department of the University." At the annual meeting of the Alumni Association last Commencement, it was voted to submit this question by mail to all graduates, and to limit the time for receiving votes to sixty days. The time limit expired on Monday.

An examination of the tables shows that the vote by decades is in every instance in favor of the extension. Only thirteen of the sixty-nine classes voting show a majority opposed to the change, and four "break even." The classes opposing the extension are '40, '41, '49, '51, '53, '58, '66, '71, '75, '88, '97. The classes that voted even are those of '43, '50, '52, '64.

It will be noticed that the assertion which has frequently been made, that the later classes were opposed to the extension of the suffrage, is not borne out by the result, as, of the classes voting since 1870, only four show a vote against the proposition.

A part of the statement of Secretary J. B. Warner '69, and the tables according to decades follow:

"The Association of the Alumni of Harvard College consists of all graduates of the college of one year's standing and all holders of honorary degrees. Blank ballots have been sent to all graduate members, as required by the vote of the association, to the total number of 6912. There have been received, but not counted as ballots, 45 defective ballots.

"There have been received and counted 2954 ballots, of which 1675 are marked 'yes' and 1279 are marked 'no'.

"As the vote of the association provides for taking a ballot of 'all the graduates,' blank ballots have been issued to the members of the class of 1897, although they are not members of the association; 380 blank ballots were so issued and 154 ballots have been returned, of which 74 are marked 'yes' and 80 are marked 'no'."

Decades. No. Yes.

1820-29, 0 2

1830-39, 4 16

1840-49, 37 39

1850-59, 86 94

1860-69, 151 207

1870-79, 243 320

1880-89, 344 453

1890-97, 494 618

1359 1749