Copyright by Ira Ridgway Davis 1956 PARTY AND VOTING BEHAVIOR IN THE PORTSMOUTH ATOMIC ENERGY ESTABIASHMENT AREA DISSERTATION Presented in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Doctor of Philosophy in the Graduate School of The Ohio State U niversity By IRA EIDGWAÏ DAVIS, B. A., M. A. The Ohio State University 1956 Approved by: ^ -- Adviser Department of Political Science PREFACE This study was made possible through a Fellowship in the P o lit ic a l Science Department at Ohio State U n iversity, which I held during the academic year, 1954-1955. Much of the research was completed during that time and frequent trips were made to southern Ohio to gather material. I wish to acknowledge the advice and constructive criticisms of the professors who served on my graduate committee, Francis R. Aumann, E. Allen Helms, and Harvey C. Mansfield of the Political Science Department, and Eugene H. Roseboom o f the H istory Depart­ ment. I also wish to express my appreciation for the assistance and cooperation given me by officials in the office of the Secretary of State of Ohio, local election board officials, the Ohio State Museum library staff, and the many individuals who were interviewed in southern Ohio. 11 TABLE OF CONTEtITS CHAPTER Page I The Establishment of the Portsmouth Area Atomic Energy Plant ........................... 1 II Background of the Four Counties; Jackson, Pike, Ross, and Scioto ............................................... 26 III Trends in Party and Voting Behavior: 1859- 1900 ......................................................................... 5 k IV Trends in Party and Voting Behavior; 1900- 1952 .............................................................. 93 V Election Law in Ohio; Legal Controls and Judicial Interpretations*. ................................... lU l VI Political Parties and the New Voters...-. 162 VII The 1951: General Election .................. 201 VIII A Survey of Seven Voting Precincts in the Atomic Counties ............................... 236 IX Conclusion .................. 295 APPENDIX................... ........................................................................... .. 313 BIBLIOGRAPHY........................................................................................... 3ll+ X l l LIST OF TABLES I Total Population of Jackson,, Pike, Ross, and Scioto Countie s , 18 AO-195 0 ..................... 29 II Percentage of Increase or Decrease in Population for Ohio and Jackson, Pike, Ross, and Scioto Countie s, I89O-I95O. ............. ........................... 30 III Population Characteristics of Jackson, Pike, Ross, and Scioto Counties, I950 .........................................................33 IV Jackson County: Republican Percentages of Total Votes Cast for President, Governor, and U.S. Representative (1859-1900) ..........................................................56 V Pike County: Democratic Percentages of Total Votes Cast for President, Governor, and U.S. Representative (1859-1900) ......................................................... 64 VI Ross County: Republican Percentages of Total Votes Cast for President, Governor, and U.S. Represents Ive (1859-1900) ..................... 74 VII Scioto County: Republican Percentages of Total Votes Cast for President, Governor, and U.S. Representative (1859-1900)..........................................................83 VIII Jackson County: Republican Percentages of Total Votes Cast for President, Governor, U.S. Repre­ sentative, and Senator (1900-1952) ......................... 95 IX Pike County: Democratic Percentages of Total Votes Cast for President, Governor, U.S. Repre­ sentative, and Senator (I9OO-I952) ......................................105 X Ross County: Republican Percentages of Total Votes Cast for President, Governor, U.S. Repre­ sentative, and Senator (1900-1952)........ ....................117 XI S cioto County: Republican Percentages of Total Votes Cast for President, Governor, U.S. Repre­ sentative, and Senator (1900-1952) ......................................125 XII General Characteristics of Persons Interviewed in Jackson Heights ................... 239 IV XIII Distribution of Political Pairty Preference of Persons Interviewed, in Jackson Heights ............................. 239 XIV Political Preference by Geographical Distribution of Persons, Interviewed in Jackson Heights .......................242 XV General Characteristics of Persons Interviewed in Waverly Heights .........................................................................247 XVI Distribution of Political Party Preference of Persons Interviewed in Waverly Heights ............................. 247 XVII Political Preference by Geographical Distri­ bution of Persons Interviewed in Waverly H eights .............................................................. 249 XVIII 1954 Registration Statistics of Newcomers in Waverly East Precinct, Pike County ......................................251 XIX General Characteristics of Persons Interviewed in Piketon Village ............................................................ 255 XX Distribution of Political Party Preference of Persons Interviewed in Piketon Village ............................. 256 XXI Political Preference by Geographical D istri­ bution of Persons Interviewed in Piketon V illa g e ........................................................ 258 XXII 1954 Registration Statistics of Newcomers in Piketon Village Precinct, Pike County ............................... 260 XXIII General Characteristics of Persons Interviewed in Seal Township .............................................................................263 XXIV Distribution of Political Party Preference and Geographical Distribution of Persons In­ terviewed in Seal Township ............... 265 XXV 1954 Registration Statistics of Newcomers in Seal Township Precinct, Pike County ....................................266 XXVI General Characteristics of Persons Inter­ viewed in Pike County ..................................................................269 XXVII Political Preference by Geographical D istri­ bution of Persons Interviewed in Pike County ................ 270 VI XXVIII General Characteristics of Persons Inter­ viewed in Scioto Township, East Precinct ..................... 273 XXIX P o litic a l Preference by Employment and Geo­ graphical Distribution of Persons Interviewed in Scioto Township, East Precinct ......................................275 XXX 1954 Registration Statistics of Newcomers in Scioto Township, East Precinct, Ross County ................. 277 XXXI General Characteristics of Persons Inter­ viewed in Chillicothe, Precinct ICC ................................ 280 XXXII Distribution of Political Party Preference of Persons Interviewed in Chillicothe, Pre­ cin ct ICC................................................................... .....................280 XXXIII Political Preference by Geographical Distri­ bution of Persons Interviewed in Chillicothe, Precinct ICC....................................................................................282 XXXIV 1954 Registration Statistics of Total Number of Registered Voters in Chillicothe, Precinct ICC....................................................................................................284 XXXV General Characteristics of Persons Inter­ viewed in Valley Township, Precinct C, Scioto County. .................................................... 287 XXXVI P o litic a l Preference by Employment and Geo­ graphical Distribution of Persons Interviewed in Valley Township, Precinct C, Scioto County ............... 289 XXXVII 1954 Registration Statistics of Newcomers in Valley Township, Precinct C, Scioto County ......................291 CHAPTER I THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE PORTSMOUTH AREA ATOMIC ENbRGY PLANT In the mid.~Twentieth Century the dramatic announcement of the construction of a huge Atomic Energy Installation in southern Ohio caused a stir in the otherwise quiet counties of this part of Ohio. The size of the task, the billions of dollars involved, and the numerous problems such as housing, sch ools, recrea tio n a l f a c i l i t i e s , and other governmental services were apparent even to the casual observer. Arising from this situation was the question of the effect of this immense undertaking upon the already existing patterns of living of those in the area. It was certain that changes would occur, but it was more difficult to predict the extent of these changes. Would the "old timers" be able to resist the effects of th is great in flu x of newcomers upon th e ir liv e s or at le a s t to mold the new residents to their own liking? The general problem of social change resulting from the impact of sudden large industrial installations raises questions for all the social sciences. A particular aspect of this problem that is of special interest to political scientists, and is the subject of this study, is the impact of the change upon party strength and party allegiance. The principal purpose of this work was to examine the immediate influence which the Atomic Energy Establishment might have upon the historic patterns of party and voting behavior in the area. The long range effects of the influx cannot be fully analyzed until a 1 2 later time. But the movement of a mass of people into the area for a three to four year period might be expected to pose a threat to the existing political complexion if they voted. How far they did, in the first General Election after the project was launched, and the obstacles