NICARAGUA: Stained Hands

“As soon as a man votes, stain his right hand so he can’t repeat!”

So ordered, last week, U. S. Brigadier-General Frank Ross McCoy, who is supervising the forthcoming Nicaraguan presidential election, by order of President Calvin Coolidge.

General McCoy explained that the chemical stain to be employed would remain indelible for about three days and then wear off. He refused to divulge the color of the stain, explaining that to do so before election day might cause unscrupulous party workers to stain the hands of opposition voters in advance and thus prevent them from voting at all.

Despite this shrewd secrecy, on the part of General McCoy, a story spread like wildfire among ignorant Nicaraguan natives that those who do not vote for the Conservative candidate (supposed to be favored by President Coolidge) will find themselves poisoned by the stain.

Registration began in Nicaragua, last week, for the election on Nov. 4. No disorders whatever were reported by Supervisor McCoy.