The sun., 1901-04-23
TUESDAY. APRIL %. 1901.
WHY NOT HONEST PRIMARIES


The objections which the Anti'Ad-
dicksites are raising to The Suns posi-
tion in the matter of honest primary |
elections as the only right kind of pri
marics. raises the question Of their PREF
erenccs in the matter. DO they object |
to honest primary elections, and are they
afraid that their purposes. in the coming
city election, will not be served, if there |
is full vote. and an honest count of
the votes cast?
Only recently the Democratic press
of the city and State were ringing the
changes over the evidences of corruption
in Republican politics and citing the dis
graceful affair that occurred in the Sec
ond ward NJ the last county nomination
election. There were no Union Repub-
of the fraul. The Democrats are there
fore not giving Republicans any credit
for honest or decency in politics. and
still they object to the demand which we
make for honest primaries. and in this
they are joined by the AntiAddicksite
Republicans There can be hut one rea-
sonablc conclusion TO be reached in this
condition of things, and that is that
neither of these Observation-Disclosures
Democrats and nti-Addicksite Repub-
licans-want the coming Republican pri-
malies to he honest. Why?
If these parties who are ohiecting to
our position. and demanding eXplana-
tions. will talk to the Republicans who
can be met on the street, who are inter-
ested in the coming primaries and who
know how they are conducted, they can
easily find n good reason for the de-
nlnnd for honest primaries. Men will
tell them that honest primary elections
here are very rare: that men are more
frequently counted in at primary elcc-
tons. than chosen by n majority vote.
and plenty of men who profess TO know
all about the conduct of primary elec-
tions will say that there has not been
an honest primary election in this city
for twenty years. AS we have said
these assertions are not made in cor
ner nor in secret, hut are said out or
the street. and in general conversation
DO these Anti-Addicksitcs want this
thing to continue? Is that their kind OF
politics. and is that the way they pro
pose to reform Delaware politics?
The Union Republican proposition tt
which we adhere, and which it is PRO
posed to apply to the coming city cleo
tion is that the nomination election shal
BE- honest. and that the Republican Off
GERS elected in June must be the choic
of the people freely exercising thei
rights To select candidates and elect off
cials. In view of the facts as we hay
presented them, about the current opir
ion about primary elections we regar
it the duty of the Department of Elet
tions. into whose control and conduC
these elections (primary) have heen pr
by law. to see to it that every possih
piecautiun he taken to assure honest pr
maricS. If it is not possible for tn
Department to do this to any degree {
success. then the law in the case
simply Il farcical enactment. We thin
the intent of the law under which II
Department of Elections act, if it ha
any good intent, was to make honest pI
mary elections. and honest general ele
tons possible.
The demand is, and that demand
made upon the Department Of Election
for honest primaries. If they cam
meet the demands, they can at lea
make the effort to meet it and let Il
people know where the difficulties are al
who il is that prevents the meeting
such Il demand The demand among !,
publican voters is for honest primari
ANA for the selection Of non-faction
candidates. Secure these and Rcpub
can success is assured.