The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1908-03-11
BEFORE AND AFTER.
The Tacoma News says:


Ante-election prophecies are al
WAYS interesting-after the election.
These prophecies are usually shaped
to fit wishes, and wishes are not real
ly so great an influence in determin-
ing elections as votes. The Yakima
Republic is a case in point. The Re-
public opposes the direct primary
law. Taking its cue from the Ore
gonian, it has been declaring for
some time that the law will destroy
parties in this state. To have that
declarat ton carry weight facts must
be twisted to suit it. Prophecies, of
course, must undergo the same pro-
cess. On the day before the Seattle
city election the Republic printed
gloomy editorial under the caption.
"Work of Decentralization Begun" in
which it said:
although the city has a nominal
republican majority of about three
to one, there is ne likelihood that the
republican candidate, chosen under
the direct primary law. will poll the
party vote. Should he be elected his
majority will be small, and the Sc
attic men say his chances for cleo
fion ara only ahout avon
1.-THE campaign has brought about
precisely the same condition of things
that the Republic has predicted
might always be expected after a
primary election under the new law
The candidate Of the republican party
was chosen by a minority of the or
ganization. and as a matter of course
the majority is dissatisfied and does
not feel bound by the result of the
primary,
Comment is almost needless. Not
a single prediction the Republic made
was realized The result was hardly
in doubt from the outset. The re-
publican candidate polled as near
icipal election, where party lines are
ALWAYS more or less loosely drawn
Ard he polled a larger vote and won
by larger majority than any repub-
lican candidate has in years. He was
not elected by "small majority" ;
neither is Seattle republican by
"three to one" The majority of the
party supported the republican can.
Gidate. So did all the republican
candidates who had been defeated for
the mayoralty nomination. The may.
or-elect was not chosen as candi
date by minority of the organiza-
ton" as the result will show or as
a glance at the figures of the primary
would have shown, had the Repub.
lie cared to look Plainly the nomi.
nee was the choice of the majority
of his party. and plainly the majority
felt bound by the result of the pri
mary" We suppose the Republic
would not have sorrowed had the re-
publican candidate been defeated
but good republicans will not share
in the Yakima grief at a contrary
outcome.
Elections under the new law have
been held in every important city in
this stae except Tacoma There Is
no sign now, nor has there been, OF
party decentralization. Quite the con-
trary Municipal contests usually
produce a great deal Of independent
voting. local issues obscuring party
lines But under the new law the in
dependent vote has dwindled. That
objection to the law has been raised
in nearly every city. The complaint
has it that the new system Is too
much party for city election purposes
and provides too little for indepen-
dence. In the face of this, why not
quit going to Oregon for a "horri-
BILE example," Why not examine
the workings OF the system In this
state? We don't care what the law
does in oregon; It does not destroy
parties here.