The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1908-09-02
THE PRIMARY TEST.

republicans OF the state may agar
express themselves as to their choice
for Senator.
If the special session shall prompt.
~ and wisely amend the primary law
and then as promptly and wisely adj
journ. much good will have been &C
complished. The members and es-
pecially the republican members
should constantly bear in mind that
each days delay affords stronger and
better ground for criticism as to the
expense of proceeding, which it
must be allowed, is chiefly for partisan
benefit. In other words, the repub-
licans are making the Taxpayers as a
whole. pay to get them out of fac
tional muddle and the bigger the bill
the more legitimate and the louder
will be the protest. So much as to
the necessity for promptness.
AS to the necessity for wisdom.
1t can we'll be understood that
every republican candidate would like
to make loyalty to himself the su-
preme test of party fealty.
The candidates for state office are
positive that no man is entitled to
vote in republican primary who
does not vote the straight state
ticket.
The candidates for Congress are
absolutely certain that no man is en-
titled to be called a republican and
enjoy the privileges of the party who
does not vote for them.
Taft can be relied on to state that
the entire electoral ticket must be
voted in order to certify to ones re-
publicanism, while we know of one
candidate for Justice of the Peace
who thinks that no man in his pre-
cinct has the republican brand blown
in the bottle unless he votes for him.
And in truth we see no reason why
1.-The na.nty ticket should be discrimi-
mated against if all the rest are to be
favored.
The primary vote for Senator is
purely advisory to the legislative can
didate and to the legislative candidate
'asoae- 1t is not advisory to Taft or
Hepburn or Byers. The candidate
for the legislature alone is affected by
the advice.
Fhe only test should be this.
No man can vote to advise repub-
iiican legislator UNLESS HE VOTES
FOR HIM. Further then this we can
not go without being subject to the
just criticism that the law of the
state is being used as whip to drive
the voters into voting the straight
republican ticket.
Not only is the present legislature
called at considerable expense to
straighten out the family affairs of
the republican party. but the law is
to be enacted for the thinly yelled
purpose of stamping out any vestige
of independence among republican
voters.
Such law will be resented and
will react seriously upon the party in
November.
The independence of republican
voters is much greater in Iowa than
it used to be.
More and more. people have been
urged to discriminate. to throw off
strict party allegiance. Men of both
of our factions have urged this upon
che people.
The amendment as proposed is re-
dictionary. 1t will affront the voters
who desire to think for themselves.
It should be enough, and it is
enough, that the voter should be
ready to vote for a republican legisla-
Tor who in turn will vote for repub-
liean senator. Then and then only
has the voter right to advise.
Who else he votes for on the repub-
licaa ticket has nothing to do with
tho ease
Any further restriction as to the
primary ballot fairly stinks of par.
tisaaship and will have greater ten.
dsssy to drive independent repub.
acaAs away from the ticket than il
will to whip them into line.
For ourselves it will make nc
difference. Unlike the vast majority
of ne factionalists who have outlined
the Aarmonv program we have never
scratched republican ticket since WI
cast our first ballot.
Bat there are others. For in
stance; there are many republicans il
the state whu do not believe the ad
miaistration of Supt. Riggs mas beer
a success. We do not agree will
them. but that is beside the case. II
republican desires to express hi
honest opinion and vote for Mr.
Riggs' opponent. must he lose al
right to instruct or advise the repub.
licaa legislator tor whom he does
vote?