Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-08-10
The First Test of the Primary law.

Inc tlrSt Test OF the PRIMARY Law.
The first test of the new Illinois pr.
mary law throughout the state Satur-
day proved, generally speaking, as
was the case here in Rock Island
county, both a success and a disap-
pointment. In the main it served
well the purpose of maintaining the
lines of party utilization, although
there We're numerous instances OF
members of both parties participating
in the fights of the opposition, those
so aligning themselves depriving
themselves of the privileges of taking
part in their own primaries for a
period of two years. The indisposi.
ton of many to publicly declare their
political faith had much to do with
holding down the vote, and there were
others who refrained from voting be-
cause they did not clearly understand
the provisions.
The lack OF interest served as a
disappointment. as did the fact that
under the operation of the law there
remains no opportunity for geograph-
ical distribution of party favors Take
the republican fight on both the Of
fees of states attorney and coroner,
for instance, where the republicans of
Moline swamped their Rock Island
brethren completely and got away
with both nominations.
In Rock Island county on the demo-
cratic side the democratic county
ticket was Endorsed without opposition
and H. L. Wheelan gained the support
of his party for minority representa-
tive. while for like offices on the re-
publican side, Campbell and Gaetjer
lead. Rock Island republicans found
themselves in the Deneen column
for governor by big majority over
Yates. while despite all that could be
done by Senator Hopkins in his zeal
for endorsement. the members of his
party proved for Congressman Foss.
Congressman Mckinney finds the par
ty in the county at his back
For governor on the democratic
side. as developed to be the case in
the state at large, Former Vice Presi-
dent Adlai E. Stevenson notwithstand-
ing the lateness of his entry into the
fight. was received with popular favor
and won out handily. and is regarded
here as he is throughout the state a
certain winner at the polls over the
much accused republican nominee
who seeks a reelection Where the
democrats had such an abundance of
good material from which to make a
choice for the nomination, there was
no possibility of mistake. and had
General Stevenson come out earlier
1T is more than likely that the others
would have withdrawn in his favor
and made his nomination unanimous.
so that the election at the primaries
demonstration of the high standing OF
the former vice president with his
party than disparagement of any
of the others who made energetic
campaigns for the nomination. The
contest for the Office at the hands OF
! The democrats afforded nevertheless a
gratifying evidence of the confidence
tthe party both in its rank and file
feels in the outcome of the general
election. Entirely contrary to the
spectacle presented in the Deneen
Yates fight, the. preliminary skirmisf
among the democratic candidates was
entirely devoid of personal feeling OIL
enmity, and was harmonious and ex
ltremely good natured. all agreeing
that the best man should win ant
have the hearty support of the Others
at the fall election.
On the occasion of the next pri
mary. with the new law more full!
understood it is sincerely hoped tina
its operation will prove. in genera
sense. more satisfactory to all con
lcerned.
That is, if the supreme court doe
not get after it with a club in thu
meantime.