The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-08-01
PRIMARY DAY AT HAND.

It's the eve of primary day. Such oc-
casions are always important to the
voters, the people of Kansas. But the
Importance Of this primary election has
been greatly exaggerated by the politi-
clans and the offlceholders who are de-
sirous of retaining what power they
have. and their oppor rents who are de-
sirous of relieving them of this power.
Millions, probably billions Of words,
have been scattered broadcast over the
valleys, the hills and the plains of Kan
sas during the past two months, and
longer, by the several candidates for the
various offices. Not many Of them
have been devoted to anything like i'm
portant issues concerning the admins
tration of the state government, save
of course. the question OF taxation,
which occupies more or less "romt-
nent part in every campaign. Cut out
the question of taxation, and what, f
any, have been the issues affecting the
government of a state, that have been
injected into the campaign? The an
ever is sure to be. none. AS a mat
ter of fact this primary campaign for
the most part. especially in the ranks
OF the Republican party. has been one
of personalities. This being the case 1t
has been one Of the bitterest that has
ever been waged in Kansas. Men can't
call each other names, impugn each 9TH
erp motives, and the like. as they have
been doing in the campaign which is
just over, without engendering bitter
ness-bitterness OF the lasting sort. And
because of this fact, unfortunate
though the situation may be, it is likely
that the result of the primary, no mat
ter which way it goes will leave
greater schisu1 in the ranks of the Re-
rublicans m Kansas than has yet pre-
vailed.
An idea that this is so cannot help
but be conveyed by conversation
which was overheard this morning
among a party of workingmen, not poi
iticians, who were on their way to work
on an early morning street car. They
were Republicans, or that might be
gathered from their talk. '1f Stubs
is defeated said one Of them, ''it means
the election of Hodges for governor"
General assent was given to this pro-
position, when another spoke up and
said: Eyes, and if Stubs wins the Wag-
staff crowd is going to vote for Hodges
and they may have enough votes to
| help the Democrats elect him.
| Now the primary law was probably
not conceived with the idea of dismem-
bering the existing parties, or any one
Of them, but that seems to be the way
it is working out. 1t was supposed to
be a plan where all the members of
each party would have a voice in the
naming of the party candidates and
| that AFTER the decision was reached,
there would then be reuniting for a
theories don't always work out in prac-
tice and that appears to be the case
with the primary law.
! If the spirit and intent of this law is
| followed voters will participate only in
the primaries of the party with which
they have been allied in the immediate
rast. And the duty that confronts
| each voter is to cast his ballot for the
| candidate he thinks will give him and
| his neighbor the squarest and best kind
! Of a deal in whatever Office he is
seeking. There are no important issues
at stake in the state campaign. But
there are some in the congressional
campaign. They have been well and
ably defined, despite the personalities
which have also been injected in the
congressional fights. The voter is COM
petent to judge for himself as to how
he shall mark his ballot. He should be
careful though not to give a vote to
anyone who is seeking it under false
| pretenses.