The silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1909-1925, 1910-09-24
ADSURD|TIES OF
DIRECT PRIMARY

In commenting editorially on the
law, the Salt Lake Herald Republican
has the following to say:
While there is much in the present
campaign that is of educational value
and will furnish texts for discussion
and perhaps for correction in time to
come, there is nothing that has been
so clearly set forth before the people
as the failure of the direct primary
law. While many of the exponents of
a direct primary are thoroughly honest
in believing that it but gives their
people the needed opportunity to ex-
press their will as to the men their
party shall nominate and ask them to
support, results in the primaries thus
far held have shown that the facts
in the case are totally different.
AS a matter of fact, the exact oppo-
site has been the case. In Minnesota,
in California, in Wisconsin, in Oregon,
in New Jersey, the men wanted and
voted for by an actual majority of Re-
publican voters at the primaries have
not been nominated.
The defeat of Congressman James A.
Tawney for the Republican nomina-
is case in point. In seven out OF ten
counties in that congressional district,
the Democrats had made no nomina
tions, but they went to the primaries
and voted as Republicans. Tawney
being in their Judgment the strongest
Republican in that district, they natur-
ally voted against him, in their desire
to nominate a Republican candidate by
their votes at the primaries whom they
could easily defeat with their votes as
Democrats at the election.
Two years ago, those seven counties
in Minnesota polled 1000 Democratic
votes. At the primaries there were
less than $50 Democratic votes cast in
the seven conuties. In a single cleo
tion precinct in one county, there were
seventy more Republican ballots cast
than were cast for President Taft at
the national election two years ago.
The Democrats went to the primaries,
but they voted as Republicans, and
nominated a weak Republican candi-
date, whom they will defeat at the
election in November. Thus the direct
will of a majority of Republican voters
in that congressional district was rem.
dered null and void by the direct
primary law.
A Democratic candidate for congress
in that district could have been placed
in nomination by just one vote, while
the remaining strength of the Demo
cratic party in the district was hard
at work nominating Republican who
could easily be beaten at the election.
In the state of Washington, the same
situation obtained. There were not
enough Democratic votes at the pri-
maries to make it worth while to have
candidates. On the other hand, the
rormal Republican strength was great
ly augmented Some of the eastern
papers at once began gravely dis
cussing the annihilation of the Demo.
cratic party in the state of Washing
ton. II soon developed, however, that
the Democratic party had simply NOV
ed over into the Republican ranks for
primary purposes, only. Having en-
abled a minority of the Republican
party in that state to name candidates
who will be easily defeated, the Demo
Gratis at the election Will vote their
own ticket. The inevitable result is
very likely to be Democratic control of
/ that state, when, as matter of fact,
III is strongly Republican.
/ The most striking situation probab
/ " is in New Jersey The Democrats
there turned out and voted the Repub
/ lean ticket at the primaries; that is
/ they voted as Republicans and helped
nominate a Republican ticket. They
played the same game that had been
played by their astute brethren In
Minnesota, Wisconsin and Washing
ton. They did it so well that one OF
the Republican candidates received the
nomination of his own party and name
within a few votes of being also the
Democratic nominee. If anything more
absurd could be imagined, it would a
least he difficult.
In Oregon two years ago, with thu
direct primary law in full operation
a Republican legislature had the felic
itv of being forced to elect Demo
crat United States senator, and the di
rect primary law stood behind then