Arizona republican. [volume] (Phoenix, Ariz.) 1890-1930, 1910-08-04
The Result in Kansas.

The victory of the inSurgent repub-
the primary-if our readers will per-
NIT rather poor hot weather joke
Had it not been for the system of di-
rect primary nominations which is in
vogue in the Sunflower state, it is not
likely that the insurgents would have
been able to overcome their opponents,
for the primary system does two
things: 1t sidetracks the party ma
chine, to a great extent, and it opens
members of all parties. And of course
the voters of other parties, when they
participate in a primary of a party
to which they do not belong, always
vote with the element that is against
the organization" since such meth
DDS help to disrupt the enemy's army,
Two years ago, for example, in the
first trial of the primary system in
Kansas for the nomination of United
States senators, Senator Chester l.
Long was opposed by Joseph L. Bris-
tow Long had shown himself a SUI
perb master of organization, and in
his own party he was exceptionally
popular But there was a minority
element Of republicans 'insurging"
against his reelection, and to their
assistance the democrats went by
thousands at a so-called republican
primary. The democrats could not
hope to elect a senator of their own.
but it was possible for them, by
voting in large numbers at repub-
lican primary. to cast the controlling
votes which nominated Bristow. and
this they did. 1t is true that the di
rect. primary law in Kansas, as in
other states in which it has been
adopted, undertakes to prevent the
crossing of party lines in making pri-
mary nominations. But in practice it
has been found impossible to make
the idea effectual. Where the test of
the voters qualification is merely his
statement that he proposes to vote at
the state election the party ticket of
the republicans, for example, his vote
at the primary election must be ac-
cepted. The question of good faith
rests with him. And to the average
voter the situation presents the ele-
ments of a huge joke-he is enabled
to have a voice in the nominations
of the majority party, and at the
general election he votes his own
party ticket.
The people of Kansas are admirably
situated for the fullest utilization of
the primary system. A network of
telephone wires covers the state, so
that plans may be matured and car
ried out quickly. The population, be-
ing almost exclusively agricultural, is
homogeneous-issues which appeal to
the citizens of given section appeal
to the entire electorate. Daily papers
are read quite as extensively as in
Arizona, so that everybody knows
what is going ont.
Granting that the candidates for
congress nominated on Tuesday by
the Kansas voters would, most of
them. have been defeated by the in
cumbent congressman under the old
system of delegate nominations, the
fact remains that the republicans of
the country will have no cause to re-
greet the result. The revolt of the
Kansas republicans who. with demo-
cratic assistance, have placed Kansas
in the list of insurgent states, was
not against President Taft or the re-
publican party, but against the rule
of Senator Aldrich and Speaker Can
non Several of the congressman who
were defeated, definitely pledged them
selves. two years ago. to vote against
the reelection of Speaker Cannon.
Their constituents took advantage of
the first opportunity to administer
punishment On the other hand. the
two insurgent congressman. Murdoch
and Madison, who were renominated
without opposition, made consistent
record of standing for everything that
was represented in the republican
national platform, and they Loyalty |
supported President Taft in the en-
actment of all his policies into law.
The people of Kansas are of purely |
American stock. and above everything |
else they stand for fair play. 1t is |
their belief that the game of legisla-
ton at Washington has not been
played fairly by Aldrich and Cannon.
To the plea made by these leaders
that they simply represent the ma
jority'' in congress, the republicans of
retort that the majority has
been obtained by intimi-
dation, trading and other unfair means,