Arizona republican., 1911-10-26
PHOENIX, ARIZONA, OCT. 26, 1911.
The Contest for the Senate.


 Tuesdays primaries having elimi- mated all the democratic aspirants for the United States senate except Mark Smith and Henry Ashurst, the real campaign for the senate will soon begin, with Ashurst and Mark Smith opposing Ralph Cameron and Hoval Smith.
 Under the federal constitution the commissions of the successful candi dates will go to them by virtue of their election by the legislature, but under the provisions of the primary law as amended by Ordinance No. ? of the constitutional convention and ratified by congress, the electing of the senators will be done by the peo- pie at the polls on December F, in what is known as an advisory vote. The legislature is deprived of any vol ition in the matter and will elect the senators in accordance with the re- suit of the advisory vote of the peO- pie. There will be a considerable so- cialist vote for senatorial candidates, but the actual contest will be between the candidates of the two great par ties.
 There will certainly be a vigorous campaign on both sides. and while it is too early to forecast results the contest is bound to be close.
 The democratic candidates will be under serious disadvantages. Mark Smith is not trusted by the radical wing of his party, and will not com- mand the undivided support of that wing, which regards him as entirely too conservative. No great success can attend such efforts as he may make to appear a radical. Ashurst will be under the positive handicap of his record, which will receive ser ious attention from the voters. It is safe to say, we think, that in few American commonwealths would a man with such a record as Ashurst's have the assurance to offer himself in earnest for a seat in the senate of the United States.
 In addition to these factors, there will enter largely into the campaign the great issue upon which the demo- cratic party has unwisely determined to go into the presidential campaign of next year-the issue of free trade The people of Arizona are so vitally interested in maintaining the republi- can principle of protection that the election of our senators this year be- comes a matter of greatest moment. The votes of the senators from this state may decide the question whether the protection of farm products. of cattle, and of wool shall be abolished and our ranchers and stock men forced to compete in the markets of our own land with the products of foreign lands. MT. Ashurst. at the OulStl DI ly placed himself upon a free trade platform-in words deliberately chosen and made public as setting forth the principles for which he would contend if elected. Mark Smith, possibly. would follow with some reluctance the flag of free trade when carried in an assault upon Arizona's industries, but however. reluctant he might be, party regularity would compel him to vote with his party against the welfare of his state. All these things will be brought home to the voters clearly before the end of the campaign. And as the vot- CTS of all parties are led to realize the gravity of the questions at issue, and to realize the practical necessity of having Ralph Cameron and Hoval Smith in the senate as the defenders of Arizona against the onslaughts of the free traders, their election ought to follow as matter of course.