The Richfield recorder. (Richfield, Idaho) 1909-1931, 1912-08-15
A DELICATE PROBLEM FoR VIA. LANES.

The Recorder just now joins with the Taft bunch in
damning the primary law for the situation it brings about on
the governorship; joining, however, merely for a present IL
lustration, aad not as a permanent Reputation of popular rule.
Now it's largely tommy-rot that a primary campaign is
even likely to stir up animosities that will defeat the primary
winner in the general election. Not one candidate in TWEEN
ty who wins the primary, will suffer n~oticeably because of the
primary agitation; all the suffering they do is because Of in
herent weakness, or other influences that would bring defeat
anyhow.
But still, the convention system would have done amaz
ing things to the governorship. The vote as it stands is al
most a dead heat between three, Haines winning by a hairs
breadth. Clagstone IS a real progressive; Morrison is rated a
progressive; Tweedy, who got a considerable vote, is an Ill
ira progressive; Haines has been hailed as the conservative,
the business man choice. 1t is not the slightest disparage-
ment of Mr.. Haines. but a plain statement Of fact, that the
vote for other policies than have been credited to him by his
friends, was almost two and one-half to one. No man be-
lleved to represent a cause or a policy that commanded only
30 per cent of the vote of the state, could ever possibly win a
convention; the other 70 per cent would pick one oftheir own
as the final compromise.
The problem now is, to convince that 70 per cent, not
that they were wrong, but that the chosen candidate is Not
wrong. The unfortunate thing is, he was, and is, being sup
ported and boosted by the straight Taft bunch, a number of
whom, publishers and orators and workers, have delighted
mary law and progress in general. Mr.. Haines goes into the
campaign with a frighttul handicap, with 70 per cent of his
party against him, constitutionally or on information and be
lief, and with most OF his 30 per cent supporters yelpIng like
coyotes to keep the 70 per cent away by their Taft acclaim.
1t is not merely That this 70 per cent favored other candidates
personally; they favored the principles they believed to be
back OF them and only the fact that the democratic govern
or and state platform offer no relief, will put multiplied thou
sands OF them in a frame of mind to be argued into tactsup-
port II Nr. IaInes. Nationally, tney nave three good ways
ont-vote for Roosevelt, or Wilson, or stay at home; some
will even vote for Debs.
Candidly, the Recorder wouldn't give ten cents for Taft's
chance to carry Idaho. And unless Mr.. Haines can call off
some or his fool friends. his own chance is not a great deal
The Recorder will support Mr.. Haines and the whole re-
publican state ticket. believing that Individually and collect
it should be elected. But a lot of others already have
eft or been driven away from the national ticket; it will take
lot of work to show them that the head of the state ticket
S their kind, because of some of his nosiest, most objection
supporters: all the rest of the ticket Is weakened by ev-
cry detection; and still these blatant ones who couldn't win
n Idaho, 90 on their noisy way proclaiming themselves ire
Thank the Lord, Nh. Haines is a strong man; he may be L
bile to muzzle them in time. 81