The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1912-08-12
erty;" and every time the public gains
THE TENDENCY TO BOLT.

According to the latest advices from
Idaho. Mr.. Haines gets the Republican
nomination over Mr.. Clagstone by {
plurality of bnt is. the figures now
standing 1889 for Haines, 1881 foi
Clapstone, and 1896 for Morrison
Here is triple candidacy, about as
evenly divided as 1t would be possible
to divide a party vote. Naturally. the
Republican voters. amounting almost to
two thirds Of the party, who voted fol
Clagstone and Morrison, feel discomfort
ed at tho fact that but little more than
one'third of the party vote gives one
OF the three candidates the party nom,
iuation.
To be sure, the figures given above
are not official. and it is possible that
! the official vote might give Mr. Clas-
stone the nominations, but for the pur-
pose of this article. that would make
no difference whatever We use these
figures merely to point out the fallacy
that nominations by primaries are pref.
cradle to nominations by conventions: (:
for in conventions it is always neccs-
sary for candidate to receive ma
iority vote before he is made the can
didate of the party. But in the pri-
maries, as we sec in Idaho, man may
be nominated with but little more than
one third of the party vote. II there
bad been double the number of candi-
dates, it would have been quite pos
c,b1a ha
who received but little moro than one.
sixth of the party vote to receive the
nomination, Manifcstly this sort OF
thing is no proper substitute for the
convention system of nomination
The Institution of the primary for
the selection of candidates has been
the greatest party wrecker of any de-
vice ever brought forward in political
1t has split the Republican
party in most of the States. 1t would
split the Democratic party IN precise
ly the same way if the Democratic
party were in power. 1t is the greatest
possible incentive to boiling. not only
within the jurisdiction Immediately sf-
fccted, but in the wider jurisdictions,
even 10 the inclusion of the Nation it.
self. For it will be observed that it
was by reason of the votes at prlma.
ries. which were fraudulent and dis
honest In large part, that Roosevelt
the Endorsement of the Repub-
llcan voters for his Presidential can
didacy.
There has been no such enginery de-
vised at any time in the history of the
Republic for the breaking up of par.
ties and the hindrance of united ac-
lion among the people for any purpose
'r principle, as the primary election.
We admit. Of course, that it sounded
fair, and that it seemed to be an ac-
i've cure for certain evils connected
with the convention system; but the
Test of it has been its condemnation,
It has brought chaos into the Republi-
AN parry, lust as at any time il is liza
Die TO bring chaos into the Democratic
narty. It fosters boiling. and gives
plausible reason for boiling that has
lever heretofore existed Accordingly. |
,olting is seen everywhere, when a
;andidate is beaten either at the pri-
naries or in convention formed of |
delegates chosen at primaries.
The usual thing follows in Idaho by |
eason Of the closeness Of the vote
and by reason of the keen resolution
which seems to be part Of the pri-
nary system that those who 90 into
with the most ferceuess are deter |
mined to rule or ruin. The State chair |
nan of the Progressive party in Idaho, !
Mr. Gipson, announces right off the |
rat that the Progressives won t stand |
'or the nomination of Haines, and tn
hev will put I'D their own candidate. |
Naturally, therefore, if the official |
:ount should reverse the positions. of |
1aines and of Clagstone, the Haines |
men will feel like bolting the Clagstoue
And SO it goes The pri-
naries simply bring chaos and ntter
confusion, and the mischief Of it is
hat there does not seem to be any pos
ibe way to cure the defects in their
marathon