The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1912-08-10
THE POOR MAN HAS LITTLE
SHOW UNDER NEW METHOD
Many Ambitious Ones Hard Hill;
Money Takes Place Of Ability;
Long poCketbOOk Wins

Chicago. Aug. Hollow much the
primary elections cost in Illinois,
Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Mary
land nobody knows excepting. prob.
ably, Mr. Perkins and his associates
in the management of Mr. Roosevelt S
rlost remarkable and disastrous ex
pioit in American politics. Whatever
happened in the way of expenses
was exactly what might have been
expected says the New York Times
The primary system calls for the ex-
panditure of large sums of money
"Foor folks have no business foolng
Nth it. II is not suited to their
means and makes them only so many
lawns upon the political chess board,
to be moved hither and thither by
the masters of the game,
II is said that s2,000,000 was turn
ed loose in Pennsylvania to bring the
people to a realizing sense of their
u legations as ggood citizens to theI
cause of honest politics. In the other
three states named it is we'll within
the range of probabilities that twice
As much more was spent and it would
not be surprising if the stubs OF the
check books would show upon care
~ BAdIllldllOu tUdt III lueSt lOul
states not less than $6000000 was
put out TO assure the rule OF the |
people"
This is one branch Of the money
trust inquiry that does not come with |
III the scope of Pujo's authority. but |
some plan should be devised for dis
covering where it came from, who
plt it up, and who got it and for
IN rt,af A -
t' about the general corruption OF
the voters in Adams county, Ohio,
" here everybody sold his vote at the
highest market price, but that was
in the general elections, or in the
elections that elected the soapbox
PRIMARIES where the temptation was
even greater to make merchandise
of the ballot, and without risk of the
law
In the primary elections the oppor-
tunities for fraud are far greater ,
than in the general elections. The ,
narty lines are not closely drawn. A
Keen observer who happened to be in
Boston when the Massachusetts pres
lcental primary was held reported
that large numbers of Democrats vot-
ed against Mr.. Taft, not because they
llked him less than his opponent, but
bt cause they imagined that in this
way they could embarrass the com
ron enemy. That was very poor and
dishonest politics, but it is possible
under the primary system, and has
Deen practlced in other states in nu-
merous elections, the primary cleo
tions being so insecurely guarded as
TO make it possible for those who are +
Nod fA Al | >
election and who are not identified a
with the party with which they vote c
at the primaries TO decide oftentimes a
VINO the candidates of the opposition G
-srty shall be. !
Not only does the primary system h
open the way for the expenditure of /
vast amounts of money. but it makes Q
: practically impossible for the man
without money whatever his ability
ana fitness, to ''go into politics." it
being required in some, if not all. the
states in which the system has been
adopted to pay the costs of the cleo
ion. Candidates are assessed" be- y
ore they can enter the race and have
heir names placed on the official bal
o.. The assessment is graded ac.
'ording to the salary and perouisites
If the office for which the candidate
6 running, and this assessment goes
rto the party treasury In addition
he candidate desiring a square dea
5 under the necessity of paving for
rs own watchers and ralliers and
managers. At the last primary cleo
ION for United States senator in
'Guth Carolina. the best fitted man
Spended about 100000 for legitimate
llrposes and was defeated In one 49,
! the western states a candidate for ~
oyernor spent 100000 in his race =.
nd his opponent, who didn't have ).
ne money, spent 100000. These ~,
ases could be duplicated in all the a. a.
tates where the primary system is ~
force and the expenses required -,
the primaries are not in the pub =,
c interest. not for the general elec- ~
on, but only to determine who shall
"a for Office. The system breeds a.
indeed, invites corruption. e sn
I'd fails TO give the people an oppor- 10 10
unity of selecting the best men to ,,'.
a2resent them in places of high re. nr
a. a.
The primary system does more -.
han encourage corruption, magnify ~
he demagogue. multiply elections,
nj operate against the man of small 49,.
ieans; 1t wearies the people with ~. ~.
(Continued on Page 81 he