Arizona republican., 1912-06-09
The Primary


 national convention from this district has been projected shows us again that the primary is not a panacea. In the first place, the one just held did not attract more than half the legitimate democratic voters to the polls. It is charged on one side that negroes, Chnamen. republicans and other undesirables were as good dem ocrats as anybody that day for vot- ing purposes On the other side it is charged that by irregularities the friends of one of the candidates is seeking to supplement the inferior support given him at the polls. How ever the affair may ultimately turn out the result will be less satisfac- tory than if the old methods had prevailed.
 We are not attacking the primary principle which seeks to give the people opportunity for the fullest and freest expression. But as the prin ciple has so far been applied in this country only confusion has resulted.
 Some means must he devised by which the voting at primaries shall be done in good faith; by which the crossing of the suit" may be pre- vented. This is always done by the least responsible class No respect able democrat will vote at a repub- lican primary or no republican pf standing will vote at democratic primary unless he intends perman- entIy to separate himself from his party It is the rift-raff the pur- chasabIe element that crosses tho suit" creates confusion and causes 8 misinterpretation of the will of the party.
 When it is arranged that only dem ocrats may vote at democratic prim- aries and republicans. at republican primaries, a long step will have been taken But there will still be another step and a still longer one and thae will be to arouse in the voter the same interest he feels in the election itself
 on this subject. the Washington Herald says:
 In Massachusetts l00.ooo. in Illinois 2O0.0o0 and in Pennsy yIvauia 3oO, ,0o0 republican voters did not go to the polls. while nowhere has more than 90 per cent of the republican enrolment been represented at the ballot boxes. Surely this demonstrates that the pri- maries do not appeal to the great mass of the voters This is only one of the many defects of the system revealed by the campaign The pri- maries have been made the subject Of d stirring contest. they have cost enormously y-fully as much as regu- lar election-and yet the voters stay at home The fact is that We have too many elections in this country. Already there is d spirit of protest against the frequent recurrence of campaigns and election days, although if the recall becomes general there will be almost as many elections as there are saints days on the calendar It is evident. also. that the class of voters which hastens to the polls when primaries are held is in very large degree the class which is not tied down by business responsibilities. The result is that the victorious candidate is not always the most desirable
 But the primaries are nere and they are likely to become more numerous Eventually. when they have been shown to produce results sadly dis proportionatc to their cost and trou- bIe we may return to the old system. which after all, produced presidents of whom we are not ashamed In the meantime. however. it is incumbent upon every citizen who enjoys the proud privilege of suffrage to do his full duty at the polls. and not. as countless thousands of them have done in the last three months, remain away In this way alone can the pri- maries fully represent the popular will in this way alone can the gov ernment be kept true to it's ancient faith and not be made the sport of momentary passion.
 This is the lesson of the primaries which every American citizen must take to heart.