Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1912-05-13
PREFERENTIAL
VOTE AT The
PRIMARIES

The presidential preference pri-
maries now being held in states where
the laws provide for them are great
improvements over the old methods
of selecting delegates, but are never
theless defective. What is lacking in
all direct primary laws SO far ID the
preferential vote, When the voters
have three or more candidates to
choose from they should be given the
opportunity to declare their second
and third choice, as well as their first,
so that the successful candidate shall
be the real choice Of majority in
stead of only a plurality.
In the Democratic primary in Neb-
raska, the voters were called upon to
choose between Clark, Wilson and
Harmon. Progressive democrats fav-
ored either Wilson or Clark. Re
actionarles wanted Harmon. The pro-
gressivos were clearly in the majority,
but there was danger that in dividing
their vote between Wilson and Clark,
Harmon might secure a plurality.
That this did not actually happen was
due more to good luck than anything
else. There would have been no dan
ger with the preferential vote. The
progressive democrat, whose first
was Wilson, could have marked Clark
as his second choice or vica versa.
Then there would have been no dam
ger of Harmon or any other reaction
ary slipping through unless the mai
orlty Of the votes should be react
ionary.
AS the direct primary plan spreads,
the predatory interests will see their
opportunity in securing the candi-
dacy Of as many progressives or
pseudo-progresslves as possible, un-
less the preferential safeguard will
be adopted.
So far, the preferential vote is only
in use in this country in Grand juno
ton, Colorado, where city officials
are elected by that method. It has
proved to be very satisfactory. The
old gang trick of dividing the oppos'
ition through multiplicity Of can
didates no longer works in that town
The voters mark the candidates II
order of their choice. If no one ha'
clear majority for first choice, th'
lowest candidate Is elimited and hii
vote distributed among candidates
marked second choice on his ballots
Then, II there is still. no one with {
clear majority the next lowest in elm
mated and his vote redistributed. TIL,
final choice is sure to be the on
most satisfactory to a majority o
those voting.
In the Oregon Republican pri
mary there was situation very sim
liar to that In the Nebraska Demo
cratic one. 1t is fair to assume tina
LaFollette comes nearer than an
other candidate in the Republical
field to standing for all the thing
favored by Oregon progressives. Ha
the contest been only between hir
and Taft or between him and Roose
velt,, he would probobly have been tn
choice Of the voters. But all thre
were candidates The reactionar
vote was solid for Taft Many pro
gressives were so impressed with tn
danger of Taft getting a pluralit
that they voted for Roosevelt, althoug
LaFollette was their real preference
because they. were under the impret
sion that Roosevelt had the bei
chance. In spite Of this, the LaFo
lette vote was so large that It
easy to see that the senator woul
have won but for fear of Taft, B,
cause oregon does not have the pre-
erential vote, the Republican voter
have been driven to endorse the car
didate who is only the second choiC
of the progressiyes Of that state.
Perhaps progressives of both pal
ties will profit by experience Of th
year sufficiently to see that by 191
all states have not only the dire,
primary, but the preferential vote q
we'll
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