Arizona republican., 1912-12-23
Status of the Progressive Party
CThe Chicago Tribune)


 The progressive party officially recognized yesterday as the minority party in Chicago and f1cero-the territory within the jurisdiction of board of election commissioners By order of County Judge John F. owens the election commis- Sloers were directed to draw onehalf the judges and clerks of election from progressive party and to forget officially that the republican party ever had a legal existence
 Thirty minutes this blow had sent the r,Nublican organization county reeling to the ropes, Governor r-elect Edward F. Dunne told Roy Q. West republican national committeeman and chairman of the republican state committee, that he will give due consideration" to the formal demand be considered the minority" party the state for the purposes of filling the places the bipartisan boards created by statute. Mr West called upon MT. Dunne at the latters office.
 The due consideration is the tactful banana peel which is placed under the feet the battalion "f Jobseekers as they head for the elevator after having conversed with the governor-elect
 It is political Mir Dunne told MT. West he will compelled to transact his busi- ness with the progressive organization and not with the republican managers, in dealing the list of pums which have to go to somebody aside from democrats under the regime
 Included in this list are two memberships on the board of administration. $6000 year each one membership the civil service commission, rivers and lakes commis- sion one on the state board pardons and one of the memberships on the board of managers reformatory Pontiac
 The big republicans were not so disappointed over the turndown to MT. Vests formal claim as to the fact that the party has reegated to the relative political classification held sometimes by the socialists and other times by the prohibi- tionsts
 The Owens decision was of the utmost m- portance. however, and means, probably, the ing Of bitter fight by organization republicans to hold the $500 places on the precinct eec- tion boards worth, each of them about $50 a year. Control of this particular patronage been o the utmost value to the old time republican ton and is looked upon by the expert politicians in the progressive organization as the greatest individual in developing an active party or ganization in the city
 The action taken by Judge Owens upon the showing of the vote of the last elections. The present terms of office the precinct judges and clerks expire on January l. Names of judges and clerks are recommended to the county judge for appointment by the election commissioners and the commissioners asked ruling as to the mi nority party from which these officials should be chosen Chief Clerk William Stuart of the election board appeared before Judge Owens
 What do the election Chicago and 'icero snow with regard to the vote for the heads of the tickets" Judge owens asked Mir Stuart
 They show the clerk said that first presidential elector on the republican ticket received 69,155 votes, the first democratic elector received 122S55 votes, the first prohibition eector votes the first socialist 52 655 votes the first socialist labor elector 2249 votes the first pro- gressive electOr 149,9S2 The first elector on the progressive ticket received more than twice as many votes the first elector the republican ticket.
 T might also say the reports from Springfield state that Colonel Roosevelt head the progressive ticket, than 10000 votes ahead of President Taft head of the republican ticket n entire state"
 What does the comparative vote MT Funk candidate for the progressive ticket and Governor Deneen the republican candidate, show the judge asked.
 Our returns indicate MT Funk ran more than 5000 votes ahead of AIr Deneen in Cook comfy
 The court will rule that the minority party pre- cinct judges and clerks selected publican party ranks shall be chosen from the progressive party, the judge said
 Judge owens in explaining his ruling later said he felt the vote for president should be the basis of determining the minority party claims.
 Tn my it would have made no difference whether the basis the for president or for governor, he said for both Colonel Roosevelt and MT. Funk ran ahead of their republican adversaries in Cook county. I think however the presidential candidate should be considered head of the ticket of any party.
 My decision goes only to the judges and clerks in Chicago and Cicero. will appoint progressive judges in each odd numbered precinct and one in each even numbered precinct-the places now held by the republican judges-and a progressive clerk in each precinct-places now occupied by repub- can adherents"
 Tn the recognition of the progressive party as the minority party does that you will also give the party place the election board?" the judge asked
 Well, that is a will come later. I reappointed Commissioner Czarneck the republican member of the board, right after the election, be cause I thought that was the thing to do with the canvass and probable contest hand"
 Will he be removed later?"
 Well. that is a thing will meet later" the judge asserted The courts have decided I can remove commissioner any time"
 The election law makes it mandatory for the county judge to give the minority party representa- tion upon the election board. He may name the three commissioners from three different political parties if he sees fit.
 If custom prevails, the five progressive county commissioners from the country towns will name the election officials in the suburban precincts complete the cleanup of the republicans
 There's nothing quite busy idle rumor.