The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1912-05-13
They Are the Uncertain Fac
tor in the Primary Elec-
ton Which California Will
Hold Tomorrow.
FAIR VOTERS ARE
IN THE MAJORITY
However, the Registration of
Women Is Not Very Heavy
Contest in Both Parties
Is Close.
(National News Association

National News Association
SAN FRANCISCO, Cal, May 13.-
California's first presidential prefer
ence primary tomorrow will decide
the vote of the twenty-six delegates
this state will send to the national con-
ventions. The names of William Fl.
Taft, Theodore Roosevelt and Robert
NJ. La Toilette appear on the Republi-
can ballot, while the Democrats have
the privilege of voting for Governor
Woodrow Wilson, Speaker Champ
Clark and Judson Harmon.
Active campaigns have been waged
on behalf of all the candidates, and on
the eve of the election the situation
is admitted to be exceedingly confus-
ing and the results equally in doubt.
An uncertain factor in the contest
is the woman vote. In consequence of
the referendum vote last fall the
women of California tomorrow will be
given their first opportunity to go to
the polls and register their choice for
candidate for President of the United
States.
Outnumbered the Men.
According to census taken under
the direction of the Women's Progress
sive League Of this city some months
ago there are upwards of $4,000 WON
en- eligible to vote in California. The
number of male voters registered at
tho loot Ctoto oloctiop uos 6oo onn
This would have given the women a
majority in the primaries, If they had
taken advantage of the situation. But
as matter OF fact the registration OF
women was comparatively light. Oi
one hundred thousand women in Sar
Francisco only one-quarter registered
This small enrolment of women was
a severe shock to advocates of wom
an suffrage, as they had predicted that
this first opportunity would be eager
ly seized by practically every woman
in the city eligible for the ballot.
Though the number of women vot
ers may be smaller than at first anti
cipated. their ballots may play a mos'
important part in the presidential con
tests in this state, especially If the
results are close At any rate the
woman vote contributes an uncertain
element to the situation that makes II
difficult for the political leaders to fg
ure on the outcome. 1t is also causing
the politicians no need of uneasiness
for the women have shown signs o.
independent thinking and it is not a.
all certain that they will vote the wa!
their husbands do.
The speaking campaigns in behal
of the various candidates will be con
tinued up to the very last hour. Or
both the Republican and Democratic
sides the contests have been waget
is the only one of the presidential as
pirants who has been able to take {
personal part in the campaign here
but each of the others has been rep
resented by able managers and pow
erful speakers.
Within the past few weeks the Wis
consin Senator has stumped the State
from end to end. Roosevelt speaker,
and Taft speakers have followed close
on his trail and there is scarcely {
city, town or village in California tina
has not been subjected to an orator.
cal bombardment by the forces of eaci
of the three Republican candidates.
Colonel is Popular.
The Roosevelt managers declare tn.
La Toilette campaign will not serious
| ly affect the Colonels chances of vic
tory tomorrow. 1t is pointed out tina
Roosevelt has always been personall.
popular in California and that will
Governor Johnson. Francis ]. Hene.
and eE.prominent leaders in his sup
port he is sure to win out
Predictions of an equally rosy hu.
emanate from the Taft camp. The Taf
managers count upon the backing o
the business interests of the State ant
also expect to get a large majorit.
of the women's vote. The personne
of the Taft ticket is regarded as ex
ceedingly strong. In the list of Taf
delegates to the national convention
are the men who supported Governo
Johnson for the nomination two year
ago, but who refused to follow hi
lead in declaring for Roosevelt Tw,
of the other Taft delegates are women
The contest for the Democratic in
dorsement is believed to he betweel
Wilson and Clark The alignment o
| the California Democrats in regard u
presidential candidate is not so dis
| tinct as 1t is among the Republican
and if there had been no primary ant
the old-time leaders had thir way IL Il
probable that the State would hav.
sent an uninstructed delegation {,
Baltimore. The Wilson candidacy ha
been favora bly, received from the star
and his campaign in California hai
been ably managed The most poter
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