The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1912-04-30
THE INFLATED PRIMARIES.

! IhE INFLATED PRIMARIES,
We have heretofore discussed the
matter of voting at primaries, it be
ING clear, as we have pointed out, that
in number Of the States, specifically
| Illinois and Wisconsin,. the Democratic
vote largely disappeared to swell the
aggregate Republican vote at the pri-
maries. The Democratic vote is uni
! formly light, the effort of all the vot'
ers apparently being turned chiefly to
the selection Of Republican candi.
didates, Democrats and Socialists tax
ing part very largely in selecting those
and often determining the choice OF
the Republican party.
We note the same thing to have
been the case in Oregon at the recent
primary there. The Oregouian pre-.
seDts series OF tables and figures
which prove conclusIvely that the Re
publican primaries attracted the votes
of Democrats and Socialists, swelling
the Republican vote beyond all meas
ure and reckoning. Thus, the Rcpubli-
can registration the present year In
Oregon amounts to 93,070; the Dem
ocratic to 2s,4l7; the Socialist to
1928. But the party vote has no such
relation to the registration as would
be thus Indicated Although the Re.
publican registration in zoos was So
o2l, the actual Republican vote for
President was only 62,530, and al"
though the Democratic registration
was but 2s.7Ss, the vote for Bryan was
3S,OA9. This proves conclusively that
thousands Of Democrats registered and
voted at the Republican primaries.
The normal Republican plurality ID
Oregon over the Democrats is about
$4,000; and yet, according to the reg.
istratlon this year, the Republican plu-
rallty over the Democrats is upwards
of 10000, beng more than three to one
IN favor of the Republicans. which is
out Of all bounds. This ratio in Multi.
uomah county, Oregon. is over five to
one in favor Of the Republicans, al
though the actual vote is less than two
to one,
The Oregonian notes also that the
Democratic registration this year for
the primaries is less than the Demo
cratic registration in 1908; but the
Republican registration has increased
of $4,000. In Multnomah
county, the normal Republican plural
ity is from 10000 to 10000; and yet
the apparent plurality, AS shown by
the party registration this year is
2S,S62, more than double the actual
these facts, the Orcgonian very per.
tincntly says:
The figures speak for themselves. They
arc unanswcrable. They disclose q grow
n5 tendency TO. abandon the Democratic
political effort by all parties to the Re-
ouoiican primary, In other words. Dem
1crats and Socialists register freely as
Republicans in order 10 influence and
control Republican action.
;, II there Is remedy, it ought to be
discovered and applied. If there is no
..emedys the primary system is super
1uous and the only way out Is system
y preferential voting at all regular cleo
ions. without the trouble and expense OF
l preliminary party primary.
That exhibits the case precisely;
bere is no sort of doubt but that
Democrats, Socialists. and other vot-
RS who are not Republicans, take part !
N the Republican primaries, ipluenc- |
ng and perhaps determining the result,
cntion whatever to support nominees
4 the Republican party, but apparent
Y trying TO make the nominations,
nd making them often, adverse TO the
interests Of the Republican party.
hat is, these non Republican voters
eek to make the weakest nominations
or the Republicans, and put up as can.
idates men whom they think 1T Will /
@ easiest to beat.
AS to the suggestion that there may
e remedy for this sort Of thing, it
'ould, as a matter of fact, seem TO be
npossible to provide any such rem
DIV, for there is no way TO prevent
ny voter voting at the Republican
rimsry if he registers as a Republi.
an. If he is found later on opposing
nc Republican nominees, there is nj
'ays ample opportunity to give rea-
'ns to Justify the change of opinion;
aat is, it is impossible to hold any
otter to the support of the party nom
nations as made. So that remedy is
Mt OF the question, and we shall have
} depend on the caucus and convep-
on to give us the actual party choice ,
" nominees, At party caucuses and
'nveutious, there is never the slight.
It opportunity for the opposition to
,me In and dictate nominations. AT
,c primaries, this opportunity is abso
tcly open and easy, The Republican
drty cannot afford to take the risk Of
-Imaries to be controlled by their OPP
onents, in the interest Of the opposi-
on.
Chicago has the most profitable con
acts with her street railways of any
ty in the country. even though il