The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1913-10-20
THE IMPRoMPTU PRIMARIES.

o mlRnL CntCI luIO iiHlh PNSSiS
Q There has been no definite preparation
o such as in singing out any choice i
0 the candidates beforehand, and tn
I whole matter is entirely at sea
There has been no citizens meetlE
of any kind, or agreement by any pub
lie means, upon any candidate or set o
candidates, 1t is, of course, inadvis
. able under the law to make politica
partisan nominations, The intent an'
purport Of the law was expressly dc
signed to break up partisan nomina
tions; and so the candidates go in. eacl
man on his merits, save only that {
vast opportunity is afforded for secre
manipulation and dark. lantern combi
nations Whether the usual secret in
terference that so often has blightec
elections in Utah will cut any figure
IN this primary or not, it is too soon tc
say with any definiteness. But that
the secret whisper is likely to be heard
where it will do the most good is alto
gether likely. The situation lends it
self readily to that sort Of manipula
tion, and the public seems to accept it.
while those who give out the word
would perhaps feel themselves derehct
in their duty if they did not follow the
usual practice. The Federal bunch NO
doubt has agreed upon the candidates
it will support, and the word will go
Perhaps 1t has already gone to them.
1t is q most unsatisfactory situation,
which may easily be wrested to a use
that would in fact be more objection
able even than political party nomina-
tions, Objectionable though they be
and under the frown Of the law as they
are.
The number of candidates before the
primaries for nomination as Commis'
sioners is twentysiI. Four are to be
nominated at the primary, but no voter
can vote for more than two, 1t IS,
therefore. prima facie, something more
than q six to one shot to select the
winning candidates. Comparing the
present candidates with the election,
it is thirteen to one shot as against
any INV CduuIudlCo, Ou IuC
count of names; but on the standing
of the candidates the choice would be
very much greater as to some and very
much less as 10 others.
But really there ought to have been
some form of sitting. so that the result
OF the primary would be likely to be
more satisfactory than it may be, in
giving majority nominations, On an
even break for all the candidates,
a very small minority of the total vote
would nominate. There is not going
to be an even break, however, but
some of the candidates will run very
much stronger than others, and ma
Jority nominations are possible. If it
shall prove that there have been secret
and agreements by GER
tain influences, either old or newly ap-
piled, to support certain set of can
didates, then, of course, those candi- |
dates will win; especially if the Fed |
eral bunch should coincide with the |
For the office of Auditor, there will
be two candidates nominated out of |
eleven candidates proffered. The odds. |
therefore, are very pronounced against |
any one candidate, and those odds will
be reduced by one.half when sized up
in view Of the election which is to Do
On November 4th.
With mass of candidates. like this
and an open field. for an open town
on the one hand, probably to be met
by secret manipulations and under
on the other, the situation
s made one of great uncertainty. The
best that any citizen can do is to go
20 the primary election tomorrow and
vote his or her choice OF the candidates
n the light of all the things known of
such candidates and their published
declarations, and in the light of the
mixed situation so far as light can be
brown upon it.
Thus far there is only one open and
pronounced public propa ganda, but this
viii undoubtedly be met by combined
opposition along various lines and in
'arious ways. How it will all turn out
S puzzle that no one can possibly
olive at this time. But there are those
Who fear the worst, and foresee in
his primary, results that will so ma
erially undermine the strength of the
influence which has given us the pri
nary that it may be abolished at the
ext session Of the legislature.
However, we do not wish to antici.
ate the worst from the primary that
5 to be held tomorrow, and SO we hope
or the best; advising every citizen to
ONE out and vote for the best inter
SITS OF the city, as he or she sees these
interests. in the reflection Of the fit
ess of the candidates and their pub.
lshed views and intentions.
SEPTEMBER FIRE LOSSES