The Washington herald., 1913-11-08

Cleveland. the home Of Senator Bur.
tor, Is ever providing something new
puzzllng and unnecessary In politics
The latest Is the nonpartisan preferen-
ual ballot In city elections. and dia-
gram is needed to make clear wha. the
title itself does not explain. Political
wise men In Washington thought they
knew about everything new or exasper-
ating In the way Of election novelties.
but the preferential proposition put them
In the kindergarten class and asking how
II was done. The preferential system
permits the voter to indicate his first,
second and third choice Of candidates for
any one Office.
To win a candidate must have a ma
Jority-not a plurality, mind you-of the
total first choice votes put in the box.
IL no candidate has majority the new
tangled system provides that the lead
ing candidate nearest majority shall
be given the votes handed him as second
choice of the discriminating citizens.
There is no special benefit In the new
system, only since Tom Johnson's day
OF diversion Cleveland has yearned to
do things differently. The awful slump
OF Mayor Bakers vote IN Cleveland must
give Senator Burton a few thrills of joy
and hope. Baker. Democrat had Is 200
plurality two years ago. This year he
had 5000 plurality and 3.225 majority.
There was no Progressive vote. AID that
fact adds to the Burton cheer. Some
how this man Burton. while not exactly
popular or hardly cordial in politics. has
luck on his side and simply keeps on
the Joo without fuss or flourish
Indiana Republicans have been SO
hard hit in the last four years that
little matter of 1O9 votes gives cheer and
satisfaction.
There were three candidates for Mayor
OF Indianapolis this year, and Book
walter the Republican candidate, al
though defeated by 5,Sss plurality, had
lOs votes more than DR.. Johnson. the
Progressive nominee. A year ago the
Progressive vote ran above that Of the
regular Republican organization by a
few thousand, so that even 100 votes
to the good is worth talking about.
This Progressive slump in a dozen
months must cause agony in the soul of
Albert Jeremiah Beveridge, who was
everywhere else but home In the late
campaign, confident that last years rec
ord would be sustained.
Beveridge was careful to keep out of
Maryland this year and he may claim
that his absence was responsible for the
awful slump in the Progressive vote in
The Progressive ticket had about per
cent of the vote given Roosevelt, and
IT is recalled with some satisfaction by
Political wise ones here in Washington
that there has been a remarkable change
OF sentiment up Maryland way, as the
Roosevelt vote was two to one in 1872
Senator Penrose of Pennsylvania re-
turns to his New Willard apartments
no larger hat than when he went out to
smite the n-Magee-P Progressive COM
bination In the western section Of the
State.
He smote with an az and with results
that put TO sleep the Progressive p ans
out Pittsburg way. The results in Phila-
delphia were no less satisfactory to the
Senator. Two years ago a labor and
fusion candidate for Mayor in Philadel-
phia Joined with Democrats to defeat the
regular Republican candidate by 5000
votes. There were lSS.oo0 votes cast for
fusion in 1911, and this year the same
candidate received 1900. a matter of
5000 loss, and giving the Penrose Repub-
lican organization control OF things again.
There was no Progressive State ticket
this year in Pennsylvania, 50 the full ex-
tent of the slump cannot be reckoned,
but 1t Is pertinent TO note that where
President Taft had $1,000 votes in Phila-
delphia last year, the straight Republican
vote this year was over 10000.
Judge William Writ Dixon, of Montana,
was something more than a jealous MEM
ber OF Congress during the one term
that he was the sole representative of 4 |
new State. He continued a resolute man.
ager for the several Senatorial campaigns
Of Marcus DAILY in the days when mil
lionaire mine owners thought It the fit
and proper thing to reach the Senate.
William A. Clark in soft and silky
fashion put the DAILY organization to con-
fusion. but had much to think about