Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1914-06-11

The vote In the state as register
: ed last spring was as follows:
Republican ......-- .......-....-.....6Sl'4Sb
Democratic :. .-......................374,6
Progressive :. -...................-.114,61l
l II is assumed that the voters In
the state had their bearings a little
better in the recent primary than
when the registration took place
last spring. so the politicians are
inclined to compare the primary
vote with the vote of 1919. This
comparison shows q slump of 1885,
GA Progressive votes in the state
In eighteen months. II shows q
Democratic loss OF 159.659 and o.
Republican gain OF 55,565.
Very naturally the Republicans
are distinctly encouraged by the
showing of this primary vote in the
second largest state in the Union.
Some OF the politicians who have
undertaken to analyze the figures
say It is probable that most OF the
Democratic loss represents the Re-
publican vote in the state that was
cast for Wilson two years ago. The
Progressives are making no effort
to explain the pitiable showing they
made at the primaries beyond the
statement that since there was not
a contest for United States senator
in the Bull Moose party thousands
of Progressives probably did not
vote at all.
It has been generally recognized
right along that II there Is a state
in the Union in which the Progress
sives have a genuine issue, 1t Is
Pennsylvania. Boise Penrose, of
course gives them the issue; and
yet, according to the official fig
ures, Senator Penrose in the recent
primary carried fifty-five of the
sixty-seven counties in the state. The
politicians who have examined the
official primary returns say that
but one conclusion can be reached
with respect to them, and 1t is that
the vast majority OF Republicans
who voted the Bull Moose ticket in
the state two years ago went back
to the Republican party at the pri-
mary. They indicated at the spring
that they proposed to
return, and the primary result
showed that they held to their de-
Whether the small showing made |
by the Progressives at the primary
Is indicative of what viii happen in {
November no one can say with GER J
tainty. Most observers are natur- {
ally inclined to reach the conclusion
that the Bull Moose party in the {
state has actually gone to pieces,
and this in spite of the fact that 1t {
has a real issue in Penrcseism. The
politicians are all wondering why
the Progressive party in the state
should suffer a loss of 396,644 in
eighteen months, if the new par .
" really had any vitality left. '
It is being pointed out that the
story told by the official figures in
takes on added i'm
,ortance when considered in con-
1ection with tests that have been
made in other states. In every cleo
ion and in every primary held
Jince 1912, the Bull Moosers have
,hown retrograde movement. This
act leads the politicians in the
,ther parties to believe that the
process of disintegration is nation
vide. Most observers realize that
t is not for the leaders Of the Bull
Moose party to say whether the
,arty is to survive, but for the vot-
RS to determine.
The Democrats are exceedingly
Inxious that the breakup of the
lew party shall not come prior to
he congressional elections this
ear. They have been counting on
he Bull Moosers helping them to
,lected the house of representatives
nee more, at least. They make no
ecret Of the fact that they regard
very Progressive nomination for
ongress as an aid to q Democratic
Y. Evening Post.