Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1914-06-03
THE STRAW THE REPUBLICANS GRASP AT.

Those Republicans who are taking comfort because of
the comparatively small vote cast in some localities Tor
the Progressive tickets in the primaries show but little
knowledge Of their own party g history.
In the first place, however it is well known by all in
tegent voters that primary votes are not indicative OF
party strength party weakness Take the case OF Ore
gon for illustration The Republican party there has
regularly registered many times many votes as the
Democratic party has been able to register yet the state
has Just as regularly elected Democratic governors and
Democratic United States senator's The state has, IN
fact had Democratic for the past eight years
and has Democratic United States senators rep
resentng the Washington and at the last election
cast its electoral vote for the Democratic nominee for
president.
In Idaho the Republican vote used to be normally two
to to the Democratic vote yet the Democrats have
elected the governor and have the Republican party
very close other offices.
There many why some voters should be-
eve they ought to participate in Republican primaries
The money spent there, and the hottest and ire
quent the most INSCRIPTIONS contests made in that
party, while there generally little money spent in
the opposition party and most frequently there Is in
teresng contest to be decided at the primary polls These
conditions invite large vote at Republican primaries
An example of this is shown in this state two years
ago when notwithstanding the total vote cast at the p
mares in the state not 80 cent OF the total vote
at the general election following there MORE
cast for Republican candidates at the primaries than
that party received at the polls at the general election
But aside from all this which readily shows that there
need be disappointment to Progressves that the pr
mary vote cast by their followers not large in COMPARE
to the Republican vote in certain localities it should
not be forgotten that party cannot expect to have
anywhere its true strength displayed prior to cleo
ton day. Even the great Republican party
ganized in the state Of Pennsylvania and sent delegates
whatever to the national convention that nominated Abra
ham Lincoln for the presidency Yet Pennsylvania in the
very next election took its place leading Republican
state place which consistently retained until in 1912
when cast its electoral vote for the Progressive cand
dates.
Now, presume that if great state like Penn
sana unorganzed and should not be represented
at all at the next Progressive national convention when
the next president of the United States will be nominated
presentday tory friends would shout that fact out
from the housetops and publish broadcast in all the tory
papers of the nation indication of the weakness
the Progressive cause.
The Progressive party is better organized and has
many followers two years before the presidential
election at which expects to be successful than the
publican party had at it's first successful presidential cleo
on and when the votes counted next fall the results
Of that organization will be fully shown, primary indica-
tions primary Indications