Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1916-06-21
spEcuu4ATIoNs ON IOWA.
ISioux City Tribune.1

| Supporters of w. l.. Harding have not
attempted to deny that thousands OF
4 wet" democrats voted the republican
| primary ticket specifically in Mr.. Hard
! ing's interests. This situation did not
come as a surprise and had been fore
! casted in news stories carried in the
| Tribune from various Iowa cities. In
some of the newspaper advertising for
I Harding the liberal democrats were
openly advised to support the liberal
| republican candidate.
Democrats We're somewhat unethical
by the usual standards in voting in the
republican primary, but as citizens they
( had right to move aggressively for
the type of public servant conform
ing to their particular notions, regard
less of party classifcations. Their move
will be entirely lawful if they continue
! to be republicans until they see another
chance to gain a point for themselves.
In the matter of practical politics
| one of the chief concerns of Mr.. Hard
| ing in the campaign will be to induce
those democratic reinforcements TO
| stand hitched."
1t was comparatively easy to get
democrats to invade the republican
| fold in the primary, as there were no
nomination contests on the democratic
state ticket. 1t is safe to premise that
considerable number Of the demo-
cratic republicans will backslide this
fall on the presidential question and
some Of them are certain TO fail or
refuse to move over to the republican
ticket and register for Mr. Harding.
Four years ago, with no material
:ssue introduced iii the canpd ign, Ed
G. Dunn, democratic candidate for gov
ernor, ran only 1899 votes behind
George w. Clarke. republican candidate.
In spite of the general thought, how
ever. this result was not due as much
to Dunn's showing of strength as to
Clarke's weakness. Dunn received 1872
449 votes. White. democratic candidate
for governor in the 1908 campaign, re-
ceived 1871 votes; Porter, democratic
candidate for governor. in the 1910
campaign, received 1888 votes.
With a vigorously conducted cam
paign that drew out practically all Of
his republican supporters and which
drew to him more democratic votes
than he will receive in the fall election.
Mr.. Harding came out Of the primaries
with approximately 100. 900 votes. The
dry" republicans, backing Cosson and
Allen, polled about 100, 600 votes. The
dry" democrats. naturally, stuck to
their own party ticket, headed by E. T.
Meredith, an avowed advocate of pro-
hihition.
In the November election a large
number of republicans will vote for Mr..
Harding merely as matter of party
regularity, taking no account of the
particular interests or issues that he is
to represent Likewise number Of
democrats. some of the semi damp, will
vote for E. T. Meredith for governor
this fall just because he is on the dem
ocratic ticket .-....
Decision on the governorship will be
determined. however, by those taking
their position for cause, deliberately.
and one guess is good as another on
turn to Meredith in large numbers, and
the losses, are not too heavy in wet
democratic votes for Harding, Mere
dith will win. On the other hand IL
Harding holds reasonably strong vote
with the assured accessions Of wet"
democrats, he will have easy sailing
If Mr.. Harding is elected those in
tertainment in observing the demands
made upon the new governor by the
various special interests which have
been backing his candidacy. Some OF
the popularity" motives then will come
TO the surface.