The Topeka state journal., 1916-08-16
Kansas Primary Failed to Draw
Out Big Vote.
Local Contests All That Saved
Real Low Record.
GOVERNOR CAPPER LED TICKET
His Vote Larger Than Cast For
Amy Other Nominee.
s1Dark Horse" Candidates Made
Good Showing This Year.

Fewer than 100000 men and wom-
en- attended the Republican primaries
August 1. according to official reports
issued today by j. T. Botkin, secretary
of state Fewer than 10000 votes
Were cast on many state offices, while
in the Democratic primaries only 49,
900 people voted for the contesting
candidates for governor
Returns from the primaries show an
almost state wide apathy Local con-
tests alone saved the primaries in
many counties In counties and dis
Jricts where there were no disputes
concerning the nominations for local
offices. the vote, fell below 8 per cent
of the total vote. A number of coun-
ties registered less than 10 per cent
of their total voting strength il the
contests for nominations for state Of
fices.
Records from the primaries also
show another condition that brings lit
tie cheer to the hearts of primary en-
thuslasts. In many of the counties
candidates for state offices whose
names came first on the ballot carried
the county. while candidates from
neighboring counties and with strong
qualifications were badly beaten be-
cause their names were not first on
the list.
Cappcr Led Ticket.
Governor Capper's vote was larger
than the vote cast for candidates for
any other office. Many men and wo-
men merely voted for the governor
and failed to mark after names OF
other candidates on the state ticket
The fact that the governor was a can
didate for denomination without OBJ
position, while contests were staged
for numerous other offices did not
seem to affect conditions.
Dark horse" candidates ran strong
thruout the state. Frank b Brown,
for years a Democrat worker, polled
more than $4,000 votes for secretary
of state on the Republican ticket. A
A Graham. without the support or
endorsement of the bar association or
prominent lawyers, polled more than
$4,000 votes against Justice Silas Por-
ter. who was renominated for asso-
ciate Justice of the supreme Court.
Fred W. Knapp. who had returned
from the Progressive party, bat
few months earlier and had helped dl-
rect the campaign against the Repub-
lican state ticket in 1914. won the
nomination for state auditor in
three-cornered fight Charles Evans.
entirely outside the dope in the treas
urer tight, finished second in four
cornered contest and was fewer than
1000 votes from the nomination.
Vote on State Ticket
Votes cast in the primary for state
offices were as follows:
Justice supreme court-A. A. Gra-
ham (R). 53,15S; Silas W. Porter (R),
70.216; ]. T. Little CD, 44,7S7; w C.
Benton CS), 2.672. Second positiCn
Judson S. West (R), los, S,197; Otis S.
Allen CD, 39.133.
Governor-Arthur Capper (R), as
SIG: Ben S. Gaitskill Cd, HIS: w.
{. Lansdon CD. 2S,720; E. N. Rich
ardson (S), 2,712; H. P. Ross (P),
54S-
T=a,,4o,,an+ eyo.-orpor-W V Nor
gan (R), HISS: S. NJ. johnson CD,
43,s2S: Ethel Whitehead (S), 2,eS3;
A. II. Griesa (P), 52S.
Secretary of state-J. T. Botkin (R) ,
1899; Frank b. Brown (R), 52,1s7;
Margaret Grandle CD, 43.134; Lincoln
Phifer Cs). 2,627; Mary sibbitt tP),
$50.
Auditor-John Bramlage (R). 49,
744; Dan B. Dyer (R.), 37,125; Fred
w. Knapp (R), 3T,135; Frank Organ
(R.), 34,92O; w. ]. Duval CD, a.
522; w. w. Jones (S.). 2,664
State Treasurer-Wylie W. Cook
(R.), 1882, Charles c. Evans (R.) q,
32,S60; Walter L. Payne (R), 39,061;
Matt Weightman (R.), 29.2S4; D. F.
Callahan CD. 44,S7S; w. H. Thur
ston (S-), 2.675.
Attorney Generals. NJ. Brewster
(R0, 1I4.1s0; S. A. Buckland CD,
43,159s Alvah J. Graham (SD, 2.64l.
State superintendent of public in
struction-E- L. Payne CRO, 1854;
w: d. Ross (R.), 1861; Lizzie E.
Wooster (R). 49.l37; J. V. Colville
CD, 42.960; Ida Beloof (S.), 2,652; j.
H, Harnly (PO. 522.
Superintendent of insurance--Carey
J. Wilson (R). 1O9.sO6: Frank E.
Smith ODD, 4S.79S; Mae Taylor (S.) !,
2.610: Fred ]. Wegley (P.), sol.
State printer-W. r. Smith (R),
HASA; Robert Focht CD, 4c,312;
George Peacock (S), ISIS.