Iditarod pioneer., 1916-01-08
PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARIES

Presidential primaries somewhat m the nature of ar unknown quantity in the national political sltl- alton, and as the time approaches tor pertectng and outlining the plans of the different presidential aspr- ants there appears to be much doubt and uncertainty as to the best policy to pursue with reference to them
 The names of Theodore E. Burton, Charles W. Fairbanks and other eminent Republicans of conserv- alive inclination who are known to be willing to de- vote their services to the country in the office of President of the United States for the term be5nnlng March A. 1917, will not be entered in the Western presidential primaries next spring, according to a Washington dispatch. This decision dlsposes ot very knotty situation which now confronts the pres dental boomers for the first time.
 Down under the surface there has bene great agl- taon in the presidential camps these primaries. To submit or not to submit IS problem that has been causing the managers ot various presidential booms to knit their brows and cudgel thelr bralns The situation as regards these primaries IS enough to give an alert presidential manager the Jm-]ams, for the procession of Western primaries that is to take place early in the new year lnJecs new and, it mght be said decidedly embarrassing feature lnto presidential campaigning The primaries will revo- lutonize the early stages of campaigning.
 Some twelve or fifteen states beginning with Minnesota, will hold presidential primaries next spring In some the primaries will go no further than the selection of delegates to the national con- ventions. In others presidential preference vote will be taken It Is the latter that are causing the most concern.
 On the theory that an early boom is likely to be nipped by an early frost" the policy of the friends of Burton, Fairbanks and other aspirants is to use gum shoes unt the campaign develops further, but the Western primaries conflict sadly with that pro- gram It IS an obvious fact that the presidential pirants whose names are not entered in the presl- dental preference hg ghts will forfeit the delegates from those states
 On the other hand the asprant who would enter these Western primaries and get bumped, so to speak, would be dead cock in the pit before the campaign gets fairly started, as early reverses are hard to overcome in a presidential contest.
 So the dilemma Is one that has two horns, either one of which IS bad enough for asplrants like Falr- banks Burton and others who have great strength Tn the regions where blossom the initiative, reeren- dunn and recall and other progressive ideas of the first vintage.
 The most ardent of Burtons friends, for instance, could not imagine him walking away with the presi- dential indorsement of states like South Dakota
 The managers, friends and ieutenants of various candidates have been talking the matter over, ex- changing notes and doing good deal of tall think ng, and the upshot of it Is wellde6ned purpose to fight shy of the Western primaries.
 In taking this attitude they have preferred to be impaled on what they consider the less letha horn of the dilemma
 1t IS understood in we-nformed circles at the na- tional capital that Senator Cun1mins of Iowa prob-