The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1916-05-03
PRIMARY A FAILURE.

The Review on several occasions has
seen fit to complain of the primary
law as not in the interest of the peo-
pie and especially the poorer class of
people. A good illustration of the
working of the law is found in the fact
that the rich people are enabled 10
run for Office: while people without
means are prohibited for that reason
Neither candidatesfor governor on the
republican ticket this year would be
able to make creditable canvass
were 1t not for the fact that they have
behind them sufficient means to en-.
able them to pay large bills for trav.
cling and other expenses. We have
already called attention to the fact
that the expense of the primary to the
state at large is SO much fthatIit be-
comes burden upon the tax payers.
When the expense becomes so much
that it means about three dollars for
every vote that is cast, anyone can
see that some other plan should be
adopted.
A sample of what can be accomp-
]ished under the primary is found in
the case of one Robert Ross, of Lex.
ingtOn, Neb., who perhaps may be an
honest man. He is engaged in the liv
cry business at the town of his resi-.
dence. This year he decided to run
for president and was not content to
run upon one ticket alone, but ran
on both the republican and democratic
ticketsin the Nebraska primaries. His
vote ran up to fifteen or twenty
thousand and is said to be about
equally divided between the two
parties. Someone, after the primary
was over, wrote him letter and in.
auired something as to his views on
public questions and his training and
qualifications for the Office of presi.
dent. He received in reply the follow.
ing letter:
Lexington Neb April "a 1916
Wayne Neb Mr. w l. CASTOR Dear sir
your card received and will say that
! was Borned in Repley Ohio. My par.
ents moved from there when ! was q
years old to Cattettsburg, X was
educated there and at Portsmouth,
Ohio, and raised as Methodist of
Which my parents was when about III
came to nebraska Lexington Dawson
Go about 81. years ago was on ranches
and later a farmer TO about rs years
different things short time in the
above mentioned was Member oil
evangelical Church in early days and
now member of Presbyterian here
In Lexington Neb for about years.
have never taken drink of Liquor
nor my Father Gather since was old
enough to know till he died You you|
preachers ought to get Busy and give
the Delegates to under stand what
your intention is if they nominated a !
man of Whiskey type or one going It'll
tou faced as some of them is very
truly-Robert G Ross Lexinfiton Neb.
Now. after reading his letter and
hearing Of his business, it does look4
somewhat strange that 10 per cent of
the republicans and democrats of Ne
braska should take so little interest in
the primary as to cast their vote forI
this individual. 1t will not do for re-
publicans to say that the votes were
cast for the liveryman in order toI
show the disapproval of the Wilson,
administration, nor will it do for dem.
ocrats to chuckle over the fact that
so large vote was cast for Mr. Ross,
because of want of harmony in the
republican party. The truth is, the
vote cast for this gentleman is a re.
Election upon the legislature that pass.
ed the primary law and reflection up
on the voters who knew so little as
to cast the votes. The opportunities
were a thousand times better for de-
veloping the proper candidates for of.
ice under the old caucus system than