Cresco plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1913-1945, 1917-01-19

to have been a drop Of 10,338 from
the presidential vote. The total vote
for all candidates for governor, as dis
closed by the official canvass made
by the legislature, was 513,S60, divided
as follows: Harding, republican, 313,-
$50; Meredith, democrat, 1882;
Bashor, progressive, 2,O35; Bennett,
socialist, 5000; Elicit, prohibitionist,
$3.50; Dowler, socialist-labor, 1856;
scattering, l.
For all candidates for lieutenant
governor there were cast . total of
479,125 votes, divided as follows:
Moore, republican, 291,029; Doty,
democrat, 174,7s1; Belt, progressive,
LIT; Crawford, socialist, 1892; Tan
reuther, prohibitionist, 2,572; Hisel,
socialist-labor, 1874.
Big Slump on Lieutenant Governor.
Here is shown an extraordinary
drop of 34,635 votes from the total
cast for governor. Practically all OF
this lump came to the two leading
candidates, the difference between the
Harding Meredith vote and that cast
for Moore and Doty being 34,59S, all
but SO of the full loss. The candidates
of the minor parties held their
strength pretty we'll from the top to
the bottom of the tickets. 1t seems
hardly possible to make satisfactory
analysis of the vote, as to the cross
ing of lines by the democrats and re-
publicans. Probably the fairest COM
parison on the republican ticket
treasurer, as compared to the total re-
ceived by Mr.. Harding. w. c. Brown,
the republican candidate for treasurer,
was in no way drawn into the battle
that ragged so fercely on the chief
executiveship, and undoubtedly profited
only from republican votes. His total
was 283,937. If this was the real re-
publican vote, and it is near the nor
NAL party strength in presidential
years, it shows that Governor Hard
ing, with his 1856 votes, had the
support of 29,649 electors, other than
republicans. A fair showing Of the
real democratic strength was the vote
for treasurer Of state, there being no
special reason why he should be given
the support Of any other than his
party adherents. This total was Ill.,
7O5, and compared with Mr.. Meredith's
vote Of 1852, would indicate that
the latter received the support at the
polls of 1917 republicans. The diff
ference between the Harding and
Moore vote is 22,557, showing that
Moore held a part but not all Of the
democratic strength that came to his
chief and the same thing is shown to
be true when the difference between
the Meredith and Doty vote is con-
sidered, as to republican aid. !
Slump Averages 700 to County.
The sharp decline in interest by the
voter, from the top to the bottom of
the ticket is best shown when 1t is
considered that the total decline Of
61,1S6 gives an average Of practically
an even 700 to each Of the 80 coun-
ties, or that % voters in each precinct
in the state had interest sufficient to
20 to the polls and cast their ballots,
but became weary Of the toll Of mark
ing before they reached the Office Of
railroad commissioner, stopped short
there and called it days work.
Won't Change the Primary Law.
Despite the radical attack on the
statewide primary election law, de-
livered by Governor Clarke in his fare
we'll message to the law makers, 1t
has become apparent this early that
the law will not be repealed. Legis-
lators say the law is giving reason
measurably better than the old caucus
convention system which it replaced,
and that there is no demand from their |
constituents for it's repeal or emascu- |
lation. The fate of the presidential |
primary is not so certain however. but |
there is not much enthusiasm either |
for or against it. About the only |
ton which now seems sure Of altera-
ton, is that relating to the restora.
ton Of the circle to the Australian
ballot. If the circle had been printed
on the ballots as in former years. at
the recent election, it is estimated
that fully 80 per cent Of the $1,000
votes lost between president and rail-
road commissioner, would have been
cast for all candidates and counted.
The non-partisan judicial election law
is sure to be discussed and may be
amended by the placing of the names
of candidates on all tickets. 1t will
not be repealed, if the early senti-
m ont NJ tho law makers nersistS