Arizona republican., 1917-04-11
What IS a Democrat?

Whether a member of a political party is to be debarred from activity in behalf of his party he happens to approve a single party candidate archaic question raised by the attorneys for former Governor Hunt in the gubernatorial the other day Forty fifty years ago in the old vel low dog" days such a question might have been de- batabe but hardly now when party lines wavering and breaking as they have been doing for twenty years.
 This subject brought uR question asked by Mir. Ives of MT Shumway democratic election worker in Snowflake precinct. whether because he not in sympathy with the candicacy of Governor Hunt. he guilty an impropriety in accept ing a democratic election function
 Mir Shumway has been life long democrat He is a of standing in his community and is high officer in his church. For some reason he did not believe that Arizonas interest would best by the reelection of Governor Hunt. Therefore his preference was Mir. Campbell though it does ap- that he was active in his behalf that he had stated his preference to He appears have exercised control only his and to have attempted no other exercise.
 There two ways in which MT. Shumway may have regarded the situation. Either that the prin- ciples of democracy not embodied in Governor Hunt and that they inseparably attached to him; Mir. Shumway may have reasoned that the principles of democracy embodied either in the democratic candidate for constable of Snowflake precinct. Or, looking the another way and still regarding candidate for governor constable party expression, he may regarded the vel fare of the state the precinct much vital than the success of one or two candidates on the democratic ticket Thus Mir Shumway had either of two good reasons for not supporting Governor Hunt
 Moreover he found himself the count showed, in a large company of democrats It appears from the for other democratic candidates the democrats of Snowflake precinct entertained the view his with respect Governor Hunt We believe that half the democrats of Mari copa and Graham counties voted against the former governor with great enthusiasm republicans. In all the counties large numbers democrats voted for Governor Campbell and many of them. leaders of the party for worked actively for him. In fact in county did Governor Hunt poll nearly the normal democratic vote. He made any sort of a showing all only in those precincts where there heavy Western Federation Miners vote and the Western Federation of Miners is a democratic party organization.
 Other thousands of democrats did not go the polls all and some republicans absented lnc.n. selves We have met of both who said they Campbell but they believed that Hunt would certainly be elected They did want to participate in what they felt would be defeat But for this sentiment, the majority of Governor Campbell would have been of such volume to have precluded a contest
 It is better to be good citizen than be either a good democrat a good republican. No good citizen is bound by the choice of a majority of a comparatively few members of his party primary (and primaries well attended,, to support the candidates nominated there If that were so we would always have the of the minority at gen. eral elections It is by the independent action of thinking men that parties kept good condition The party must be purified and strengthened from within. The defeat of improper candidates by the votes of members of their own parties will make parties discriminating in their choice of can didates The party conventions learned that now that the primaries have taken places the con- ventions, the people must learn the lesson
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