Bisbee daily review., 1918-08-21
Political Gossip
lFrom the Fl Paso Heraldl

The political atmosphere in Arizona ] has been cleared percepdbly by the withdrawal of w. A. Moeur from the
 contest for democratic nomination for 1 the governorship in that it has narrow | ed down the field of aspirants and made less certain the nomination of Fred COlter, who is supposed to have been picked to receive the votes of | Gov. G. W. P. Hunt and his follow CTS.
 MT. Moeur, who is state land com
 missioner. has been rated as a con l servative, as opposed to the so called radical element in Arizona democracy. Sidney P. Osborn, secretary of staSe and an asiprant for the nomination, is also a conservative, as are also Fred T. Sutter and Lamar Cobb. As
 the race now stands, Colter appears to be leading, with Osborn at his
 heels, Sutter almost abreast of Os-
 born and Cobb trailing.
 The withdrawal of candidate Moeur
 is in the nature of self sacrifice, a
 giving up of his own chances in order
 to better concentrate the conserva-
 tives strength and defeat the radical
 element He has asked that the sup port which would have been given to
 him be transferred to MT. Osborn.
 The significance of this becomes
 more apparent when it is explained
 that candidate Osborn is a native of Maricopa county, which, second only
 to Cochise, casts the heaviest vote in the state. MT. Osborn's chances for nomination would depend greatly on
 the vote he received from Maricopa county. His record as secretary of state would carry him far in other
 counties where he is less well known personally. but persopal liking and
 his official record would influence MaricOpa county. COchise county will be somewhat divided. It is Judge Sut- ter's home and he will receive his best vote from that county. But COchise county has always heretofore been a tower of strength for Governor Hunt and it is to be expected that the can didate whom Hunt favors will receive a heavy vote from that county.
 Now. assuming that Cochise county will be considerably divided, glance again at Maricopa county As nearly as one could surmise, MOeur and Os- born between them held most or the democratic votes, with Hunts faction trailing. Mir Moeur, as land commis- sioner, has added greatly to the pres tige which he had obtained in county offices and as a resident of the valley for many years. His withdrawal means that the vote which would have gone to him will go to MT. Osborn, giving Osborn a strong lead in the second strongest county in the state.
 Thus, as stated above, the situation has been somewhat cleared, but not enough to render at all certain the defeat of Mir. Golfer. Governor Hunts 1 faction is supposed to number about 11,000 votes which, added to the vote which MT. Golfer will command on the l strength of his own record and per sonality, may be enough to elect him. |
 If the democrats of Arizona were | anxious to insure the nomination of a l conservative, they would endeavor to l bring about the withdrawal of another | candidate or two. and center the whole l conservative vote on one candidate. | Then, if Mir. Colter were defeated, his i supporters would have the choice of l voting for the successful democratic l candidate or for the socialist candi- | date. They would hardly vote for Thomas E.. Campbell, the candidate of | the republican party who, besides be- ing as opposed to Huntism as are Messrs. Osborn, Sutter and Cobb. does not bear the democratic label.
 The republicans of Arizona are watching the democratic melee with l close attention. It would be to their | adVantage if fha dauocra+s x,-oro to | nominate MT. Colter, for MT. Camp | bells chances will be greatly en- | hanced if the opposGfon is a candi- | date bearing the radical brand. In l that case, some conservative demo ! crats who pride themselves on in- | variably staying within party ranks | will vote for Colter. but many others | will bolt frankly, just as they did two | years ago, and vote for the republican | candidate.