Arizona republican., 1920-11-11
Where the People
 May Have a Hearing
WHY | VOTED REPUBLICAN, D. B. Guthrie, Mesa, Ariz.

To the Editor of the Republican:
 According to a comment in a Repub- lican editorial the next day after the election, everybody seems to be up in the air in regard to an explanation of the Republican victory in Arizona-or rather the Democratic defeat. It seems to me it might not be anniss to have a few expressions from erstwhile Demo- crats as to why they voted the Repub- iican ticket. It will be conceded, of course, that it was through the votes of erstwhile Democrats that the vic tory was achieved. We all recognize that, up to the election. Arizona was nominalIy Democratic. I say up to the election advisedly; the primary cleo tion and the registration for it show that conclusively.
 What then prompted so many Demo- crats to vote the Republican ticket? In the first place, doubt if very many Democrats voted the Republican ticket straight The Democratic vote was largely non-partisan; much more so that the Republican vote. On that score, what explains the defeat of Simms will not explain the defeat of Jones, and so forth.
 Another thing Republicans as well as Democrats would like to know is whether the swing is permanent de- l6CIlOU UT uOI. "A 1CW CApl CoS1O4S II OLl Democrats as to "Why voted Repub- lican" might help to clarify that ques- tion. And, what is of more impor- tance, might make clear to the Repub- licans how they will have to acquit themselves in office in order to hold this newly acquired vote.
 The vote as I see it, was, above all, protest vote. Business depression all ways brings protest vote. A great many Democrats were dissatisfied with the present administrations, both state and national. Almost everybody had a kick at something. I want to say that figure in the election than 1t appeared to- The things that counted were such things as dull markets, money string ency, labor troubles. and-above all taxation. The Republicans might not have handled these things any better than the Democrats-these are difficult times-but the vote means, we are go ing to give them a chance and sec what they can do.
 Two and four years from now, ii they have not givsn us relief the pro- test will go against them just as it did against the Democrats in the late elec- ton. If they can not show us better business conditions, if they can no show us more efficient government with taxation relief. they may prepare to step down and out as the Demo crats have just done. Especially, mus the state administration give us loWel taxes: our present taxes are intoler- able.
 For another thing, the Democratic ticket was not as strong as it migh have been At any rate they were np the men best fitted to hold the split ting elements of the party together The suffrage record of the Democrats party hurt it with the women voters Cox was not to blame for that, but h was to blame for his prohibition rec ord, and for his demagogics. Howeve that may be, he was not the man t solidify the Democratic vote. Bryal and his following could not swalloy | Cox-he was past all bounds. Afte all Bryan is the sanest man in tn Democratic party. He tried to set u
 right on the League of Nations; he our most consistent man on prohihi