MANCHESTER DIVIDED: PARKER WINS!

Things have moved so fast this past week in New Hampshire that a lot of people have forgotten that this is the 100th anniversary of the Granite State primary. The centennial’s been noted, but it’s fair to say most media is looking forward at this point — not 100 years in the past.

Before heading up here, however, we dug up some original sources from the time. And we’ve been waiting all week to drop them (the original idea being to tease it on social media as “RESULTS FROM THE ’16 PRIMARY,” but in practice we just couldn’t stoop that low).

Things used to be different. From the avalanche of routine articles about how the New Hampshire primary didn’t gain political significance until 1952, you already know part of the story. Before Manchester became ground zero for baby-kissing, people voted directly for delegates who then went on to cast their votes on behalf of residents — either for a specific candidate, or for whomever they felt was the best choice for their party.

Without any further ado — the suspense must be killing you — here are the returns from the March 15, 1916 Union-Leader:

In the first presidential primary ever held in this state yesterday, the unpledged ticket of the Republican organization carried the day in the only contest that featured the occasion. Captain Frank H. Challis of Manchester, who ran as a Roosevelt candidate, against the slate was defeated about two to one. Returns at 1 o’clock this morning from 183 out of 294 election districts, comprising all the cities … give:

• Walter M. Parker … 6892
• William D. Swart … 6293
• George H. Moses … 6010
• Dwight Hall … 5968
• Frank H, Challis … 2729

The first four were elected to attend the national convention, free to vote for whomsoever they consider the strongest candidate for president before the convention.

Yesterday’s vote was small, especially in the cities … Weather conditions were favorable. The traveling was a bit “soft” and the sleighing sloppy in places, but the day was fair.