The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1901-05-02

The last speaker Of the evening was
Rev H W kimbal upon reforms in
Caucus Methods"
Ia part he said. In this country the
laws are very certain to be made and
executed by the representatives Of some
/ political party. Under present eondi-
tions the nominees Of the stronger politi-
cal party are almost sure to be elected.
The nomination of the candidates, then
| is of more Importance than the election
itself for the election is simply the ratif.
cation of foregone conclusion.
The caucus and convention method Of
nomination has proved itself failure as
means of registering the will Of the
| people. The caucus and the convention
are usually in the hands Of the political
machine, and the average citizen knows
! that he and his influence counts for
nothing, and because of this condition a
large portion Of the best citizens in all
parties take no part whatever in primary
party action. The remedy for this evil
is to give to every citizen direct voice
in the nominations of his party, 10 do
away with the caucus and convention
shear the political boss Of his locks Of
strength and clog the wheels Of the
political machine.
This can be done by primary election
which shall take the place of the caucus
The bill before the Wisconsin legislature
is the best and most thorough law of this
kind that has ever been drafted. Ii pro-
vides chat sixty days before the election
a primary election shall be held through
the state. This election shall be held
upon day which is also registration
day, and when the citizen registers TO
qualify for a voter he shall be given q
ballot of the party to which he belongs.
This ballot chall contain II of the men
who are seeking the nomination for
various offices. Under the law any man
may have his name put upon this ballot
when he presents petition signed by
% of the number who voted his party
ticket at the last election. This ballot
shall be marked according TO the pref
erence Of the citizen. This primary
election shall be held under all the safe.
guards which apply to the regular cleo
ton under the Australian ballot system.
The various names who have received
the greatest number of votes in this
primary election shall be declared the
nominees of their respective parties.
The advantage of this method of
selecting candidates is that every citizen
may feel sure that his will is registered
and will be counted. The nominees are
directly responsible to the people and
not to any boss. The citizen will take q
new and added interest in political affairs
when he finds that his influence counts.
The political machine will be largely
shorn of its power.
Gov. La Toilette of Wisconsin was
elected at the last election by over a
100, 900 majority and he made his fight
upon platform which declared for this
law. The law has already passed the
house of the Wisconsin Legislature and
will undoubtedly pass the Senate.
| Georgia has had a law of this kind il
successful operation for five years.
Minnesota passed law of this kind for
! Hennepin county two years ago and it
has worked so we'll that similar law
has been adopted for the whole state.
/ In a letter which | have received from
! the governor of Minnesota he says, II
/ believe our State is the first in the Union
! TO adopt direct primary system of
! selecting candidates TO be voted for. In
my Judgment many other states will
/ soon follow our example and in time all
of them" Where shall our good old
State of Maine come in this procession
of the states: If this movement which
begins here tonight accomplishes what
! it can and what it will if We are sincere
and in earnest then Maine will be by no
means the last to fall into line with this
progressive step.
Mr.. kmball showed much thought and
preparation in the handling of his sub
ieet and was Interrupted many times
with applause