Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1902-12-04
TWO QUESTIONS OF coNSE'
oUENCE.

With liquor and tuberculosis legis-
lation out of the way, the matters that
will engage most attention during the.
remainder of the present legislative
session are caucus reform and propos-
ed abolition Of the death penalty in
cases of capital crimes.
The Republican party stands com
mitted to pass a caucus law. 1t is gen.
orally admitted that something should
be done. but what that something is
remains as yet a mystery. The need
OF better regulation of primaries and
conventions-regulation by statute,
with penalties for infractions-is pat
ent to all. But what shall be the ma
ture, what the provisions of that law 2
There has been a notable reticence
on the part of members of the present
assembly in proposing measures for.
caucus reform. While no less than
six complete bills relating to the traffic
in liquor were offered, only two meas
ures dealing with the caucus have
been introduced. One of these is the
Brownell bill, which follows the beaten
path, requiring registration by voters
and enrolment in advance under dis
tinct party standards in order that the
voter may participate in the primaries
of that party to which he has signitied
his allegiance. The other is the
Downer bill which outlines a modified
form of the so-called direct nomina-
ton system, which has lately been
adopted by Minnesota, and which OBJ
tains to a greater or less extent in
South Carolina, Georgia, Wisconsin,
Michigan, Massachusetts and other
states. Under it the voters of all
parties assemble at the same time
and place and there ballot for the can
didates they desire to head their re-
spective tickets Each party has a
separate polling place and the voter
deposits his ballot where it will count
with the party to which he belongs.
The whole is presided over by duly
elected officers, the voting is done by
checklist and according to regulations
clearly prescribed by law. 1t is, in
fact, an election Of candidates. The
actual election later is trial of
strength between the respective win
ners of the primary contest.
Either Of these systems would be a
distinct advance, an immense improve
ment, over the present loose way in
which candidates are named, While
the Brownell plan is the more conser-
vative and has the successful expert
ence of New York, Connecticut and
other states to recommend it, we con-
fess to a desire to see the direct nomi-
nation plan tried, if it can be made
feasible for our state. 1t is less cum
bersome and gives promise of greater
power and liberty to the individual.
As to the question of capital punish
ment we cannot here undertake any
thing like full discussion Of it. The
conditions existing are these:-Three
murderers await the infliction of the
death penalty. The Legislature is
asked to commute the sentence OF
each. Each has some claims to leni-
ency. yet many members fail to see
why the sentence of the court should
not be carried out, if the state is to
continue the death penalty. The ne.
cessity of passing on these cases, how.
D ever. brings the main question for.
n ward in a different way than it would
+ otherwise come up. Men shrink from
e saving by their votes that a fellow
S being, even a convicted murderer
e shall be swung into eternity. Add t,
e this the growing objection to capita
v punishment in any case and it is APP
: parent that a strong movement viii
e gather force To substitute life impris
y onment this year.
/ We would not be bit surprised t
= see Doherty. Shaw and Eastwood
e saved from the gallows. not by specia
'e acts of commutation, but by genera
o law making Imprisonment for lite, in
stead OF hanging, the penalty tor muir
u der in the first degree.
r 80. -. a..