Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1906-05-10
CAUCUS LAW IN OPERATION.

There IS more or less cOHipi'ih'
among voters because OF the deeiara-
ton requirement OF the new caucus
law. Some OF them object TO answer
ing the question, "With what political
party do you intend to act this year
Aud they don't see why they should be
kept out Of caucuses in consequence OF
their refusal to declare themselves.
The question is two-sided one,
without doubt, but the view taken by
the legislature OF 1904, with the urgen-
cy OF the passage of some kind Of a
caucus law constantly pressed upon 1t,
was that the law which promised to be
simplest and most effective should be
the one enacted.
Two objects were sought for to
prevent the purchase or sale Of votes
in the caucuses and conventions, and
to limit participation in caucuses to
voters who might properly take part,
the test OF which was the expressed in
tentiou OF the voter 10 abide by the re-
suit and support at the polls the ticket
nominated
The classification Of voters accord
ing to their preferences was placed in
the hands OF the listers for three rea-
sons; first, they ordinarily see every
voter when they take the tax lists
second, it would be much easier to
secure registration on that occasion
than to require each voter TO appear at
a certain time and place, as some
states do; third, it can be done at a
time which seems not unreasonably
long before nominating time, yet long
enough to give the requisite opportu-
nifty for making up the list Of voters in
advance of the caucus period.
Under all forms Of primary reglla.
ton, except the direct nominations
method which does away with conven-
tions altogether and is a radical step
that Vermont is perhaps not yet pre-
pared for, it is necessary for tle voter
to declare his politics in advance OF
casting his vote in the caucus, In order
to preserve the caucuses Of each party
from being interfered with by voters
OF another party, the improperly Of
which does not require argument In
New York the enrolment takes place
long in ADVANCE year before the
election, we belieye-and no voter can
act in a primary unless he supported
the ticket of that party at the last pre-
vious election. In Massachusetts, I'M
der the Luce law, the caucuses OF all
parties are held at the same place and
the same time. but before the voter
can take part he has to say what party
he belongs to, and is given ballot to
correspond with his declaration and
forbidden to cast it in any except the
box provided for that party, Yer
mont's law is a compromise between
New York and Massachusetts methods
as to the time OF declaration.
There Is always criticism Of new leg
islation affecting the subject OF elec.
tions. The Australian ballot system
was strongly opposed at the outset.
Any form of caucus regulation is
bound to incur the disfavor Of some.
And we know to certainty that no
regulation has been productive OF
great objection.
1t may be that the presetn law is not
a perfect one; IL may be that a better
one can be devised, or the present one
amended, but on the whole we think
it works 10 considerable hardship to a
voter to require him TO say in April or
May what party he intends to act with
in September, providing he cares to
help nominate the candidates of that
party in June or July. He is not COM
PEELED TO answer if he wishes not to.
the only penalty being that he cannot
vote in the cancuses Of any party-he
can vote at election time as he pleases.
the same as ever. And there is moth
ing to prevent a voter who declares
himself one way now from changing
his mind and voting another way in
September. This very liberty tends in