The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1909-01-12
GOV. HUGHES
VS.. BOSSES
A Contest Ahead Over Direct
Primaries
---------
APPEALS TO THE PEOPLE
To Advise the acknowledgements
on the Massachusetts, Ballot-Ad-
vantage Of Precedent Is With
the Governor.
APPEALS TO THE PEOPLE

New York, Jan. 12.--Within the neni
fow weeks, if present declarations are
reliable, the State of New York will b.
treated to the remarkable spectacle Of
the governor on the one hand and the
bosses Of the Republican machine on the
other, out on the stump against each
other Appealing TO the people" The IS
sues viii be direct primary nominations
and ballot reform. The people will be
asked kindly to inform the Legislature
that they desire direct primaries and a
Massachusetts, ballot; or 10 advise the
Legislature that they are adverse to
tese measures.
II is strange situation, but not so
strange as that presented by the Legis-
lnture itself waiting to hear the voice Of
the people before deciding what to do
with there remaining reforms of the
governors programme. The present APP
peal has TO do with matters Of abstract
policy relating to the method by which
the people win hereafter express their
will in choosing their representatives. 1t
presupposes, in the first place, the right
and ability Of the people TO pick out
their own representatives in public Office
and then TO hold these officials account
bic by the popular will
Governor Hughes will argue that IL
the voters select the candidates direct
~, instead Of through series OF con-
vontions, the opportunities for irrespon-
sible bosses to vote delegations en- bloc
for machine candidates in whose choice
the voters have no say whatever will
be gone, and that the new responsibility
given to the electorate will move it 10
take keen and intelligent action in nam
ing proper men. The Massachusetts
ballot, the governor win say, following
the argument of his recent message, him
ders only unintelligent voting, and it
is for the electorate to decide whether
it will place premium on intelligence
or on the lack Of II in the use Of the
ballot. What bosses arguments on
these points win be is equally clear
that the direct primary is open to abb
uses by interruptions politicians; that
it entsils double election expense, and
favors candidate who can afford to
spend money over one who cannot. As
to the Massachusetts, ballot, the bosses
will say that it makes voting more diff
fic,llt and DISTINGUISHES many of those
aspiring citizens who seek to take an
active part in our government before
they are able to read the English langu-
age. The situation is entirely in line
with the frequent declaration OF Cover
nor Hughes that public discussion il the
most healthful thing in political life, for
u one is right the people may be trust
cd to express their concurrence, while il
one is wrong the quicker he finds out
about ii the better. Its significance APP
pears when one considers its origin and
growth. The advantage of precedent is
y it'll the governor, for the verdict OF the
public has uniformly been in his favor
o. the issues of the past two years.
Whether the bosses will he able by force
OF facts, and weight of argument to
score their first substantial victory
against him will be awaited with much