The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1910-05-26
PRIMARY LAW BENEFICIAL
Hon L. w. Gibson Says Adoption
Of Such a Measure Would Destroy
Machine Politics-Results Obtain
ed i'm Other States.

OF Sucn Measure would Destroy
Machine POlitics-Results Obtain
ed in Other States.
Hon. e. w. Gibson, of Brattleboro,
furnishes the following article, which
is the third and LAST of a series in
which he has discussed in detail the
subject of primary election law:
To the Editor of the Journal:
In previous articles attention has
been called to the nomination of pub
lie officers by direct vote, and to some
objections to the present caucus and
I convention system. 1t is the pur-
lpose of this article to consider the
advantages of nominations by direct
vote, and in the same connection to
answer objections which have been
urged against it's adoption in this
State.
Q) A primary election law would
better the public service. People are
now naturally somewhat Indifferent
! to political conditions. Interest in
public matters would be greatly in
creased if the people had faith that
their votes would count in the solu-
tion of political problems, and in the
selection of officials.
(2) 1t would destroy machine pol
! itics. The caucus and convention are
instruments used by political mani
pulators to the end of continuing a
few supreme in naming candidates.
Until the adoption OF the primary
method, the political machines of the
! various States, almost wholly con-
trolled the nomination of candidates,
and often forced nominations in di-
rect opposition to the will of the
| people. Do we have machine in
Vermont? The answer depends upon
the definition of machine" and the
view of the voter as to present po-
litical conditions.
(3) 1t would greatly improve the
character of nominations. A man
with no convictions cannot win the
great body of voters. 1t is easier to
control the few than the many. Only
such men would be nominated for
public office as represent wholesome
principles in which the people as a
whole are interested. 1t has served
to bring to the field of politics the
best citizens, thereby resulting in
general public good in that the best
! men have sought office.
ca With the expenditures for cam
paign purposes limited, it would COM
pletely eliminate the securing of
nominations for public office by the
use of money. 1t would result in the
selection of men qualified by reason
of ability, not by reason of wealth. 1t
should ever be the highest ideal in
dealing with the public service to
bring to it the best available talent.
60 1t would free the official from
the influence of the corporation and
the machine. An official owing his
nomination to the people will feel
under obligation to serve no one but
the people who have selected him.
Men are too often selected for office
| by means of control of the caucus
and convention because they can be
depended upon to do the right thing
at the right time for the interests
responsible for their election.
Co The proposed system is plain,
simple and practical. 1t is in accord
with the spirit of our institutions.
The object of a general election is to
ascertain the voice of majority of
the people as to who shall serve for
their public officers. If it is right
to ascertain the will of the people as
to who shall be elected, it is equally
right that we should ascertain the
will of the people as to who shall be
nominated. Nominations in this
State mean a nelection, hence it is
more important that the will of the
people be taken at the time the can
didates, sure of election are selected,
than at election which is simply a
ratification of what has been done for
the people by the patriotic politici-
ans at the caucus and convention.
1t is a simple system because it SIM
plifies the machinery of nomin-
alton by abolishins the caucus and
delegate convention, and the holding
of over 700 caucuses in the various
towns of the State, and of 40 con-
ventions in the State and the various
counties, and of installing in the
place of this complex, cumbersome,
and antiquated system, vote which
will correctly register the choice OF
the voters by one vote.
! CD 1t would result in a larger
participation of the voters than the
party caucus has succeeded in en-
listing. Several of the papers of the
State have expressed doubts if ii
would increase interest in the NOM
nation of candidates for office. II
the experience of other States counts
for anything, then a primary law in
this State would result in a very
great increase in the number who
take part in the nomination of candi-
dates for office. At the present time
taking the State as a whole, less
than 10 pen cent of the voters actu-
ally name our public officials, be-
cause less than 10 per cent of the
Republican voters throughout the
State attend the caucuses. These
caucuses send delegates to select
candidates who are eventually elect
ed. Can any system be a success!
which permits the naming of the of
ficials of State by such small PEE
cent of the voters of one party?
Let us consider the experience o
other States. In Missouri at the las