Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1910-05-20

In oregon, about four times as many
votes are cast under the primary as
were previously cast under the caucus.
In New Jersey, from five to ten per
cent of the voters attended the caucus
es, while from sixty to one hundred per
cent of the voters attended the primaries.
In Minnesota, the vote in the Republican
primaries throughout the state has often
approached so per cent of the Republican
vote in the elections which followed, and
in the city of Minneapolis it has reached
81 per cent; in the city of st. Paul 94.6 per
cent of the election ' In Crawford
county, Pennsylvania, has been
kept for the 81 years of the
number of votes ca primary
elections, and 1t has 70 per
cent. 1t Is the uniform - that a
primary election law results in the cast
ing of many times over Of the vote which
was cast under the old caucus and con-
venton system. Can anyone question
but that the same result will follow in
this state, If we adopt the direct nomina-
ton idea?
(S Direct primaries mean the full
carrying out of the scheme of representa-
tive government The caucus is unrepre-
sentative the convention a travestry on
popular government. The primary cleo
ton law offers the people the opportun-
ity of actually selecting the governor
vote. Under the present system we elect
delegates to select our governor. Usual
ly these delegates are selected by
select committee The people have no
voice, as a whole In connection Gov
ernor Hughes well says, Now II we
elect the governor by the direct vote of
the people, how is It a subversion to the
representative government for the en-
rolled voters of a party to choose can
didateS for governor by a direct vote? If
anyone were now to propose that we
elect a body of men to choose our gov
ernor at election time we would laugh at
him. If anyone saw fit to argue that
that was necessary to the maintenance of
representative government. we should
think the argument ridiculous" If we
are to make party government analogous
to the general government, we should
elect party candidates by direct vote of
the members of the party.
(0 The primary system tends to
rule of all of the people. 1t does not
mean the selection of candidate from
populous centre because of residence.
Actual experience shows that it tends
to bring to the service Of the state, men
OF ability, no matter where the may
reside 1t tends to discourage the geo.
graphical rule, which has attained such
strength under the caucus and conven-
ton. OF the p governors now in office
who were chosen by direct primaries,
six are from towns of less than 1000 in
habitants; six more from cities or towns
of less than 5000 inhabitants; and four
from cities of less than 10000 inhabitants.
Under the direct primary the results
in the following states are instructive.
In Alabama, four of the eight state Off
GERS are from towns of less than 5000
inhabitants; in Arkansas five of the eight
are from towns of less than $500; in
Florida, five of the seven are from towns
of less than 1900; in Iowa, six of the
seven are from towns of less than 250O;
in Kansas, six of the eight are from
towns of less than 1000; in Nebraska,
five of the eight are from towns of less
than 1900; in North Dakota, five of the
nine are from towns of less than 1000; in
Washington, four of the eight are from
towns of less than 1000; in Wisconsin.
three of the six are from towns of less
than 1000, while in New York under the
caucus and convention system, six of
the seven of the elective officers are
from cities having a population each, of
over 5000 people. The only deduction
from the above is that the caucus and
convention system results in rule of
sectional geographical rule,-while the
direct primary results in rule of the
people.
It is a general rule under the caucus
system that the larger places enjoy pre-
ponderance in the distribution of offices; ;
but the people of larger places do not
vote direct as unit, but their delegates
always vote as a unit when in convention
assembled. In this county Bratteboro
and Rockingham, with a few additional
delegates always available. can control
| the county convention Delegates from
these towns have done so from the time
to which the mind of the present genera
ton runneth not to the contrary That is
| a few politicians, by trading have sue
county officials. Can anyone deny that
i this condition has obtained, and that a
| few have actually selected the candi-
| dates, and that the only duty actually
performed by the people at large has
been simply to ratify that choice so
| made? Have the people of this county
| ever been able to beat the game? Do
| you think they, as free-born citizens Of
an independent state, really enjoy their
| subjugation?
QO) Under the primary system man
| of limited means is not debaued from
obtaining nominations for, or elected to-,
| public office This fact, too, is clearly
| demonstrated by experience. 1t is like
| wise fully demonstrated in Vermont that
|the man without ample funds cannot
| hope to be selected. Isn't it a shame
| that a state with the glorious history of
| a century in the great sisterhoOd of
states should find itself at this time
| practically limited in Its cholce or chiet
| executive to men of wealth? Why
shouldn't the people of the state com
mand their best citizens to serve them
in office, and not be obliged to take the
men who on Bonded knees are begging to
! be honored, men too. who are willing to
sink self respect by the spending of
| money to secure the honor, men who
are so anxious for honor which under
the conditions is questionable, as to flood
| the state with letters begging support.
II a man cannot stand upon the rec
ord he has made in private life or in
the public service, he ought not to be
! further honored If a man is driven to