The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1910-04-09

lures we're limited to expenses incid-
entail to travelling. TO writing, print
ing and transmitting letters. circulars
or other publication. for postage, tele-
graph and telephone. The amount
to be so expended being limited to
fifteen hundred dollars for governor,
one thousand dollars for congressman
and other state. officers, and two hun
dred fifty dollars for county officers.
IL provided further for stiff penalties
for expenditures Of more than the
specified amounts, or for other pur-
poses than specified, or for failure
TO file statements. The act also pro
vides for the adoption Of the party
platform by council consisting OF
the candidates and the party com
mittees.
BY these provisions 1t viii be seen
that the aim of the proposed act was
to throw the selection of candidates
around for Office these projections
which would insure to the people the
absolute recording Of their will and
thereby increase the certainty of per-
petuation Of republican institutions.
The purchasing of Office the conse-
quent degradation Of citizenship and
the public service would no longer
be possible under its provisions. II
would guard against assaults upon
the fundamental principles Of our
government-the rule OF the people.
Where is Force.
The proposed method is not radical
or revolutionary. Its adoption would
not be leap in the dark. 1t Is not
an experiment. 1t is now in force in
twenty-eight states of the Union. Con
tests are now being waged in several
other states for the lawS7 which are
sure OF ultimate success. Eighteen
states have mandatory laws requiring
the use of the method in selecting
candidates for practically all offices.
Five have mandatory laws covering
certain localities and FIVE have per
misslve primary election laws. SO II
appears that the direct primary meth
cd is the most usual system for nam
ing candidates now in vogue. II was
first used in Crawford county, Pa, by
the Republican party in the year 1860
and has been continued In force in
that county ever since. OF the thir-
ty-one United States senators elected
in 1908 seventeen were nominated by
means OF the direct primary and OF
the thirty-one governors, fifteen we're
nominated by the same method. II
came into use In Minnesota eleven
years ago Michigan and other states
then took IL up and 1t has since
spread rapidly through the West and
the Middle West The struggle now
on in New York, between Gov. Hugh
es and the politicians is typical OF
all contests for the adoption OF the
method. Gov Hughes and the pri-
mary idea are sure to win. IL will be
adopted because it is right, and what
is right sooner or later prevails In
the affairs OF men.
Advantages Of the Direct Primary
/. Il means responsibility OF the
official to the voter instead OF respon-
sibility TO the political worker.
9 II is the simpler method,
3. II makes the exercise OF cor
rupt influence over nominations more
difficult
4. Under the direct primary more
interest Is taken in the nominations.
1t brings out regularly, on an average.
three times more OF the voting
strength OF the party than under the
caucus system.
5. It insures more nearly the rule
Of the people.
6. II banlshes into the darkness
\ OF political oblivion, those little men
which the caucuses tend to make
great and elevates to the public ser.
vice those men which the caucuses
naturally make little.
But these advantages. with the con
sent OF the editor, We will discuss in
later issue.
Very truly yours,
b. w. Gibson.