Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1910-12-23
Primary Elections Bill.
81. Johnsbury Calcdonlan.l

The Legislature is making progress on
measure that we hope to see enacted
into Law. Il is a primary elections bin
introduced as a substitute hy the commit.
tee FOR two bills that have been intro
duoed into the house The bill provides
for the nomination OF state. district and
county officers Primaries for the Sep
temher election are 10 be held on the
second Tuesday iu June Candidates
must hle declaration OF candidacy at
least thirty DAYS before primary accom-
panied hy fee OF So for Offices with a
salary OF $500 or less. $50 FOR offices pay
ing more than $500 and less than $1,000
and 800 FOR those yielding more than
$1,000 annually.
Candidates mpy he named by petition
Of voters without payment OF fee Names
Of candidates shall he published by Couu-
" clerks AZ least u days before primary
election Is held. In two newspapers. All
candidates for each party are u be group
ed 10y themselves and separate ballot
printed for each party
Tickets must be uniform In color and
size and substantially as prepared for a
general election. Persons whose names
are entitled to he placed on the check list
at the ensuing general election are en-
titled 10 vote al a primary and when he
desires 10 vote shall receive only me
ballot Of the party for which he asks.
required FOR general elections polls to
Zoe open from until S p m. Space is to
D" provided on the tickets 20 vote for Il
member OF the party county committee
Party organizations may be retained
for convention purposes but not TO nom
mate candidates whose nomination IS
provided for by the bill Candidates who
receive a plurality OF votes cast at
primary shall be the party nominee of
such party.
Canvassing Of vote for candidates FOR
state officers and representatives, to Con-
ercsS is to be done by secretary OF state
a superior judge and chief Judge OF Su-
preme Court and one citizen from the
party casting the second largest vote at
the preceding general election. Vacancies
can be filled by board. The names OF
successful candidates 10 be placed on the
ofiicial ballot and no others.
This board shall announce the result
file certificate with the secretary OF
state and copy Of such certificate shall
be published once In some newspaper
published In Montpelier In case Of Tie
vote the party committee viii determine
the choice.
Strict provisions are made to prevent
the improper use Of money or other valu-
able thing in securing the nomination.
Personal expenses OF the candidate nav
include travelling expenses, writing and
transmission OF letters, printing Of car
culars. expenses for stationery. postage
telegraph. telephone and public messenger
service. and hiring Of halls for public
meetings.
No owner or employe OF newspaper or
other periodical may accept any money or
other valuable consideration for advocat-
ing the election or defeat of a candidate
at primary elections but this shall not
prevent the publication Of any matter
not lihellous bearing on the election which
is printed under the heading paid ad-
Vertisement.' candidate for nomina-
ton under this act not less than ten DAYS
after date of final election must file n
sworn itemzed statement setting forth
ms expenses and the expenses connected
with his candidacy. Failure or refusal to
comply with the provisions Of this act
may he punished by fine not less than
TWENTY-FIVE or more than $500 or impris-
onment In county jail not less than 10
DAYS or more than c months or both
This measure provides three things that
would improve politics in Vermont, an
opportunity for each voter TO express his
choice for each public Office separately
a definition of what corrupt practices are
of campaign expenses and a
penalty for violation Of these provisions
Possibly close study Of the bill would
reveal some weak spots that should he
but the enactment of such a
measure would go far toward perpetuating |
Republican rule in the state because II |
would show the people that the party is |
willing to trust them in the selection of |
public officials. The law works well in |
other states and though It will not prove |
a cure-all for political ills il is the fairest |
method yet devised for selecting Candi- |
hates and Vermont should have IT,