The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1910-05-26


follow in this state If we adopt the
direct nomination idea?
(S) Direct primaries mean the full
carving out the scheme of represen-
tative government. The caucus is
unrepresentative; the convention a
travesty on popular government. The
primary election law offers the people
the opportunity of actually selecting
the governor and other state officers
by their direct vote. Under the pres
ent system we elect delegates to Sc
lect our governor. Usually these del
egates are selected by a select COM
mittee. The people have no voice, as
whole. In connection Governor
Hughes well says: Now, If we elect
the governor by the direct vote of the
people. how is II a subversion to the
representative government for the en-
rolled voters Of 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
governor at election time we would
laugh at him. II anyone saw fit to
argue that that was necessary TO the
maintenance of representative gov
eminent we should think the argu-
ment." If we are to make party gov
eminent analogous to the general
government, we should elect party
candidates by direct vote OF the mem
bers OF the party.
(9) The primary system tends to
rule Of all of the people. II does not
mean the selection of candidate
from a populous center because Of
residence Actual experience shows
that 1t tends TO bring TO the service
Of the state. men of ability no mat
ter where they reside. 1t tends to dis
courage the geographical rule. which
has attained such strength under the
caucus and convention. OF the p
governors now in Office who were cho-
sen by direct primaries, six are from
towns OF less than 1000 inhabitants;
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 re-
suits in the following states are in
structive. In Alabama four OF the
eight state officers are from towns OF
less than 5000 inhabitants; in Arkan-
sas 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 $500; In Kan
sas six OF the eight are from towns
of less than 3000 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 sever
OF the elective officers are from cities
having a population. each of over 95.
600 people. The only deduction from
the above Is that the caucus and con
vention system results In a rule OF
sectional geographical rule-whilC
the direct primary results in n rule
OF the people.
II is a general rule under the eau
Gus system that the larger places en-
JOY preponderance In Redistribution
Of Offices but the people OF larger
places do not vote direct as unit
but their delegates always vote as 4
unit when in convention assembled
In this county Brattleboro and Rock
ingham. with few additional dele
gates always available can contro
the county convention. Delegates
from these towns have done so from
the time to which the mind OF The
present generation runneth not TO IN,
contrary That is. n few politicians
by trading, have succeeded IN direct
ing the selection Of our county oflc
ials. Can anyone deny that this con
dition has obtained, and that a few
/ have actually selected the candidate
and that the only duty actually pei
formed by the people at large. ha
boon simply to raufy that choice 81
? made? Have the people of this cour
~ ever been able to beat the game
: DO YOU think they, as free-horn cit
I zens OF an Independent state, reall
! enjoy their subiugation.
i O0 Under the primary system
. man of limited means is not deharro
6 from obtaining nominations for. q
! election to. public office. This FAC
/ too, is clearly demonstrated by expo
n fence. II Is likewise fully demonstri
, ted in Vermont that the man withot
+ ample funds, cannot hope to be Sc
: ected Isn't It a shame that stat
g with the glorious history OF a centur
G in the great sisterhoo' OF state
!! should find itself at this time practi
u ally limited in It's choice OF chief q
l. ecutive TO men ofwealth9 VIII
G shouldn't the people of the state con
l. mand their best citizens to ser,
+ them IN. office. and not be Obliged
T. take the men who on Bonded kne,
e are begging to be honored, men,. to
ls who nro willing 10 aink Helf.rnannl