The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1910-05-26

past, OF Jne nuluDeT Oh NOJeS cast at
the primary election, and it has av-
eraged 73 per cent. 1t is the uniform
result that a primary election law
results in the casting of many times
over of the vote which was cast I'M
der the old caucus and convention
system. Can any question but that
the same result will follow in this
State, if we adopt the direct nominal
! tion idea?
| (S) Direct primaries mean the full
carrying out of the scheme of repres-
entative government. The caucus
is unrepresentative; the con-
vention travesty on popu-
lar government. The primary
election law offers the people the OPP
portunity of actually selecting the
| Governor and other State officers by
their direct vote. Under the pres
ent system we elect delegates to sell
ect our Governor. Usually these del
egates are selected by select COM
mittee, The people have no voice, as
a whole. Ia connection Governor
Hughes we'll says: Now, if we ell
ect the Governor by the direct vote
of the people, how is it a subversion
to the representative government TO :
the enrolled voters of party to
choose candidates 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. If any
one saw fit to argue that that was
necessary to the maintenance of rep
Preventative government, we should
think the argument ridiculous" If
we are to make party government an
alogous to the general government,
we should elect party candidates by
direct vote of the members of the
party.
(9) The primary system tends to
rule of all the people. 1t does not
mean the selection of a candidate
| from a populous center because of
residence. Actual experience shows
that it tends to bring to the service
of the State, men of ability, no mat
ter where they may reside. 1t tends
to discourage the geographical rule,
which has attained such strength I'M
der the caucus an dconvention. OF
the Fl 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 90
600 inhabitants.
Under the direct primaries the re-
suits in the following States are in
structiye. In Alabama, four of the
eight State officers are from towns
of less than 5000 inhabitants; in Ar
kansas, 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
jseven are from towns of less than
$500; in Kansas, six of the eight are
braska, 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 Washing
ington, four of the eight are from
towns of less than 1000; in Wiscon-
sin, 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 cleo
tive officers are from cities having a
population, each, of over $4,000 peO-
pie. The only deduction from the
above is that the caucus and conven-
| ton system results in a rule of sec
! tion-a geographical rule-while the
primary results in a rule of the peo-
| pie.
1t is a general rule under the eau
Gus system that the larger places
enjoy preponderance in the distribu-
ton of offices; but that 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 Brattlebo-
70 and Rockingham, with few addi-
tional delegates always available, can
control the county convention. Del
egates from these towns have done
so from the time to which the mind
of the present generation runneth not
to the contrary. That is, few poll
ticians, by trading, have succeeded
in directing the selection of our
county officials. Can anyone deny
that this condition has obtained, and
that a few have actually selected the
candidates, and that the only duty &C
tually 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
Q0) Under the primary system a
man of limited means is not debarred
from obtaining nominations for, or
election to, public office. This fact
too is clearly demonstrated by ex-
|perience 1t is likewise fully demon
strated 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 choice OF
lchief executive to men of wealth
Why shouldn't the people of the
State command their best citizens tC
serve them in Office, and not be OBJ.
liged to take the men who on Blended
knees are begging to be honored
men, too, who are willing to sinh
self-respect by the spending of mon