Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1910-01-21


Is anyone having a knowledge of politic,
ng conditions, and the system of party go,
erhheht IN that state IT. liner games B
W 80. ''i'. IN at the same time. Later |
a short but very entertaining " lam !
was carried out W" -, - d ~ I Tl,'',i
...- ..... hines have for years maintained |
their supremacy through the control Of |
conventions by machine-made delegates.
In your editorial you state that the |
most serious trouble with our caucus |
system is the Indifference of the general |
public That is one Of the troubles. The |
general experience in that the direct vote |
system stimulates an active and intelli- |
gent interest in the choice of candidates
! for office. The direct vote system has
| been in actual practice in Crawford
! County, Pa. for the past thirty-one years,
! and the average vote at the primaries
has been % per cent. of the party
strength
In Minnesota in 1902 the vote in the
Republican primaries throughout the
| state was IS per cent. of the Republican
vote at the election which followed. In
Minneapolis, MINI. the primary vote has
| averaged above 60 per cent. Of the party
strength. At the last New Jersey pri-
mary election nearly so per cent. Of the
/ Republican vote was cast. In Kansas
nearly 20 per cent. of the Republican
strength was poed at the last primary
| These figures are instructive. In our
state under the caucus less than ten per
cent. Of the votes select our candidate at
caucus time and ratify that selec-
ton at election time.
Another trouble with the caucus sys-
TEN is that it is most cumbersome II
is complex. Let us look at the way 1t
works out in a presidential year. First.
there is a caucus in each town and city
for the election of delegates to a conven-
ton for the selection of delegates to the
national convention. Second, there is
district convention for the election Of
| delegates to the national convention
Third, there is state convention for the
selection of delegates at large to the ma
tional convention. Delegates travel long
distances at an expense aggregating not
less than SIS, 600 Result, selection of
delegates by means Of one caucus in each
town and three conventions. Fourth,
; there are caucuses in each town for the
selection Of delegates to the congressional
conventions Fifth, there are caucuses
in each town for the selection of delegates
n to the state convention. Sometimes these
two caucuses are combined In one.
| Sixth have two congressional conven-
lions for the selection or nomination OF
congressman. Seventh, the state con-
d vention to nominate state officers. The
result up 10 this time being a least two
caucuses in each town and six conVen-
tions at an expense OF some $4,000 tC
the delegates to say nothing of the eX'
pense to the candidates Eighth, eau
cuses in each town for the selection o
delegates to the county convention
Ninth, fourteen county conventions
throughout the state for the nomination
OF county officers. Result to this time a
( least three caucuses in each town anC
re twenty conventions at cost of SOM
r $50 900 to the delegates and the candi
l. dates. Tenth, TWO hundred and forty-s
Sc caucuses throughout the state for tn
Of nomination of town representatives an
fnCf nf
Id caucuses in every town. at least min
s, hundred and eighty-four caucuse
er throughout the state, and twenty differ
ne ent conventions all for the simple pur
Id pose OF determining who shall be tn
Id choice OF the people as candidates fo
re office.
er Could you. Mr.. Editor. with all you
m knowledge of systems of government
ey your knowledge OF general affairs, you
tn acumen and your brain force, sit dow
m, | and study out a more complex, cumbel
some, expensive and absurd system I
party management? Could you devise
system so full Of opportunities for usul
it. patton of political power?
The most serious trouble with the cal
an Gus system is that 1t is wrong in prir
&C. cple. In our state nomination Is ecu
Ice valent to an election. It is then, at cat
ISIS Gus time, that we actually determine wi
shall be our public servants. Then NJ
,xt over ten per cent. of the voting streng
a az | makes the C0OlC6. ms ten per cent.
T. guided and controlled by those who a
We usually known as the politicians. tt
OF foundation OF our government rests
NV the primaries. III We are to get the be
government possible we must look to Il
IT, foundation" Our government is a go
t ny eminent OF the people. In theory all Il
70, voters should have a voice in saying VI
ne shall serve them as officers The cauc
re system provides a method whereby Z
nd will Of the few is paramount to the W
'''u of the many and the government OF t
people becomes a government OF poliI
iea clans.
ute Did you ever note how a typical cauc
ioI is run? Before the caucus meets soT
Iso one has prepared a neatly typewrtt
nor list OF delegates. The chairman calls t
eHe caucus to order, some one moves that
committee be appointed to bring in
list Of delegates. Strangely enough
one having the prepared list Is a memt
OF the committee. The list he preseT
: is is elected, the delegates so elected pc
iiss ticipate in the Republican convention a
Is the candidates selected by that conVe
ing ton are triumphantly elected. And
at go home and in our prayers piously tina
God that we are permitted to live unt
ofi- a government where the people rule, a
IAN in land Of equal opportunities.
e of The direct nomination idea is not
,nce fad. 1t was not brought to us upon
as, wave of political reform. 1t has be
mt employed as means Of nomination
d, the United States for upwards Of halt
century. II has been adopted in eithe
mandatory or permissive form by TWEEN
has seven states. over twenty-five milli'
yitt- of our people are now under mandate
r to laws requiring the use Of the plan
}, 900 nomination for practically all ofiC
Fifteen millions now are under mandat
laws as to certain offices or localities
under permissive primary election la
OF the thirty-one United States Senat
om- elected in 1908, seventeen were nomina
and by dlrect primaries.
)ugh The rank and file OF the Repubh
ard voters Of this state must see to 1t
Kelly the next platform of the party decla
n1lu squarely for law which will insure e