The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1910-09-23
POLITICAL HODGE PODGE.

by young Governor PlalSted.
| tippy canoe for Gene Hale, too
Asher Kinds the only signs of gooc
old times.
| A revolution whereby the ole
| liners are turned down and the State
emerges as a +" Progressive" but mo-
by aid of Direct Primaries. Tht
result was accomplished by the
same old caucus and election meth
DDS that have been followed fol
years. Maine has proven that the
Direct Primary is not needed
Things can be accomplished with
out it.
Out in Illinois where the Direct
Primaries are in operation, they have
not proven rapid routes to progress
and reform. Senator Lorimer Che
whom Roosevelt would not eat
with has won out in all his con-
tests. Every member of the legis-
lature, but one, charged with cor
ruption in Lorimer's election to the
Senate, has been renominated by a
substantial plurality. This under
the Direct Primary system. Please
do not forget that when listening to
the next fellow expatiate upon the
virtues of that method of election.
Over in New Hampshire Bass has
has been nominated for Governor
upon the first trial of that States
Direct Primary law. His nomina-
ton is "pointed to with pride" by
the advocates of this law, and a
great victory over the Boston &
Maine railroad and for progressive
reform is heralded. Analysing the
nominations, under that law, it is
found that the majority of the Exec
utive Council and the majority of
the Senate are Boston q Maine SER
vitors allied for years with the
machine" and non-progressives.
The "people" turned down every
progressive candidate for the Coun-
Gil and for the Senate by Direct
Primary vote, with the same eclat
and dispatch as before by boss
ruled" convention methods. Sui
loway and Curriar were renominated
for Congress, the former by 1000
plurality and the latter without
opposition, although both are strong
supporters of Cannon and pro-
nounced advocates of the Payne-Al-
drich tariff law. 1t needs a Dutch
lawyer, who never studied law, to
cipher out a reform" victory in
the nomination Of Bass, and yet it
is so advertised all over the United
States. The practical situation is
this: Bass is nominated.-All else
along the line spells defeat for the
progressives." If elected Bass can
do nothing. He cannot win sup
porters for legislation he favors by |
promise of appointments and he
cannot dismiss one Office holder of |
his own motion because he must
have the consent of the Council in
or dismissals. This
he cannot get without the Boston
4 Names approval Besides the
Senate will stand as a stop-cock |
against any legislation the B. q NJ. |
opposes. What has the Direct |
Primary law done for reform" in |
New Hampshire?-
On the other hand, again, out in
New Jersey, where the old conven-
ton methods still prevail, the Dem
ocrats have nominated for Cover
nor, DR.. Woodrow Wilson, the
President of Princeton University,
a man beyond reproach.
1t all shows that reform can
be accomplished without the Direct
Primary when the people want it
and that it cannot be accom-
plished by the Direct Primary when
the people are Indifferent.
Incidental to this narrative OIL
actual results under Direct Primary
laws and by old methods, a refer
ence to Governor Hughes position
S not without interest, inasmuch
as he is regarded as the especial
champion of the Direct Primary
aw. He has, as every one knows.
advocated such legislation upon the
ground that the people were, as a
whole, intelligent and more fitted
% select nominees for public officers
han a limited number of them
acting as delegates to political con-
hence every voter should
De permitted to participate directly
n the choice Of candidates as well |
Is in their election.
At Syracuse, n. Y, last week.
peaking at the State Fair. Cover
Tor Hughes said: Il believe il
would be a decided Improvement
the Governor were elected for a