The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1910-01-20
DIRECT PRIMARIES.
T.. W. Gibson Writes Instructive Let
ter Regarding Conditions In YER
mint

the views of DR.. Charles w. Eliot,
president emeritus of Harvard Uni
versity. on the primary election idea
has been called to my attention.
Either DR.. Eliot has been misquoted
by the press, or he is not fully in
formed as to the history of primary
elections in Massachusetts,. The crit
icisms of his attributed testimony by
Massachusetts papers bears out the
above statement that DR.. Eliot has
been misquoted.
The Massachusetts law is manda-
tory as to certain localities and offices
The State has not now, and never
has had a general law for the nom
nation of candidates by direct vote.
All candidates for State offices are
and have for long time been, NOM
mated by the convention system. A
reading of DR.. Eliot's testimony be-
fore the already discredtted New
York Legislative Committee leaves
the inference that Massachusetts has
been under a mandatory general pri-
mary election law applicable to GER
tain offices in certain localities.
The only real change in the pri-
mary system in Massachusetts has
been in the city of Boston, which goes
step in advance, as it is claimed of
even nominations by direct vote, and
has abolished nomination of candi-
dates by vote either through caucus
or direct vote. Candidates for city
offices are now nominated by petition
only, but there is no disposition in
any locality to return to the caucus
system. This system has been dis
carded forever, Massachusett is NOV
ing away from the caucus system,
not back to it.
DR.. Eliot's statement that the pri-
mary election system affords in Mas
sachusetts no means for resisting the
bosses and fails to prevent activity
on the part of the machine must be
knowledge of political conditions, and
the system of party government in
that State. 1t is notorious fact that
both the Republican and Democratic
machines have for years maintained
their supremacy through the control
of conventions by machine-made de-
legates.
In your editorial you state that the
most serious trouble with our eau
Gus system is the Indifference of the
general public. That is one of the
troubles. The general experience is
that the direct vote system stimulates
an active and intelligent interest in
the choice of candidates for office.
The direct vote system has been in
actual practice in Crawford County,
Pa, for the past 81 years, and the
average vote at the primaries has
been 73 percent of the party strength.
| In Minnesota in 1902 the vote in
the Republican primaries throughout
the State was 1873 percent of the Re-
publican vote at the election which
| followed. In Minneapolis, Mimi, the
primary vote has averaged about 60
percent of the party strength At
the last New Jersey primary election
nearly so percent of the Republican
vote was cast. In Kansas nearly 20
percent OF the Republican strength
was polled at the last primary. These
figures are instructive. In our State
under the caucus less than ten per-
cent of the votes select our candi-
date at caucus time and we ratify
selection at election time.
! Another trouble with the caucus
system is that it is most cumbc rsome
1t is complex. Let us look at the way
1t works out in presidential year.
First there is a caucus in each town
and city for the election of delegates
to convention for the selection of
delegates to the national convention.
Second, there is a district convention
1
for the election, of delegates to the
national convention. Third, there is
State convention for the selection
of delegates at large to the national
convention. Delegates travel long
distances, at an expense aggregating
not less than $15,00O.00. Result, Sc
! lection of delegates by means of one
caucus in each town and three con-
ventions. Fourth, there are caucuses
in each town for the selection of de-
legates to the Congressional conven-
ton. Fifth. there are caucuses in each
| town for the election of delegates to
| the State convention. Sometimes
these two caucuses are combined in
one. Sixth, have two Congressional
conventions for the selection or nom
inatioh Of Congressman. Seventh, the
State convention to nominate State
officers. The result up to this time
being at least two caucuses in each
town and six conventions at an ex-
pense of some s3O,0OOO0 to the dele
gates, to say nothing of the expense
to the candidates. Eighth caucuses
in each town for the selection Of dele
gates to the county convention. Ninth
! fourteen county conventions through
out the State for the nomination of