The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1910-05-19
DIRECT PRIMARIES.
E. W. Gibson Of Brattleboro Writes Last
Letter on II.


to some objections 70 the present caucus
and convention system IL Is the purpose
Of this article 70 consider the advantages
of nominations by direct vote. and in the
same connection 10 answer objections
which have been urged against its adop-
ton in this state.
~ a primary election law would bet
ter the public service. People are now
naturally somewhat Indifferent 20 polit-
zeal conditions. Interest IN public mat.
tiers would Be greatly increased, II the
people had faith that their votes would
count Ia the solution Of political prob.
lens, and in the selection Of officials,
t2) II would destroy machine politics.
Tie caucus and convention are instru
ments used 81 political manipulators to
the end Of continuing a few supreme IN
naming candidates Until the adoption
If the primary method, the political ma
chimes 81 the various states, almost who'll
" controlled the nomination Of candi.
dates. and often forced nominations m
direct opposition TO the viii Of the peo-
ple Do We have 4 machine IN Nermont2
The answer depends upon the definition
OF machine NNN AtfN WV ~ sitN ffNNA
els to present political conditions
t3) II would greatly improve the
character 81 nominations. a man with
no convictions cannot win the great body
Of voters. II is easier to control the
few than the many. Only such men would
BE nominated for public office as repre-
sent wholesome principles in which The
people as whole are interested. II has
served in every jurisdiction whore adopt
ed to bring TO the Geld Qf politics the
best citizens. thereby resulting IN general
public good in that The best men have
sought office
t8l With the expenditures for cam
paign purposes limited it would COM
pietely eliminate the securing Of nomna.
lions for public Office BY the use Of
money. It would result in the selection
Of men qualified by reason Of ability,
not by reason Of wealth Il should ever
Be the highest ideal il dealing with the
public service to bring to It the best
available talent.
45l Ii would free the official from
the influence ~ the corporation and the
machine. An official owing bis nomina-
tion 10 the people viii feel under obiiga-
ton 70 serve no one but the people who
have selected him. Men are TOO often
selected for Office rs means Of control Of
the caucus ard convention because they
can be depended upon 20 do the right
thing az the right time for the interests
responsible for their election.
f8l The proposed system Is plain,
simple and practical. It Is in accord with
the spirit 81 our institutions The object
If a general election il TO ascertain the
voice ~ Z majority 81 the people as 70
who shall serve for their public officers.
If Il Is right 10 ascertain the will Of
the people as 20 who shall he elected, i
Il equally right that we should ascertain
the viii % ihe people AZ 70 who shall be
nominate Nominations IN this state
mean an election. hence il is more i'm
p0rtaut that the will Of the people be
taken at TIE time the candidates sure
81 election. are selected than al election.
which Is simply q ratification Of what
has bten done for the people hy the patri
otie politicians az the caucus and con
peution Il Is a simple system, because
Il simplilies the machinery Of nomination
by abolishing the caucus and delegate
and the holding Of over ZOO
eaHcuses II the various towns Of the
state. and 81 80 conventions IN 1he stats
md tie various counties and Of INSTALL
Ing In the place 81 this complex cumber
some and aBtiQnated Ystem 5 vote which
wall correctly register the choice 81 The
voters By one vote
g7l II would result in larger partiei-
patton Of tie voters than the party eau
sus has succeeded IA enlisting. Several
81 the papers ~ the state have expressed
doubts if L would increase interest ii
.be nomination Of candidates for office
Il the experience Of other states counts
for anything. then q primary lew IN this
state would result IN a very great in.
srease in the number Who take part In
the nomination Of candidates for Office,
At the present time taking the state a
! whole. less than 70 per cent. Of the
voters actually name our public officials
because less than 10 per cent Of the Re
publican voters throughout The state at
end the caucuses These cauenses send
delegates to select candidates who are
,ventually elected. Can any system be a
necess, which permit the naming Of the
officials 81 q state In such small per
.enf Of the voters 81 one party
Let us consider the experience Of Other
tates. In Missouri Al the last general /
lection. 100000 votes were cast. At the +
primary election for the selection 81 thu /
andidate. 10000 votes were cast, or So /
Ter cent. Of the vote at the general I
lection In Wisconsin the Republican
andidate for governor secured 1882
.ates A vote Of lT0sl4 was east at th
Urinary, or 81 per cent Of the vote cas-
t the general election Ii Kansas Iii
Republican vote for president n 1905
vas 1895; the Republican vote III
governor n the Kansas primaries WIS
24037, or 90 per cent Of the Republics
.ate for president In Oregon about
aur times as many votes are east unde
BE primary as were previously cast nh
Ter the eaueus III New Jersey from
i've to ten per cent Of the voters attend
d the caucuses. while from SO to Ice
ler cent. Of the voters attend the prima
les Tn Minnesota, the vote III the ri
ubliean primaries throughout the state
as often approached 50 per cent. Of the
republican vote in tile elections which
ollowed, and II the city Of AInneapoli
has reached ~ per cent ia the cit1
+ st. Paul 94.0 per cent Of the election
ote. ia Crawford county, Pennsylvania
record has been kept for the 81 years
list past. Of the number ot votes cast
/ the primary election and 1t has aver
eed 70 per cent It Is the uniform
esult that primary election law re
alts IN the casting of many times over
{ the vote which was cast under the
IA caucus and convention system Can
nyone question but that the same result i
sill follow in this state, if we adopt
De direct nomination ideal
tsl Direct primaries mean The fun +