The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1910-04-14
ABLE TOWNSHIP En-
HOLD DISCUSSION
Hon. H. B. Davies Takes
Part in Speaking
Direct Primar! Was the Subject of
Debate.

FFnuAfs
The Direct Primary meeting called
to order BY the President. H A. bins
more, of the Brotherhood of St.
Paul. on Monday evening in the
yestry of the Methodist church,
was exceedingly interesting and in
structiYe. r T Patten introduced the
subject. referring TO the difference be-
tween the present caucus and dele
gated conventions and the Direct Pri-
mary system which eliminates all del
egates and selects candidates for the
respective Offices Of the county or
State This does away with all slate
partizans;" politicians may manipu-
late caucus and a county or even
State convention but no politician or
clique or corporation that had special
interests at stake could manipulate
a county or a State. when the candi-
dates We're directly in the hands of
the people and looked alone to the
people for their candidacy and cleo
ton. The Direct Primary is the near
est approach to pure Democracy in
which the government is in the hands
of the people and for the people and
by the people.
The Hon. Howard 3. Davies. Rep
resentative for Cumberland county
and also President of the Maine State
Direct Primary league, was then in
troduced and spoke at some length
regarding the subject. He is an i'll
teresting and forceful speaker. carry
ing his audience along with him and
making telling hits while holding up
the splendid possibilities of the Direct
Primary. as a system of government
that will attain the best results for
the interests of the people. The
speaker emphasized the point that our
fathers in founding Republican gov
form, not a direct deliberatiye body
and it remained for the people of to-
day, in the higher development of
+
their social life. to take another step
and make it purely Democratic, in
which the people shall select and elect
their own representatives on a direct
plurality vote. =
The meeting was Asn openeaS to
the floor and Folsom Merrill OF Bow
doin college took the floor and made
a splendid speech in favor of the sub
ject under discussion. The speaker
was roundly applauded. The Hon. f.
y Merrill then took the floor and
spoke in favor of the Direct Primary
as the best method of eliminating the
evils of corruption in legislative bod
les. Judge Lawrence was the next
speaker and intmated that there was
considerable TO be said on the other
side of the question and that We must
not take TOO much for granted. as the
enthusiasts OF the Direct Primary
seemed 10 assume that they had the
only safe and logical side of an in
telligent aud progressive government.
When a man has a horse to sell it's
virtues are very attractive but its
merits in operation can be the oppo-
site To its advertised capabilities The
fathers of this country We're wise
when they centralized authority and
made some one responsible for the
government Of a great and growing
nation Centralized government ard
centralized responsibility go together
The American people were intelligent
and could be relied upon to correct
existing evils The American people
were independent and their indepen-
dence is seen in their attitude towards
parties. men, and measures of TO-
day. We find that party lines are be-
ing eliminated and. men for their hon
esty and fitness. and measures for
their economy and social welfare. are
of paramount Importance An ex
preston of the sentiment of the meet
ing was taken and many voted for the
Direct Primary while many preferred
not TO express their opinions II that
time Mrs Carrie Henderson favored
the brotherhood with a vocal solo and
George Blades rendered a flute solo
The Brotherhood of ST. Paul Lyeeum
is serving a splendid purpose IN call
ing together the citizens u discuss
questions of social and civic ard eco
uomic and moral Importance
The question for the next debate is.
Resolved, That eA-Presidena Reose-
yelt should be the next President 81
the United States.