The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1910-05-26
PRIMARY ELECTIONS
Nominations by Direct Vote Consider
ed by &. w. Gibson


In previous articles attention has
been called to the nomination of pub
lie officers by direct vote and to some
objections to the present caucus and
convention system. II is the purpose
of this article to consider the advan-
tages of nominations by direct vote,
and in the same connection to answer
objections which have been urged
against its adoption in this state.
Cd A primary election law would
better the public service. People are
now naturally somewhat Indifferent
to political conditions. Interest in
public matters would be greatly in
creased if the people had faith that
their votes would count in the solu-
ton of political problems and in the
selection of officials.
90 It would destroy machine pol
itics. The caucus and convention are
instruments used by political manipu-
lators to the end of continuing a few
supreme in naming candidates. Until
the adoption of the primary method,
the political machines Of the various
states, almost wholly controlled the
nomination of candidates and often
forced nominations in direct opposi-
ton to the will of the people. DO
we have a machine in Vermont? The
answer depends upon the definition Of
machine and the view of the voter
as to present political conditions.
CD 1t would greatly improve the
character of nominations. A man
with no convictions cannot win the
great body of voters. 1t is easier to
control the few than the many Only
such men would be nominated for pub
lie Office as represent wholesome prin-
ciples in which the people as a whole
are interested. 1t has served in every
jurisdiction where adopted, to bring
to the field Of politics the best citi-
zens, thereby resulting in general
public good in that the best men have
sought office.
(4) With the expenditures for
campaign purposes limited, 1t would
completely eliminate the securing of
nominations 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.
It should ever be the highest ideal in
dealing with the public service to
bring to il the best available talent.
Co 1t would free the official from
the influence of the corporation and
the machine. An official owing his
nomination to the people will feel I'M
der obligation to serve no one but the
people who have selected him. Men
are too often selected for Office by
means Of control OF the caucus and
convention because they can be de-
pended upon to do the right thing ut
the right time for the interests res.
ponsible for their election.
CO. The proposed system is plain,
simple and practical II is in accord
with the spirit of our institutions. The
object of a general election is to as
certain the voice OF a majority of the
people as TO who shall serve for their
public officers. If ii is right to ascer-
tain the will of the people as TO who
shall be elected, it is equally right
that We should ascertain the will OF
the people as to who shall be nomina.
ted. Nominations in this state mean
an election. hence II is more impor
tant that the will Of the people be Ia
ken at the time the candidates, sure
Of election, are selected, than at cleo
tion which Is simply a ratification oil
what has been done for the people by
the patriotic politicians at the caucus
and convention. II Is a simple sys
TEN because II simpllhes the machin
cry OF nomination by abolishing tn
caucus and delegate convention, anC
the holding of over 700 caucuses II
the various towns of the state and o
40 conventions in the state and thu
various counties, and Of installing II
the place of this complex, cumber
some and Anticipated system. a vote
which will correctly register tn,
choice of the voters by one vote.
CD II would result in a larger par
ticipation of the voters than the part,
caucus has succeeded In enlisting
Several of the papers of the stat
have expressed doubts II II would In
crease interest in the nomination o
NduuludAtS loI OuiCts II the expert
ence Of other states counts for any
thing, then a primary law in thi
state would result In a very great In
crease in the number who take par
in the nomination Of candidates 70
Office. AT the present time, takinl
the state as a whole, less than 10 pc
cent OF the voters actually name on
public officials. because less than ]
per cent OF the republican voter
throughout the state attend the eau
cuses. These caucuses send delegat
es to select candidates who are even
tuahy elected. Can any system be
success which permits the naming O
the officials of state by such SINAI
per cent Of the voters of one party?
let us consider the experience @
other states. In Missouri at the las
general election 100000 votes wer
cast AT the primary election for tn
selection OF the candidate 1000
votes were cast, or IS per cent OF IN
vote at the general election. In wis
consin the republican candidate fo
governor secured 1S3,526 votes.
vote Of i70.Sl4 was cast at the pr
mary, or 81 per cent OF the vote cas-
at the general election. In Kansa
the republican vote for president {
1905 was 1916; the republican vot
for governor in the Kansas primariC
..H