The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1911-09-21
The Direct Primary.
Author of the System Adopted September
18th Explains its Provisions.


Author of the System Adopted September
18th Explains its Provisions.
Howard Davies of Yarmouth, author
of the direct primaries bill that was
adopted by large majority September
18th, explains the measure as follows:
"a bill was presented by Mr.. Gleason
in the Legislature of 1907 which aimed
at the nomination of certain candidates
by primary election but certain features
of this bill were not suited to the condi-
lions in Maine, as it was taken from the
statutes in some of the western States
and was not distinctly framed in a way
that would meet all our conditions.
1.-The bill upon the acceptance of which
the people voted Monday was initiated
under the direction of the direct primar-
les league and embodies what might be
called the best of the direct primaries
acts of the other States. But the bill is
very little like the Gleason measure and
has in it many features that the Gleason
bill did not cover.
1.-THE bill provides for the nomination
of candidates for any State or county
office, including United States senator
or representative to Congress, by direct
primaries. 1t does not include within its
scope nomination for any municipal
Office, and does not go so far as the di-
rect primary bills adopted in Massa-
chusetts and New Hampshire.
''Some may think that the movement
for direct primaries is transient senti-
ment without staying power but in my
opinion such people are careless readers
of political history 1t is natural de-
velopment in the evolution of Demo-
cratic institutions, and it aims to accom-
plish system of nominations truly rep
resentative.
Party organization is in no way af-
fected by it, for party organizations are
recognized by the law to bear the re-
sponsibility of government, and there is
nothing in this bill to break down such
organizations. 1t is in effect holding
of caucuses by all parties at the same
time. This is important, as it precludes
all possibility of men participating in
both caucuses.
''The process by which a candidate
procures nomination, take for example a
Statewide Office like that of United
States senator, is as follows. The can
didate would file nomination papers with
the secretary of State, signed by not
less than one nor more than two per
cent. of the vote cast for that particular
office in the last election. These papers
shall contain the names of the proposed
candidates and specify as to each the
Office for which he is a candidate, the
political party which he represents and
his place of residence. One of the sign
ers of such a petition shall make oath
thereon that the signatures are genuine
and that the signers are members of the
party named therein. Butno such papers
shall be filed previous to the first day of
of January of the year in which the
primary elections are to be held.
1.-The secretary of State issues the
ballots for the primary elections which
are held the first Monday in June. The
ballots shall be printed so as to give
each voter clear opportunity to design
ate his choice for candidate by placing
cross to the right of the name of the
candidate he wishes to vote for as a
nominee for office.
"Our reliance is upon an intelligent
opinion. Every year the electorate be-
comes better educated, and in all our
communities there is constant develop
ment of civic spirit We shall make no
mistake if we give freer course to in
telligent opinion. We must depend
upon it in the last analysis. We must
not confide the control of the govern
ment to the few because we are afraid
of the many, for experience shows that
it is the few Of whom we should be
afraid.
1.-The bill aims at justice. 1t will in
jure no property right. 1t looks ahead
to slow and progressive changes, | be-
leve it will appeal to the sober, thought
full, moderate, intelligent citizens and if
it is rightly understood will be adopted
by an overwhelming majority for it will
render impossible the rule of the party
boss, and it will reduce corruption to
minimum. This will be done by the
clause of the law which provides for
limitation of campaign expenses previ-
GUS to the primaries limiting the eX-
penses for nomination for Statewide
office to $1,000. for representative to
Congress to $500, and for State senators
and county officers to $3.50 for each 10,-
600 cast for Governor at the last preced
ing gubernatorial election; it will afford
an opportunity for an examination of
candidates records; it will afford an op-
portunity for the public to ask for and
secure statements of candidates po-
sition on questions of public policy; it
will give better facilities for the pun
ishment of official wrong doors; it will
ensure the rule of the people.
Direct primaries are by no means an
experiment. Eighty per cent. of the
candidates for State and county offices
in the United States are already chosen
in that way. The bill is aimed to adopt
the best feature of the direct primary
laws in all the other States.
1.-The convention is not a sacred or
firm institution; it merely represents
phase of the movement of which direct
primaries are another step in advance"
SOME POPULAR RECIPES.