The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1911-06-29
PERRY FOR REFERENDUM ON DIRECT
 PRIMARIES Chairman of Commission on Direct Primaries Addresses
 Judiciary Committee Docs Connecticut Want to be Last State in Union to Adopt
 Popular Reform" Those Who Are Worthy of Nomination Need Not be Afraid of Securing it
 When Voters
 Choose
(By Our Staff Corres.)

Hartford, June 29.-Judge John H. Perry of Southport of the commits sion that was appointed to prepare a draft of a direct primary bill for the State of Connecticut appeared be- for the Judiciary committee yester- day afternoon at the committees re- quest and further enlightened the mem bers on the subject. Judge Perry made a claim that he was heartsick of the way in which the work or the commission had been received.
 '.I am perfectly satisfied said he. "that the state of Connecticut would take a direct primary act if. 1t got chance. I am satisfied that those who make a profession of politics will not give them chance if they can help it.
 since 1904, direct primaries have spread all over the country like wild fire At the present time 34 states have adopted it. Massachusetts IS added to the roll this year. and New Hampshire last year, so that even the been invaded and once state gets it, 1t never lets go of it.
 "The practical opposition to a di- rect primary act is perhaps best ex- pressed in what one of my neighbors once said to me: If your direct pri-
 
 how in the world am ever going to deliver delegations to conventions?
 There Is the rub, gentlemen, con- cretely expressing the opposition of the practical politician to this useful law.
 Just so long as the leaders of the Republican party in this state con Sinue .sFa deny to the masses of that T.arty &f1e right to nominate by direct primary just so long. will our Demo cratic friends continue to elect their governors providing 3ey have the calibre of our present governor.
 eff it is a matter of any pride for the State of Connecticut to be the last state in the Union to take the direct primaries then let that pride be hers, for at the best the profes- sional politicians can only postpone the day when Connecticut will wind up in the tail end of the procession.
 'If you gentlemen of the legisla- ture think the public doesn't want direct primaries why don't you give them a chance to say so at the polls? legislation now, months have been ai- lowed to elapse without it being giv- en the consideration which in my Judgment it deserves. Perhaps the state needs a little further education, but am firmly of the conviction that those who hold the balance of power in our electorate will find a way to impress those who control our legis- lation that direct nominations cannot and must not be denied them.
 Under a direct primary act if you are worthy of nomination you need not worry about being able to secure it."
 In response to a question from Senator Judson as to whether he should favor asking the legislature to pass a direct primary act with . ref erendum Judge Perry said
 T should certainly advocate a bill with a referendum attached so that the people themselves could pass up- on the question. Certainly if the people do not want direct primary they should not have such Jaw forced upon them and much as I per sonally favor such legislation I do not want to see Connecticut take it un- less the people of the state them selves say by their votes that they want it."