The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1911-02-09
DIRECT PR|MA AIRY
BILL INITIATED
$4,000 Voters Sign The
Petitions
Other Interesting Legislative News
from Augusta.

! the COWulue DOOlS SldIleu JlIe tCIOc5
! in the office of the Secretary of State
at Augusta last Friday, when repre-
sentatives of the Direct Primary
League filed the first initiative petit
! ton to become effective in the United
/ States east of the Mississippi river.
About fifteen thousand voters signed
this death warrant of the discredited
nominating convention. giving one of
the most effective demonstrations of
i public opinion in the history of the
State. For all practical purposes the
Davies bin is law. Under the const-
tuition, the Legislature must either
/ pass the bill as it stands, or submit
/ it to popular vote. Thus the move
ment for the direct primary has
reached the climax within less than
one year after its formal organiza-
ton.
Progressive Republicans in Maine
! have been advocating direct nomina-
tons for years. and as far back as
1906 the idea was incorporated in the
/ party platform. But practical poll
/ ticians who make a business of trad
i ing in delegated power, were too we'll
suited with the old system to admit
of any change, and bill after bill died
in the Legislature. The initiative
however, finally furnished the way
out.
/ Representative Davies of Yarmouth
bore the brunt of the battle from first
! t. last. but secured a powerful ally
when state Master Stetson made his
/ bitter arraignment of political condi
! tions during his address to the
/ Grange convention at Bangor in 1909.
! This SO crystallized public opinion
/ that progressive leaders of both par
/ ties assembled at Augusta soon after,
and subsequently organized the Di-
rect Primary league.
Hon Herbert NJ Heath of Augusta
was associated with Mr. Davies in the
task of draughting the League bill,
/ and careful students of the subject
laye pronounced it the best measure
oi its kind ever brought before any
state in the union Both of these
able attorneys gave to their task
time and money aggregating immense
value. first in the preparation OF the
bill. and afterwards during the can
vass for the necessary signatures.
/ Meanwhile after both party conven-
tions had indorsed the direct primary
the executive committee of the State
/ Grange lost no time in ratifying the
measure. and late in the summer the
| Initiative petitions were distributed
over the State through that organiza-
1 lion. Unforeseen difficulties develop
ed at this point. and thousands OF
names had to be thrown out, because
he petitioners failed to realize that
they were executing legal document
and observe the essential formalties
As the time limit during which the
proposed law could be introduced ap-
preached. ii became evident that
something would have TO be done 10
make good the losses previously in
CURED A voluntary subscription
vas ken up among the friends Of
the direct primary, and paid can
vassers started on the task of supple
menting the work of the volunteers.
Up to this point the practical
politicians had not taken the move
ment seriously Finally they awoke
o the fact that various and sundrY
soft snaps were at stake. and in
/ Cumberland county fought the can
yass stubbornly Town committees
aet and passed resolutions against
| the direct primary political pressure
vas applied to the eanyassers max
ing many OF them quit manufacture
ers who had formerly welcomed the
referendum workers to their shops
ordered solicitors off their premises
and a large force of eX-deputy sheriffs
was lined up in opposition. Similar
work made Bangor a barren field, but
other communities more than mada
good the loss
| Representative Davies had intended
to introduce the measure into the
| House last Friday, but finally decided
10 file the petitions with the Secre-
| tary of State instead. This proce-
dure will permit the filing of addi-
/ tional petitions as they come in, and
several hundred more are known to
/ b. on the way. Speculation now
turns on what the Legislature will
&C with the bill Representative Pat
tangall has professed friendship for
the direct primary but hostility to
the Davies bill. But Patt is a good
loser. and card players generally quit
bluffing after the show down. There
/ is very little political capital to be
made in getting run over BY the steam
roller.
The question of the merging OF the
/ Somerset, Washington county and Sc
/ bastiCook & Moosehcad rtiirot ds with