Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1911-06-10
The Direct Primary Arguments.
Augusta. Maine. June 8, 1911


press of Maine the following squib:
Because the members of the Maine
Legislature ignored the request of
10000 voters for a thorough direct
primary law, affecting the nominations
for all State and county offices. U. S.
senators and congressman, and mem
bers of the legislature, similar to the
Geran law in New Jersey, and SUBJ
stituted for it a measure which the
politicians wanted, a special election
will be held on the second Monday in
September to decide whether the vot-
ers of the State want something
which the politicians do not want"
That squib is one of those artisti-
cally written things which do not
definitely state an untruth, but do
contain statements calculated to de-
ceive.
1t is true that the Legislature re-
fused, not ignored, the request of
10000 voters, but can any man present
evidence that such a request" is a
mandate from the people, especially
when the principal sponsor for that
request" admits from his place in
the Maine House of Representatives
that those signatures We're obtained
by paid canvassers? AS a matter of
fact the petitions for the Davies di-
rect primary bill were signed by fewer
than seven per cent of the voters of
the State. SO much for the proof
that the Davies bill is a bill that the
people want. AS for the claim that
the bin which was substituted for the
Davies bill is one that the politicians
t,1 hnt = a
past winter as newspaper cor.
respondent at the Maine State House,
and l never heard of such a thing be-
fore, and will assert that it only ex-
lists in somebody's imagination.
Always when there is a time of un
rest about governmental matters,
there is somebody with a remedy in
the shape of more offices, more both
er and more expense for the taxpay-
ers. The primary election scheme
seems to belong to this class of
schemes for increasing the public ex-
pense without accomplishing the de-
sired reform. | am not prepared to
say that it may not be a good thing
for city, but / am satisfied that in
New Jersey, with less than one
fourth the area of Maine. and more
than three times the population of
Maine. it would have effects different
from what it would in ou: State. In
Maine it would simply mean that the
boss in the largest town in a district
or in the whole State. would control
This is due to the disposition of the
people to vote for their neighbors. 1t
was shown conspicuously in New
low h av-- 1l- l..
primary elections in that State. In
Rockingham county there are Sc
towns and one city. OF eight offices
to be voted for at those primaries.
Portsmouth presented candidates for
sheriff. county solicitor, county treas
urer and two of the county commits
sioners. on the Republican or majority
side. Portsmouth has only IL 900 of
the $4,000 population in that county
but Portsmouth took all five of those
desired nominations. Exeter with
5000 population took the other three
register of deeds, register of probate
and one county commissioner. The
S5 country towns, with more than
$4,000 population got left. A similar
situation existed as the result of the
primaries in every county in New
Hampshire, and in one of them
Cheshire-the largest town took seven
of the eight nominations in the domi-
nant party. There is, as conse-
quence, an era of i'll feeling growing
up between town and city in New
Hampshire, which is an evil that |
would like to see my native State
avoid. | speak from personal knowl-
edge, as | was working in Portsmouth
at the time of that primary election,
and / was there again in the latter
part of last March, and found, upon
inquiry, that sentiment such as / have
mentioned, is getting pretty bitter in
that state. For governor of New
Hampshire the primaries nominated
the man who spent the more money.
man goes into the booth to vote
at a primary election. and the major
ity of candidates are strangers. He
locks over the list and votes for those
from his own town. and the candidate
from the large town starts with a big
lead. In county convention, ii is
recognized that fairness in govern
ment consists in having all sections
represented. and before the balloting
is over that is accomplished TO a
greater or less extent. The conyen-
ton votes by majority rule, and ex-
ira ballots are feasible when there is
no nomination on one ballot. In the
primary, only one ballot is feasible,
the nomination is by a plurality, and
the man with the most neighbors gets
the plurality. 1t is hard to estimate
the increased power which this will
put in the hands of the city boss who
has a compact bunch of votes in easy
reach. which he can get to the polls
on primary day at limited expense.
The primary election bill which the
Legislature did pass applies only to
governor, United States senators and
members of Congress. That may put
the nominations for governor and
United States senator in the hands of
the boss in Portland If there be a boss
there. though several other localities
could make good combinations against
him. Also the candidates for gov
ernor United States senator, etc., are
likely to be men who have achieved
sufficient reputation to be fairly we'll
known by reputation 10 the voters in