The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1911-08-17
FIELD DAY OF SOMERSET POMO.
MAS.
Continued from Page Three.


have it, is the only medium now open
| to us.
l know the active, thinking elector-
ate of this state. | believe they will
cast off all former political alliances
If necessary, and pu the whole OF
| their manhood into this work, to the
end that the beneficent influences of
the government may be extended to
all of the people, regardless of where
they are located, the volume of bust
ness they do, or their connection with
the monied interests of the country.
Kingsbury B. Piper of Waterville
spoke on the Direct Primary and dis
cussed at length in the following or
der:
W The undisputed fairness oil
our election system by ballot to elect
to public Office, proving the ability Of
the people to decide for themselves
who shall represent them In official
positions.
(2) The Direct Primary PROPOSE
ton to extend the system of popular
elections to making nominations for
public office. If the people are com
| petent to elect their public servants
by ballot then certainly are the peo-
pie competent to nominate by ballot
candidates for official positions.
90 The evils of boss control and
political machine dictation, as exer-
cised through caucuses and conven-
tions, and the need eliminating those
evils. The remedy logically Is to get
nearer the type of popular elections
which affords opportunity to every
elector the privilege of exercising the
franchise. This remedy is the Direct
Primary popular, direct, free and I'M
trammelled.
ca Direct Primaries are in line
with the principles laid down by the
founders of this Republic. What is
termed as 'progressiyeism' today is
but a movement to secure reposses-
sion of the popular government ad-
vocated by the fathers, fought for by
them and their sons and daughters
and left as a heritage for their pos
terity
60 The Davies or initiated bill
How brought out. Maine seemed too
ready for Direct Primaries, having Sc
cured Initiative and Referendum and
the secret ballot. Features of the
proposed law. Fairness of petitions
to place names of aspirants on pri-
mary ballot. Wisdom of early pri-
mary elections; of fourteen days no.
tice to voters before election, afford
ing time to investigate character and
fitness of petitioners. Corrupt prac-
tees feature, liberal for candidates
and affording all the necessary pro-
lection to the poorer contestants.
co. The objections to such legis-
lation which are voiced something
like this: Direct Primaries will de-
stroy political leadership and will OPP
crate to enhance the chances of can
didates from the more populous
places to get on the party ticket.
Popular elections have not destroyed
dicious to suggest that in the old days
the wise people who were allied with
toryism prophesied that the people
could not rule and should not rule
even unto popular elections. If CIV
ing the people power to determine
who shall be elected to public Office
is safe proposition and does not re-
suit in a disproportionate selection of
officials from the more populous
places, then it is certainly safe pro-
position that giving the people the
power to determine nominations for
public office will not be destructive Of
political leadership, neither will d.
rect primaries give nominations pro-
portionately to contestants residing
In the more populous places The
day of Toryism, of a ghostly scare
about the ends and the means to
which the people will go, the terrible
things they will do, If permitted to
select their public servants direct, to
elect their public servants direct, 10
determine at their own will, express
ed by petitions what questions Of
public policy they desire shall re-
ceive the verdict of the electorate
the day of such lugubrious prophets
is far past
Coins Turned to Snakes.
A money trick of Hindu jugglers in
varlably causes great amusement to
every one who sees 1t except the vic
tim of the Joke. The 1uggler takes
three copper coins and places them In
the palm OF some one in the group OF
spectators, bidding him hold them as
tightly as he can. By and by 1t seems
to the holder Of the coins that they are
swelling and growing hot. They seem
to be moving about. He holds his
hand closed as long as he can and then
opens it, always with gasp of fright;
for there wriggling about are three
tiny snakes.-New York Tribune.