Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1911-09-26
The Direct Primary Law.

| The Direct Primary Law.
In spite of the fact that many law
yers agree that Names new direct
primaries law has not been legally
adopted and that the secretary of State
| may be enjoined from accepting nomi-
nations under it. there is an expressed
popular feeling that the supreme
Court would decide in favor of the
law, and that it should be given Il
trial. Leading minds of the country,
in both great political parties. believe
in giving the direct primary law a
fair trial. The objections have been
voiced and sounded over and over
again by the opponents of the law, but
| the fact continues to be apparent that
| the people of this country are seeking
] a way in which to correct the evil
which is found in the control of poli-
tics and of our public life by great
combinations of wealth Americans
are not afraid of wealth. but they are
afraid of those men who manipulate
wealth selfishly.
While some leading Democrats of
Maine, notably Attorney General Pat
tangall, are voicing their opposition to
the direct primaries plan. Governor
Woodrow Wilson of New Jersey, says:
Il believe emphaticaly in direct
primary Every state in the Union
should have it, ! believe in direct and
popular election of United States scna-
tors Such a law enforced in every
state would prevent legislative control
by special influence, and thus one of
the greatest menaces to representative
would be removed
In Maine, in addition to some OPP
position, in both political parties. we
hear from quite a few lawyers the ar
gument that the law has not been leg
ally adopted. ON the ground that it is
substitute measure. Frederick ".
Esq, of Portland. is quoted:
Il believe the Supreme Court of this
State will be obliged to decide whether
or not the direct primary law has been
legally adopted" and he went on to
explain:
THE resolve in favor of amending
Article of the Constitution of This state,
known as the Initiative and
g .3l...,z sod saV,l
20, 1907, and was accepted by the people
of this State at the general election held
in September 1905 Section Is of said
provided as follows: =.
for its consideration any Dill,
resolve or resolution, including bilis TO
amend or repeal emergency legislation,
but not an amendment of the State ton-
,titution by written petition addressed to
he Legislature or to either branch there
IF and filed in the office of the secretary
)f State or presented to either branch OF
he Legislature at least 20 DAYS before the
close of its session.
Amy measure thus proposed by not
less than 1900 electors, unless enacted
without change by the Legislature at the
session at which II is presented. snail ne
submitted to the electors together with
any amended form, substitute, or recom-
mendation of the Legislature. and IN such
manner that the people can choose De
tween the competing measure or reject
BOTH
Acting in accordance with this section
signed by not less than 12Wo
electors were filed in the office of the sec
rotary of State. February 3, 1911, propos-
ing to the Legislature for its eonsidera-
tion a bill entitled. An act to provide for
of candidates of political par
ties by primary elections. This act was
not enacted by the Legislature. and on
the Sth day of MAY, 1911. proclamation
was issued by the Governor ordering that
the measure be referred to the people by
a special election to be held on the 1lth
day of September, 1911. The same Legis-
lature enacted a direct primary law be-
ing Chapter 1873 of the Laws of Maine,
1911 entitled An act TO provide for the
nomination of party candidates by direct
1.-THE last paragraph of the direct pri-
mary petition requested the Governor to.
issue a proclamation for election If said
measure is not enacted by the Legsla
ture without change and ii appears that
the Governor issued this proclamation
strictly in accord with the aforesaid re-
quest but Section Is, as already quoted,
provides that the said bill shall be SUBJ
mitted to the electors together with any
amended form, substitute. or recommend
dation of the Legislature, and in such
manner that the people can choose be-
tween the competing measures or reject
both f"