The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1911-01-10
THE DIRECT PRIMARY BILL
its Passage Through House Provided
an Interesting Debate

ut I1Ouht pdoScu TIE ulIGNl PR
mary bill Friday afternoon by vote
If 107 to Go. There were 70 absent
members or members who did not
9ote The debate was commenced af
-er 3 O'Clock and didn't close until
nearly 5. An effort to let the bill go
,yer until next Tuesday was defeated
-he House evidently desiring to either
pass or kill measures and is not in
'ympathy with having the measures
lie at this period of the session un-
less there be good reason for 1t.
There have been few measures on
which so little work has been done
by either side. There was no lobby
ing either for or against the bill and
it is one of the few measures that
has come up on which the members
have been free to formulate and ex-
press their opinions without having
been seen"
The main argument in opposition
to the measure was made by DR.. Bur
bank of Cabot, and while he had dis
tolted idea about the frailties of the
newspaper profession his remarks on
the whole were ably presented and
made a splendid impression on the
House, which applauded him notwith-
the unwritten rule of sill
ence Mr. Burbank followed Col Bat
tell who offered several amendments
some OF which he withdrew after an
explanation by Mr. Howe OF Benning-
ton who took the floor, having left
hA har Mr..
Peck, in the chair, while the bill OF
80 or more pages was being read. The
House struck out the declaration OF
candidacy section.
Mr.. Burbank's objection to the
bill was that 1t would deprive the
small towns of their votes and in1u-
ence in naming the candidates for
state and county Office. At the pres
ent time each town had one vote in
ZOO. Under the proposed law the
small towns would be outYoted by
the larger towns. He said the law
came out of the West. II was an ex-
pertinent in many states. II was cum
hersOme. Vermont didn't need II. II
gave more opportunity for graft
state officers but now the others
would have to chip. He character.
lied II as a monopoly for the newspa-
pers. 1t gave them an opportunity
for graft. II forbid candidate hr-
ing men to go out and working for
for him, but he could advertise In the
newspapers. 1t meant that the man
with money could influence the news
papers. 1t was absolutely wrong.
The law would do away with con-
ventions where all could meet and
get acquainted. If the conventions
we're discontinued they would have
to depend entirely on the newspapers
for their information about the can
didates. He felt solicitous about the
information. He spoke about the
"rottenness' of New York and Him
DIS politics. He called attention to
some of the other features of the bill.
Mr. Howe OF Bennington who had
the floor, yielded to Mr.. Battell, who
arose to congratulate Mr. Burbank
on his explanation Of the bill which
he confessed he had not given the
study that he intended.
"Mr. Howe called attention TO some
inaccuracies Mr.. Burbank had made
In his argument. He stated that the
direct primary system was not n
western idea II originated In Penn.
sylyania He called attention to the
working Of party conventions In the
past His remarks were general. no,
applying to any candidate They all
remembered them. He said there
was no direct primary law In New
York State because the bosses didn'l
want IT, He then took up the differ
ent features of the measure and ex
D aimed particularly that part with
reference to newspapers. II news
papers printed political matter they
must label II as advertising II PAID
for so that the readers would know
about II. Mr.. McCuen. OF vergenne:
who like Mr.. Howe had introduced {
direct primary bill, urged its passag,
in a strong speech.
Mr.. Briggs OF Searsburg move,
that the bill be ordered 20 lie unit
! Tuesday morning. This was fayore,
by Chapman OF Windham. Messrs
Bailey OF Randolph, Bryant OF Lud
low and Stafford OF Brattleboro ure
ed immediate action. and the motor
was lost
"Mr. Wright OF Westminster SAT-
he had reasons to know that the laN
they passed In New Hampshire wa
an experiment. He was opposed I
the bill Mr. Daniels OF Warren sal
his town was IN favor OF the bill an
he believed that It's passage would b
step In the right direction.
Mr. Martin OF Brookllne oppose
I on the grounds that Il did away wit
conventions and deprived the sma
towns OF much OF their influence. II
said the newspaper editors wante
it
"Air Amey OF Brighton interrogl
ted the member from Cabot on HI
charge OF newspaper graft. Mr.. Bu
bank said he stated that Il made era
possible MIR. Amey asked him
8 read the section he had reference Z
which he did, and then he wanted
= know the difference between that an
the present law. Mfr. Burbank o
milted that newspapers had the rigl
now to publish political advertiser
i, Mr.. Amey asked him 10 the law dldr
restrict such advertising so that
should be labelled. and Mr. nurbaI
admitted that Il did. hence Mr. AM
|, commended II curtailed the newspape
, rather than extend their powers. J
o Burbank srld no one would deny
" gave them powers except In qul
bling way.
= mir. Amey favored the bill Al
> said he was glad that Vermont d
not have a railroad lobby like n,
), Hampshire.
" Speaker Howe Intercepted \
Martin, Of Brookline II he didn't knc