The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1911-06-16
party to live a day

party to live day.
 Last of all let me say word apout the claim that direct primaries suo- tract from the rights of the smaller towns. The rights referred to in this objection are of course the rules under which towns are represented Tn our Republican conventions. Demo cratic conventions are constituted Tn a way not open to this objection. IL is true that the Republican voters or small town would not have the same proportionate voice in the nom- ination of the officers who come un- der the new law as they theoretically have in conventions now; but their present privilege is a party conces- sion and not constitutional right. Their constitutional right is to be represented as such in the lower house. That right the proposed law in no wise effects, and no one desires to impair it.It is to say the least un persons. whose motive is purely sell fish to frighten them about that. It is not and cannot be in danger. So far as Republican nominating conven- tions are concerned, those in which state senators are nominated ought to be charged, any way. Senators rep resent people and not towns; yet in some districts the electors of a town casting thirty-three times as many votes as those of another town have only the same number of delegates us the latter. Common neighborly fairness ought to correct such injus- tice as this; and the direct primary would. In the case of state conven- tions, while it is, as has been al- ready stated entirely true that the smaller towns can combine against and outvote the centers of population in practice they never have; and 1t will be a sad day for the party if they ever do. The fact is that towns casting less than sixteen per cent. of the Republican vote of the state can dominate Republican state convention and nominate whom they choose. The further fact that this power is purely theoretical and never has and never will be eXercis- ed is all that prevents it from being speedily and justly taken away. Equal ly theoretical is the danger that un- der a direct primary law the centers of population will combine and make nominations which are distssteful to the smaller places. They never have tried to make combinations of that character, and could not agree about it, we all know, if they wanted to. This same objection has been made in other states situated substantially as Connecticut 10, but did not prevail; and a direct primary law having been passed, subsequent experience show cd that the smaller places fared pre- cisely as well as they ever had fared before. A state convention is sun posed to produce those nominations which are most acceptable to the ma jority of the party. This direct pri- marieS really accomplish and if they are denied merely to perpetuate a sys- tenn which may not do that and ex- pressly because it need not do that, I shall be sorry. That would be us- ing the power of a giant like a giant, and not considerably or justly. Those who have to do the electing ought fairly to be permitted to do the nom- mating also. if they want to: or else we should call Connecticut Mexico. The state convention. however. would be retained to adopt the platform, choose a state central committee and delegates to Presidential conventions and also to nominate all the candi- dates now nominated by them except the governor and congressman at large, and possibly the lientenant-gov- ernor. Those who value the social amenities and other advantages of these gatherings may accordingly still enjoy them.
 This is, in brief the direct primary story. As a method it is not perfect. but it is infinitely better than existing customs, and the best way yet found to restore his rights to the voter. So long as majorities govern and human nature IS WndI It IS, no political re- suit will seem best to everybody: but in the Bible of our forefathers that is declared to be really best which most of the people want. This direct pri- maries secure and present methods do not
 Those who habitually attend or na- nipulate conventions and consequent ly consider them the final abode of wisdom (sQme of whom it should be said are extremely good citizens) and those representatives, if any, who wall.