Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1912-07-18
The Struggle For Direct Vote Of tho People In Prlmarss

Those of Vermont who stood four years ago for the
presidency difficulty recalling the fact that
of the chief issues that of direct primaries
partisan opponents primaries New York and threw
all the force Of federal patronage against the Hughes
1905 the steam roller concerning whose operations
four years subsequently he is now so eloquent
But whoever originated the idea and whoever may have
become converted to the idea direct primaries the merit of
the system that will give the people direct voice in the
selection Of candidates, not be gainsaid.
Allen M Fletcher, who Hughes four years ago.
appreciation the the direct primary system lie
stood manfuy for the direct primary the last session of the
Legislature and the Journal of the House shows that ne voted
for the providing the should their bal
lots directly for candidates for nomination to places the
The platform adopted by the State republican
yention has plank looking to the adoption of form of
will be found just strongly of kind of pol
ical primary that be devised he two years
also ardent advocate of the direct political p
mary and in the current number of his the Bennington
After showing that the State republican platform makcs
straight declaration in favor of giving the chance
to make their nominations he that system of this
kind to be placed the Vermont Statutes in the future
The republican platform does declare in favor of any
particular form of direct primary wisely leaving the details
ed primary system for providing all
gressona and county candidates be nominated the
day and presidential the delegates to the national
venion should be elected the time BY thus combn
ing all the contests and voting on them all at one time it is
urged that the greatest of interest would be secured to
get out large vote and make the expression really
tive of party sentiment
Gin criticism of present system is urged
that the has generally chance for
delegates one pledged to candidate for governor and
the other pledged to another candidate for He
has of expressing his choice for eutenant-gov
ernor secretary of state, auditor treasurer attorney
general He is, in fact dsranchiscd these important
places and must trust the matter entirely the delegates
chosen the governorship issue but whose attitude is
commonly entirely unknown to other places the
ticket
The chief contest be of the
ships and the delegates will be chosen that issue alone
the county ticket though they are just as important The
selection is left open to trades and dckering.
would for time and the voter would have
chance to vote for his choice for single nomna
Doesn't it stand to that is better ystem 1t
takes the business of the hands professional manp
ators and interested parties with selfish ends further
vote Which is seldom attained undr the ucs evs ,s
cept in bitter contest and then the
ticaly helpless except as to place the ticket
,o.ns % Ie owe considers o some OF the raised
encouraged through the necessity Of ng the every
section the voting of members party primary
the other failure get vote shows that the
same objections can be made to present system He
The greatest advantage of all in a direct primary sys
TEN is that compes an appeal to the rank and file of the
workers More than that it is educational brings to
each voter responsibility that he hirl by turning
his duty to delegate delegates 1t is said that
it is undigned to appeal directly the but
safety of republic depends the intelligence pat
rosm OF the rank and file and not particular class
The primary systems in are in many imper
feet Some OF the States this trying for the
first time and their laws very crude In cases.
the provisions absurd outlandish and unfair with
deliberate intention of discredng the system
in New York. but most of these evils capable of
elimination.
Vermont does not stand in such crying need Of pri
reform do most Of the for a general rule
politics in Vermont have been much than
states but The Banner believes that the Of pri
mary law coupled with sensible and drastic
tees act would be emphatic step in advance here
in Vermont
COL Frank L. Greene, the republican candidate for
in the first district has long stood squarel for direct
The with
editor voices the sentiments Of Congressman Frank
ley, to considerable extent, prints this declaration:
Now we believe it very apparent that the people
Vermont wish to try out the direct primary system.
think that they should have that opportunity We in
favor OF such primary law shall preserve as
unit in state affairs and shall maintain the principle of
majority rule We consider these things most essen
tal"
The moral of all this that Vermont voters in voting the
republican ticket the State and congressional districts will
be standing quarcy for the direct primary and the only re-
naming requisite that the people every to the
Legislature who will vote for direct primary measure
and pledge senatorial candidates the same reform
by members of the committee