Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1912-07-18

We get little enough anyway Of calm
elaboration. Shall It be still further d.
minished? Could the democratic conven-
ton at Baltimore have done better had
It not been guided by its normally dele
gated leaders? Will not the sober second
thought Of the country say that the best
result in both conventions Is the nomina-
ton Of Taft and Wilson, each represent
Ing, respectively. the two great divisions.
so far as they are divisions. OF public DO
liticai opinon7 Would that sober second
thought be as content. now that the tur.
mol Is over, we're the nominees Wilson
and Roosevelt, or Clark and Roosevelt7
Would Hayes or Harrison or Cleveland,
three respected presidents. have been
chosen on the new primary system?
Had we been in the Legislature Wa
should have voted for the primaries be-
cause the people are entitled TO try the
experiment. but It would have been with
out great faith that the experiment will
prove much OF a success or much of a re-
form. It is cumbrous and adds an enor-
nous cost to the public expense. 1t by no
means closes the door to profuse use Of
money in carrying an election, and the
hungry brood Of manipulators will be Just
as active as before and only spread over
a larger field. It gives no better express
sion to public sentiment. for II has at
tracted little II any more attendance of
the people, even though novelty Is always
attractive, than did the old caucus. In
deed all Of US recall caucuses In contested
districts in which the attendance was
larger than at the recent primaries. ex-
citing as the recent contest was. In the
recent primary in Maine in n very in
tclligent and ordinarily sized town. though
there were three active republican candi-
dates for the governorship, only 10 votes
were east for them, and this is a sample
OF many other towns An ordinary even
Ing caucus would have been more popu-
ious. Then. too. the primary is just now
novel. and, when an old story. It will
probably be still less attractive, and the
old wire-pullers will come to the front
again and run the machine as before.
However, It may be well enough, ana II
certainly should have its trial. But to
carry further and apply It to the making
and repeal Of Ia VS. and to the recall Of ju-
dicial decisions and officials, is utterly
subversive Of representative government
and of the security Of constitutional SAFE
guards. Legislation and judicature de-
mand the most deliberate and all-sided
consideration. This should come after
open and public discussion. Presenting al
sides OF every question. How Ia this to
be had II the statute Is to be practically
enacted and the decision made in the heat
Of the crowded polling place by vutes
cast in the irresponsible privacy of a booth
b! voters not only not responsible to any
body for their act. but a very large per
centage Of them not having at all familiar
lied themselves with the matters to be
settled by their votes? It Is not that the
| people are not intelligent and fully com.
petent, or that they are not to be trusted
when they act with knowledge and under
responsibility. But common experience Is
absolute proof that they never give the
attention to matters OF legislative or judi.
cial consideration which those selected by
them for that purpose do give poor as the
results sometimes but not often are. Ever
on questions which now and then are sub
mitted to popular vote, as very properly
some local questions are, not one In 10
| unless 1t be something like the division
or the set-oT of a town. takes the trou
Bile to inform himself as TO the merits o.
the question, and oftener than not refuse:
OF neglects to vote upon IT.
Yes. the fundamental question is wheth
or it shall continue to be a government,
OF the people through their representa-.
tives chosen or constituted by them Ant
Il pretty vital question it is. Tafts stant
on 1t is certain.