The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1912-03-08
GALLINGER DECLINES
TO HELP GOV. BASS
Will Not Assist the Governors Plan for
Presidential Preference
Primary.

Washington d. G., March s. Senator
Gallnger of New Hampshire has sent
the following letter on presidential pri-
maries to Gov. Bass
The Hon. Robert p. Bass, Governor,
Concord n. H.;
My Dear Sir Your favor OF Feb. %,
addressed TO me, and which was stimuli
taneously given to the press reached
rae safely. answer to which has been
delayed on account Of press of public
bu mess. You ask me 20 cooperate
with you in pressing upon the state
committee the desirability of urging an
expression on the part OF the voters at
Republican caucuses as To their first and
second choice for Republican presiden-
tia candidates, to the end that our
delegates to Chicago should represent
tie actual wishes of the people, whether
in favor of Mr.. Roosevelt. President Taft
OF some other candidate.
In reply | beg TO say that, while |
am quite as anxious as you possibly
can be to have an absolutely fair cleo
tion in tile matter of choosing delegates
to the state conventions, | do not see
how the state committee can properly
assume the responsibility of changing
the law in that respect. Ii | remem-
Der correctly you claim credit for the
authorship of the primary law which
is now on our statute books, section four
ui which reads as follows
"A primary shall be held at the regu
lar polling places in each town and
ward in the state on the first Tuesday
OF September, 1910, and biennially there
after. for the nomination Of all candi-
dates to be voted for at the November
election, except president elections.
"That law has not been changed by
subsequent legislation. and hence is bind
ing upon the people of the state. Mani
testify the purpose of the law was to
leave the matter of clecting delegates
TO the presidential convention as you
term it, under the provisions Of the laws
then on the statute book Fortunate
" we had then and have now, law,
which can be made to accomplish pre-
cisely what you desire to secure
refer to sec. of chap 9s, laws of 1906,
wlhch provides as follows:
All nominations and elections at
any caucus shall be by ballot, and in
balloting a check list shall invariably
be used
while | do not believe the state com
mittee has the legal right to order a
statewide primary such as you suggest
for the election of delegates to the state
| can see no reason why the
committee may not advise that the bal
lots to be used at the caucuSes to elect
delegates to the state convention. as
well as those used in the convention it.
self shall be plainly designated Taft
delegates and Roosevelt delegates, or
Taft ticket and Roosevelt ticket
That can properly be done, and IL viii
be an absolutely fair test of the rela
tive strength of the opposing candidates.
To use your own words the delegates
OF the state convention will thus repre-
sent the actual wishes of the people of
the state, as will also the delegates to
the national convention.
''To that extent ! am ready to Co
operate with you. and as member of
the state committee win advise that it
shall be done. The plan that ! have
has the merit of being feas-
ble, and at the same time it will Sc
cure an honest expression of the pref
arence of every elector who votes at
the caucuses, precisely what the friends
Df President Taft desire. Very respect
fully yours,
u III. Gallinper"