Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1912-06-06
PRIMARY REFORM IN VERMONT AND MASSACHUSETTS.

PRIMARY REFORM IN VERMONT AND MASSACHUSETTS.
In spite of efforts certain people pose pioneers
in political progressvcness Vermont this commonwealth had
made considerable progress before the period of pres
dental undertaking began
We have trying particular solve the problem how
tment the Of the rank and file with reference 10 cand
dacies and direct primary bill would have passed the last Leg
stature if members OF the Legislature mad followed the
Not few people overlook the fact that the political pr-
mary problem complex manifold rather than the simple
question of system of voting. These problems are -
How to get the most correct expression of popular WILL
How to induce voters take in selection or can
How prevent members of one party from voting in
How to limit the use of money in primaries
In spite of the tremendous display of political pyrotechnics
pagn orato set off by the two prominent in
the primaries. The New York Post also that
democrats voted the republican ballot the New Jersey
primaries 1t secret that money used in preden
ta primaries than before.
1t will be noted that the operation of the direct presidential
primary New Jersey did not solve the chief problems which
have confronted the people of Vermont in connection with the
discussion of reform and far the expression of the
popular will concerned opinion still divided
of sS forms OIL the primary used in this year
The fundamental idea of direct primary is to get at the
voice of the people without the of Of
political government and therefore to unaduerated pub
lie opinion far the party involved is concerned
The experience of the republicans Of Massachusetts, has
demonstrated however that this feature of the problem still
remains to be solved.
Before people the polls the presidential primaries
%
make slate of delegates represent the different presien
al candidates few did this duty in behalf of the
When this step is closely anayzed it will be discovered to
constitute the most arbitrary power on the part of few
or in other words accenan of the very weakness of
representative form of political that the direct pr
mary was intended to remedy
tee selected list of delegates for whom all the Taft
should vote and another committee selected another sate for
whom all the Roosevelt should pres
en these delegates had been selected often result
spirited contests in State convention and the of dis
becomes manifest therefore, that far the
has removed the people farther from repre-
sentatvs as delegates instead of making that selection
direct
primary SHOULD be held in which all the supporters any par
tcuar for president choice of delegates
be supported the primary election of delegates
oraer to avoid the division of that presidential candidates
Massachusetts, and defeat for that presidential
didate
In view of the fact that this presidential year Vermont
republican thus right to take part in
their own caucuses and this will be particularly
ington and other where check lists to be used
It is evident however that the political primary problem
is still with We law modified that
pie will vote and without the incentive of money
in their own party caucse rather than in those of the opposite
party and vote correct expression of the popular will
If anybody knows of any direct other system that will
accomplish these ends he will be entitled thanks of the
present generation we'll of all posery wing solved
the complicated political primary problem by whatever
Our present primary system may not all that should
BE- but we should make sure that any substitute moifca
an in
dicated rather than backward
So far as presidential primary concerned the ideal plan
would be to hold the throughout the whole
the day without delegate candidates. to in
erfere with free expression of the popular will That woul
make it difficult matter for any candidate spread money in
any particular State or to make spectacle like that through
which different States have recently passed
If the representative principle wrong direction it
cannot be trusted in another direction If pure
democracy instead of democracy every man
must be his lawmaker AMI his lawyer his own
ndge as well as his executive which affords another
full illustration of reduction to absurdity