The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1913-02-28
Senator ). H. Perry Presents Primary Bill 
 to Colleagues
Measure Provides for Party SyS- tenn with Nominations Made at Some Voting Place on
 Same Day
By Our Staff corres.)

Hartford, Feb. 28-Three men repre- senting three political parties were heard before the judiciary committee, yesterday afternoon, in favor of di- rect primaries. They were Senator John H. Perry, Republican, a member of the senate and of the judiciary committee, and a member of the state commission raised in 1905 to consider the subject of direct primaries; Lynn W. Wilson of Bridgeport, a member of the House, and Democrat;
 Herbert Knox Smith, late candidate for governor of the Progressive party, and it's leader in Connecticut.
 Senator Perry explained bo his col leagues the nature of the bill pro- posed by him. The bill was in es- sence that reported to the General Assembly, in 1909. It preserves the party system, and provides for noTni- nations by petition for those not af- filiated with any party. It effectual- ly safeguards the ballot, and is drawn to make the cost of conducting pri- maries even cheaper than at present.
 The voting is all done at the same voting place, in each voting precinct on the same day, but party lines are kept absolutely distinct, as at pres ent.
 A c1everly contrived feature of the bill prevents the voting of ballots that have been handed to the voter, by some politician. The voter re- 'ceives his party ballot after he enters the voting place. He must deposit the ballot he receives, unless he should spoil it in marking it, in which case he VII reeve another ballot, by re- turning the spoiled one.
 Senator Perry consumed three-quar- ters of an hour in explaining the bill to his colleagues. He answered every objection raised, and the bill under an extended probing showed but one de- feet, which a few words will remedy. Rep. Wilson said that he desired to favor Senator Perry's bill. MT Will son said: sI have followed Senator Perry's work upon this subject since 1905. I know. he understands the subject, that he has prepared his pro- posed legislation in a skilful and con- 'scientious manner. I believe the bill he proposes from the standpoint of breadth, cheapness in operatoin, cer- tainty of detail and in the opportunity it gives to each elector to express his will is the best yet drawn in this country.''
 Rep, Wilson said further, ssDirect primaries are demanded by the peo- pie. They are a more direct and inn proved means for the expression of the peoples will. It is necessary that an honest bill should be passed by this General Assembly. The penalty of failure will be the hastened disintegra- ton of the two great parties which represent the entire membership here, with the exception of eight progress sives
 ''The people have been patient. But patience has ceased to be a virtue with them. They will destroy any political organization that defies them, and build a new one to take it's place.
 'AIt needs no prophet to- predict that the two party system is gone forever The struggle henceforth will be be- tween four, or five parties. It is so already. In my own city of Bridge port the present mayor holds office by scarcely more than a third Of the vote.
 The vote is so divided between. four parties, that circumstances might conceivab1y arise where any one of them would carry the city. which is a tenth of Connecticut, by twenty five or a slightly larger percent of the vote oast.''
 Herbert Knox Smith for the pro- gressive party spoke for what is known as the Bates bill. He said that it followed, in general, the lines of the Perry bill but with some differ ences of procedure. He said it pro- vided for a presidential primary quad rennial1y in May. It included all the state officers but omitted municipal officers except that it permits cities to take advantage of the act, if they care to. It also makes the offfcials@state and LegisIators-the delegates to the customary state convention which has little to do except op the proper years to nominate presidential electors. It also provides that the voter may mark a second choice and thus secure the