The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1913-12-04
The Direct Primary.

At this time when the people Of
Vermont are considering the import
ant proposition OF substituting the
direct primary for the convention
method of nominating candidates for
county, state and congressional Of
fees it is interesting and informing
II examine the views recently eX-
pressed by Gov. Glynn OF New York
on this matter of primaries New
ork. II Will be remembered has
socalled primary law but 1t WAS &c
yised b. practical politicians and has
proven a deluslon and snare so
tar as providing Il ready and effec
tive means fer the expression OF the
s. i'll OF ,he people. Gov. Glynn recog
nizing the worthlessness Of the eX-
istns primary law is framing one
which he believes will enable the yot
ors TO make choice Of candidates
without encomteriug the danger OF
having that choice vetoed or over
ridden through manipulation by Graf
IS politicians.
Gov Glynn proposes to apply the
principle of The Australian ballot to
The direct primary though it is obyi-
| Gus lie does not entertain the illu-
sion that the direct primary will
prove panacea for all political ills.
Indeed. he says frankly: "The direct
primary as a new way OF doing an
cid thing amounts to nothing; the di
rect primary as club to hold over
The heads OF arrogant political boss
cs can be potent force fcr>good goy
eminent He IS stating only ru
ism also when he Saws Amy social
ed direct primary which simply rub
Der stamps the candidates chosen by
The political machines might as we'll
! be discarded in advance"
GOV. Glynn would discard the par
~ emblem but he would retain
he party convention. Nominations
rade b. i, would be merely adys
2ry IN character. however. That is
they would be given no preference
az 10 position or other distinction.
fhey aud all other nominations TO
governor, for example. would be pie
ed in one group and it Would he the
duty of the voter to mark the name
of the QUO to which he gave prefer.
aace The retention OF The cow en-
! .icu is one Of the features Of Gov
! Gyms proposed legislation that Is
likely 40 encounter opposition ftOT
many OF those who are sincere aGvo.
| Gates 81 jhc direct primary. but n
! a. main hiss suggestions appear
WISE and practical.
Certainly be g. right whom nc de
| cisges The Importance Of the rca
| direct primary lies In The fact that
qita ogesIons or candidates vitaliz
NJ public opinion from lis usual in
Inference, The direct primary VII
l1se thr boss Ter selfpreseyvat ion
"a Transform himself iuio u public
servant, The direct primary vii
! give the people "a powerful weapon
10 be welded Tor good aoycumen.
hnt nc weapon is powerful Tor gooc
" evil iji somc one rises up &c
aield g."
Here $40 Vermont public sentiment
which recently has crystallzed TO a
cwJIkablo degree in favor of The di
-eot primary secs in il tho means Of
te-tcria- 20 tho people the right Of
naming their own candidates. right
which is theirs and theirs alone, but
hich hrs frequently been flched
.rom tAcm 10y designing and unscrup
il2us politicians What the citizens
sill vote for % The coming March
meetings will be "a direct primary
law that will make the choice OF the
majority effective aud irrcvocable
by amy other agency or power and
That viii render IL impossible for any
| Interest. machine. committee or CO.
torle to hand over to any man
nomination for any public Office
Montpelier Journal