The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1913-11-27
puTEnrsT WAYS TO NOMINATE
Qnesssan au Mhtris sps1ss az the
state VII he Asked 30 Espro-s
Their prvfarcncn Neat Msrxb.

14@eifo0f fr4HffF9 70 khmis by a.
tiom " the iA1t session 9f the isEt
istarc First. ths3 Viii deteFmla
eefialicly $50 far AZ the form Of so
srnmeni IL yefmoas permits the n
fers adam 10 determine anything
wAaiher sgee.0oe addition to III
state house shall be made or ao'
The proposition IA for the erection I
o separate buiie.ng near the pre-
seBt state house. % which shall b
removed tho state Nbrars. the sur
reas court room Ane other dclari
menls and repositories that uoA os
eupy quarters Ia the capitol. Ieayin
iaore room agsllab,s foE the ORD:
nary ases Of the legislative and sNe
lcpiiFe branches rhc legslatureH.l a
able 10 decide this matter itself
put Il up TO the people. The gen
eral expectation Is that II viii b.
voted down
The other question submitted Il
not for final determination. bu, FOL
Recommendation The general as
sembly couldn't decide upon an,
form o. a direct primary system thai
Il preferred to the existing nomina-
ton methods. and as final stef
asked the voters TO express then
preference at the March meeting IN
1914, the idea being that theii
recommendation would be carried
out at the succeeding Legislative
session, which will probably be the
special session to be called early
neat year. The joint resolution au-
thorizing this referendum provides
that the voters may express themsel-
YES in favor OF either one of three
nominating systems, 10 wit. "a pre-
ferental primary system whereby
the voters may instruct their dele
gates 10 political conventions az
to their preference for candidates
for office" second, "a direct pri-
mary law whereby the voters are to
vote directly for the candidates" oil
as an alternative, the present sys-
tenn OF nominating candidates fol
state. congressional and county Of
fices There has been some criti-
cism OF the form ia which this mat
ter is thus submitted, but It is hare
TO see how a three-sided question
such as this is. could be presenteC
ia fairer manner. The test ought Il
give as clear an index as can be OBJ
tanned any way OF the wishes Of the
voters.
II is essential that the subject OF
primary charges be fully understood
by the people and that they &C,
upon It irtelligently, II Vermont is
to take advanced ground To this
end the platform and the public
prints should devote great deal o.
attention prior to March meeting Il
instruction. We pro
pose to do our part and submit be
low skeleton outline OF the CHEZ
points for and against each OF the
three systems proposed. without ex
pressing, at this time, conclusion.
The Preferential Primary.
For-lt retains the form of repre-
nomination, while transfer
ring the substance directly TO tn
people 1t keeps the convention at
.he party clearing house-for the
Of all matters OF bust
ness. The delegates, elected as at
present. 80 instructed not only as
o one or two OF the principal nomi
lations. but the whole list. These |
Instructions are the result OF a sec.
ct ballot AT the primaries wherein |
he voters have chance to record |
In favor of any candidate
he preferential primary preserves |
he present idea OF proportionate re-
PRESENTATION as between the several
owns In the event that no single
for particular place re
elves a majority OF the instructed
the convention, on meet.
ng and determining this fact. IL
rec to nominate the man most de-
irable by a majority OF the dele
ates. thus preserving the idea OF
majority rule. In SO far as 1t is re-
lected In choice OF delegates.
Against--The preferential primary
] largely an untried idea, as applied
q whole state, II is scarcely less
spensiye. and even more cumber-
ONE, than direct primaries. There
light result a miscarriage OF the
opnlar verdict through electing
elegates who would not follow thei
or would seek early re-
'ase from them. In field OF two
r more candidates. none having g
Iajority OF instructed delegates
lie convention would be free to dts
gn devices and might not select
10 party's real choice. |,
The Direct Primary. 1,
For II gives an absolutely UNI .
Fashionable register OF the party's
loiee for candidates. obtained in >
70 most effective manner the
cret ballot at statewide primar- J
3. i, defeats all the schemes
ID Vaccinations OF bosses and poll
,ians for substituting men OF their v
va choice for those OF the people q
ie candidates wanted by the rank e
ID file OF the party. as determined 4
a free aud untrammelled vote, be-
me. as soon as the ballots are Il
united. the nominees OF the party. 4
Against The direct primary is In E