The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1913-12-24


dates for Che high Office OF Prcsi-
dem Of the United states.
Even If men chosen as delegates
We're never guilty OF willful and cor
rup betrayal OF trust, II bargains and
doals and bribery could be ciimihat
cd nevertheless The presidential
nominating convention should be
abolished because i; removes the
nomination TOO far from the voter,
the. trustee too far from him FOR
whom he bears a trust, the agent 100
far fcm the principal.
Ii a public official, high or low"
owes his nomination to a political
machine. or 10 corporate influence,
he IS certain in some degree to Yield
to That influence, and IN like meas
are to ignore the great body OF his
party and the public. If he owes his
nomination to the direct vote of lhc
people ne viii do the peoples SER
vice
That a national convention should
be held for the purpose OF formally
declaring the result of the direct pri-
mary and framing the platforms OF
the parties. there viii be no ccaten
ton. Eut the convention. charged
with the grave duty of formulating
the pledges OF The party, should be
composed CT a body of men ac-
countable for their action directly 10
these whom they represent. The
members OF delegate convention
feel no definite, binding, personal re-
spopsi5itlty, except TO few conspic.
nous leaders. The action Of the
delegate is merged into the action
gaios crpinatcs with the adjourn
Tca Ct the convention. There IS no
CON Inuiug -of official Obligation
Plairoi ms framed BY one set Of men
to be executed by another set OF
men, Cpen vide the door for honest
differences OF opinion as 10 the
meaning Of is terms and for the dis
hcDes and shlfy evasion OF rs
pleds,
Pres dent Wilson IS on strong and
anlsseiable ground when he recon-.
mends that platform be framed by
those espcnsible to The people Tor
carrying them into effect As ne
suggests hose responsible 10 DE
public for the faithful execution Ut
he III tom promises OF each party
mr., 49,, r,a,,,- u,n,tn..s fnr f-f,t o. ,.,,.t..
the nominees for vacaut seats in the
Senate Of the United States, the Sen.
ttois whose tcsms have not YET clos.
cd. tn national committees AID thc
candidates for The presidency thenr
selves
The participation OF the national
committee in formula ing The plat
form Is O matter OF detail upon
whRa there may he difference OF
opinion. Bat II IS an elementary
principe iha. the trus. ces should be
party 70 the contract which creates
TIE trust The officials or the oaadi.
date, who. II elected. will be charg-
ed vita the du,y OF rcdecming tho
llcdSes OF the platform. are iosic5lly
he nel who should make the party
Dlatfcsa.
This declaration OF principles ills
premise 10 perform, lhis specific
pledge 20 enac certain legislation
IS submitted 10 the voter and when
accepted b.. idn becomes n solemn ard
binding ccycnan, between the o1ich
ais who framed the platform and Tic
vote who has s'aked his faith upoa
the integrity % lis performance ~
the candidate Tor whcm he casts HE
ballot
President Wilson's reccmmcuant
ion VIII be enacted in;o law II nc, by
his own party thcn by those Who
shall ceme after. Il will make presi
dents mosc responsive 10 the will OF
.hc people It win make platform
pledges sacred and binding