St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1913-11-26
PRESS COMMENT
The March Referendums


lature. First, they will determine
definitely ESQ far as the form of gov
eminent in Vermont permits the
referendum to determine anything)
whether $500, 900 addition to the
state house shall be made or not.
The proposition is for the erection
of separate building near the pres
ent state house, to which shall be
removed the state library, the SUI
preme court room and other depart
ments and repositories that now oc-
cupy quarters in the capitol, leaving
more room available for the ordinary
uses of the legislative and execu-
tive branches. The legislature, I'M
able to decide this matter itself
put it up to the people. The gen.
eral expectation is that it will be
voted down.
The other question submitted is
not for final determination, but for
recommendation. The general as
sembly couldn't decide upon any
form of direct primary system
that it preferred to the existing NOM
nation methods, and as a final step
asked the voters to express their
preference at the March meeting in
1914, the idea being that their re-
Communications would be carried out
| at the succeeding legislative session,
which will probably be the special
session to be called early next year.
The Joint resolution authorizing this
referendum provides that the voters
may express themselves in favor of
either one of three nominating sys-
TENS, to wit, "a preferential primary
system whereby the voters may in
struct their delegates to political
conventions as to their preference
for candidates for office;" second,
"a direct primary law whereby the
voters are to vote directly for the
candidates" or as an alternative,
1.-THE present system of nominating
candidates for state, Congressional
and county Offices" There has been
some criticism of the form in which
this matter is thus submitted, but it
| is hard to see how a three-sided
question, such as this is, could be
! test ought to give as clear an index
as can be obtained any way of the
wishes of the voters.
1t is essential that the subject of
primary changes be fully understood
by the people and that they act up
on it intelligently, if Vermont is to
take advanced ground. To this end
the platform and the public prints
should devote a great deal of atten-
/ ton prior to March meeting to edu-
cational instruction. We propose to
do our part and submit below skel-
eton outline of the chief points for
and against each of the three sys-
TENS proposed, without expressing,
at this time, conclusion.
The Preferential Primary
Fort retains the form of repre-
| sentative nomination, while transfer
ring the substance directly to the
people. 1t keeps the convention as
the party clearing house for the
transaction of all matters of bust
ness. The delegates, elected as at
present, go instructed not only as
to one or two of the principal NOM
nations, but the whole list. These
instructions are the result of a Sc
cret ballot at the primaries wherein
the voters have chance to record
themselves, in favor of any candi-
date. The preferential primary pre-
serves the present idea of proper
tionate representation as between the
several towns. In the event. that no
single candidate for particular place
receives a majority of the instructed
4
ing and determining this fact, is free
by a majority of the delegates, thus
preserving the idea of majority rule,
in SO far as it is reflected IN choice
of delegates.
Against-The preferential primary
is largely an untried idea. as ap-
plied to a whole state. It is scarce
| ly less expensive, and even more
cumbersome, than direct primaries
There might result miscarriage of
the popular verdict through electing
delegates who would not follow
their instructions or would seek
early release from them. In a field
of two or more candidates. none
having a majority of instructed del
egates, the convention would be free
to its own devices and might not
select the party's real choice.
The Direct Primary
For-It gives an absolutely un-
questionable register of the party's
choice for candidates, obtained in
| the most effective manner-the Sc
cret ballot at statewide primaries. 1t
| defeats all the schemes and machin-
atoms of bosses and politicians for
substituting men of their own
choice for those of the people. The
candidates wanted by the rank and
| file of the party, as determined by
free and untrammelled vote, become,
as soon as the ballots are counted,
the nominees of the party.
Against-The direct primary is in
reality a second Cor first) election,
entailing great additional expense,
not only upon the state and towns
in preparation for IL and conducting
it, but, as experience in other states
shows, upon candidates, who are
forced to reach the voters and APP
peal to them directly. An effect of
this is that poor men cannot aspire
to Office. The people are not always
well informed and may choose a per-
sonality that appeals to their fancy
rather than a better man of less at
Effectiveness. The secondary offices
get little attention under direct