The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1913-01-02
4 COMMUNICATIONS.
Preble & Robinson's Camp, No 2
Lake Moxie, Maine.
Dec. 16. 1872

DtC. 10,
The Editor of the Independence
ter.
Dear Sir
Please accept my thanks for your
fairness to the Progressive cause in
publishing the letter | recently wrote
| trust you will show the same spirit
of justice by printing this letter in re-
gard to the senatorial situation
A primary is a meeting of the mem
bers of political party at the vari-
Gus voting places to choose the candi-
dates of their party at an election to
be held later. All parties holding
primaries, hold them at the same time
to prevent the primary of one party
from being influenced by the voters of
another; but the primary of each
party is distinct and is Independent
of the primaries of the other parties.
| The Democratic primary ls binding
upon all Democrats, the Republican
primary is binding upon all Republi-
| cans, the Progressive primary Is bind
/ ing upon all Progressives, the Social
list primary is binding upon all So
/ cialists and so on. The rank and file
OF each party have the right to nomin-
ate the candidates of their party. That
Is the principle of the primary. The
primary of one party can not have any
control over the actions of the voters
of another party. Consequently, the
result of the Republican primary can
have no control over the actions of
Progressiyes either in or out of the
! Legislature.
Several sincere people, falling to
realize that the Progressive Party is
distinct organization independent of
all others, have thought differently.
They have failed to see that in claiming
that the Republican primary Is bind
ing upon Progressiyes they are estab-
fishing principle, which if it could
| be adopted, would make it possible for
someone to claim that the Democratic
primary is binding upon Republicans.
! No voter, because he takes part in
the primary of party is compelled to
remain in that party The assumption
that he could be compelled so to re-
main is contrary to every principle of
independent voting. Consequently, no
man is compelled to remain a Repub-
lcan because he took part in the Re-
publican primaries last June.
At the time of the primaries last
June, there was no Progressive Party.
Many of those nominated in the Re-
publican primary were progressive
+ then and believed that progressive
principles would control the future
action of the party. Mr.. Burleigh,
himself, created the impression among
men of progressive convictions that he
was considerably antiTaft and so
secured their support in the primaries.
The events of the summer of 1912 are
now history. The Progressives of
Maine, finding that they could not re-
ceive justice at the hands of the pres
ent Republican Party, met in a con-
Ycntion at Portland on July 81, ap-
pointed a Progressive State Committee
which has been recognized by the State
government, and so organized the Pro-
gressiye Party in Maine. Believing
it to be for the welfare of the people
of Maine they endorsed the candidacy
of Mr.. Haines He and majority of
those on the same ticket with him
! were elected. Then. Mr.. Burleigh, be-
lieying his own election secure, show
ed his true colors, showed that he had
deliberately deceived many of the pro-
gressiyes who once belonged to the
old Republican Party, and showed
that he really belonged to the Cannon