Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1914-02-12
WHAT OUR NEIGHBORS SAY.
Tie Sure to Mark Opposite the Second
"Ycs" for Direct Primaries
(From the Montpelier Journall


('rom the Montpelier Journal)
It is timely warning the Burlington
Free Press sounds in relation to the refer.
endum vote to be taken at the city and
town meetings on March next on the
direct primary proposition. The Burling.
ton contemporary points out that the only
hope oppon 'nts have OF defeating the pop.
ular endorsement Of the direct primary Is
based upon the possibility that citizens
VIII split their votes through lack OF care
between the direct primary and thus give
the advantage to the present caucus and
convention system. The danger OF such
an unfortunate result is real and Imminent
and 1t is only through calling public at
tcntion to II that It can be ayerted On
the sample ballots prepared by the score.
tary of state and soon to be posted in the
cities and towns of the State, the prefer
entail primary proposition Is placed arst
ana the direct prin airy proposition second.
II Is plain therefore, that the voter hon
rstIy desiring to support the direct nri-
mary proposition might .asily enough.
through haste or carelessness, put the
cross on mis- ballot against The FIRST yes"
which would mean a vote for the nrefer
entail prima Thus unintentionsllv he
would be aiding toward the defeat OF the
very system Of nomination he desires To
see established here in Vermont. Every
earnest supporter OF the direct primary
should, If he desires his ballot to he count.
ed for and not against that system, take
especial care to put the cross opposite the
second yes"
This Is case in which little denuera-
uon will save the voters from defeating
their own desires and good Intentions.
certainly forcwarned as they will be he.
tween the present time and the av Of ball
lottnr there Lhou'd be few. II any. who
VIII by hasty or haphazard marking Of
their ballots commit the fatal folly OF
helping toward the defeat OF the very
system Of nom!na tions they intend to sup
port and hope O. see established
Aside from thI- danger there is nothing
but a hopeful au.ury for an emphatic en-.
dorsenent of the direct primary at ths
March nee ings. he sentiment OF the
people has been pretty thorouEhlv tested
and 1t Is overwh elmingly in favor OF the
substitution Of direct nominations for pub
lie Offices for the present caucus and con-
vention system with its evils and scandals
Of ring dictaton, the barter and sal. of
delegates to convention and the impudent
houting of the will Of the majority.
The mass Of Nermont's citizens have at
last come to realize that IL they are to
have that control over the selection Of the
men who represent them in the conduct
of the government and In the making Of
tn" law, which is their inalenable right
they must put an end. once and for all to
machine domination They realize. fur
thermore, that the readest and most ef-
fective means Of achieving that end Is ths
establishment of the direct primary sys-
TEN which will mean a return to govern
ment by the people instead Of by selfish
and self-perpetrating coterie Of profess
sonal and practical politicians
1t Is the claim OF those now opposing
openly or secretly the direct primary that
such abuses as are cha rged to the present
caucus and convention system are due to
lack of interest on the part OF the people
and their failure to discharge their politi-
cal duties. II there Is manipulation BY
machines now, they assert, there will ba
ma nipul;.ton under the erect primary
system, for no larger number OF citizen.
will attend than now attend the caucuses
1t is an argument as false as II is fabby
Many honest citizens do not now attend
the caucuses because from sorry expert
ence they have found 1t useless. They
have repeatedly seen the plainly expressed
will Of the majority overridden and unsat-
isfactory. often unfit, men put into public
office through the potency Of machine
When real majority rule is restored as Il
will be by the direct primary, these men
will attend faithfully their duties as citi-
2ens and take their part and assume their
share of responsibility In the selection OF
men who are to carry on the government
and administer its various departments