The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1914-05-07
THE PRIMARY SITUATION

Inc montpelier journal aHeCts 10
very much disappointed at the actiC
taken by the Republicans at their r,
cent mass meeting in Burlington an
it undertakes 10 belittle the attcmI
that was originated there TO Great
some machinery, either official or uI
official whereby the desire Of the pee
pie for direct primary, expressed $
strongly at the March referendum
might be gratifed. Says the eonten
porary, "Mhat the committee propose
is preferential primary which woul
be equivalent 10 and no different fror
the old time caucus to be later follow
ed by a convention, This would sim
ply mean a repetition of old abuse
that have caused revolt and lead L
the emphatic demand for the direc
primary"
This is somewhat sudden intelli
genco. The committee has as ye
made no report; has as yet had n,
time in which even superticially 4
survey the field. Yet the eontempofar,
is in all haste TO condemn, so hasty
in fact, that one wonders what tn,
moving power is. The status Of thii
matter is TO be found out, not in tn,
Journals sage observations, but rather
in the resolutions adopted at the Bur.
lington conference. The first resolu.
ton may rightfully be considered as q
diplomatic hint to Governor Fletcher
and reads as follows.
Resolved, That in considering the
necessity of calling an extra session OF
Che legislature the governor give due
weight to the great necessity of en-
acting a direct primary law, the pass
ing OF which this gathering of Repub-
licans earnestly favors."
The minute that resolution was
passed, just so soon had the Republi-
can party, insofar as il was represent
ed at the meeting, demonstrated its
desire to keep faith with the people
and bring about the change which the
electorate so earnestly desires. II had
done all that it could do to induce the
one man who can make it possible for
the people to secure a direct primary
aw, to set the necessary machinery
IN notion Ii had done enough then
and there to justify itself and its po-
sition, and possibly realization of
this, coupled with certain connections
with which il is credited moves the
contemporary to kick as much dust
over the real trail as it possibly can.
But the Republicans went even
further Perhaps they were afraid
that the peoples desire for a direct
primary law would not be granted
that the one man who can open the
way would not feel inclined to say the
word Whatever the moving power
was, the Republicans took it upon
themselves to create what would be
lacking in case legislative action was
not forthcoming. They would provide,
rs well as they might in an unofficial
way some method approximating the
llrect primary plan as nearly as posi-
Die, and to this end the following
resolution was adopted.
Resolved, That the meeting here
present request the Republican state
to carry out the will of the
people to have primary law and ap-
ply the same so far as practical, to the
next general election"
Could anything more than this be
lsked by any reasoning man? What |
possible criticism can The journal find |
n that declaration? None, The Mes
ienger will answer, If justice Is TO
prevail in the consideration. Acting
lpon this resolution, the state com |
nittee adopted these two resolutions
Resolved, That the Republican
tate committee having in mind the
'ecent declaration of the voters of the
tate of Vermont in favor Of direct
law, hereby pledge their
'Horts toward carrying out the ex-
PRESSED wishes of the people as to the
manner Of the nomination of candi-
lates so far as the same may be done
" the committee under existing law
n under law which may be enacted
hereafter and to that end the commit
zee urge cooperation of all Republ- |
an voters and especially of ali per
ons who are or who hereafter NAV
e candidates for nomination by the
republican party at the approaching
and be ii further
Resolved, That subcommittee
! three members be appointed by the
hair TO work in conjunction with a
peclal committee already selected by
mass meeting Of representative Re
'nblicans this day TO devise plans for
the above purpose and
9, report with recommendation at
ubsequent meeting Of the committee"
That Is the status Of the matter, de
plte The Journals protest TO the con
rary. II is all too early TO say that
he committee has not provided "rea
But what does the CON
emporary expect? Does IL imagine
hat the state committee can do tho
'ork Of the legislature and furnish
cal primary law? Surely such be.
ef would be absurd. Governor
letcher plus the legislature spells
rect primaries. And even the lepis-
lture must be left out of the equation
ntil Governor Fletcher gives il an
pportunity 10 obey the peoples man
ate. lie alone can say the word. and
. torrent Of words can offace that
aid, glaring truth.
The Journal says that there Is a way
~ Of u even II the legislature is moi
llieh IN extra session "by the EN-.
oyment OF the means already avail
Die for direct nominations by nett
On" This Is the alternative. But h
IN reality an alternative? 4? Ought
e state committee TO cast aside its
an TO create some artificial machin
y and adopt the nomination by peti
IN plang
such a suggestion will not bear
alysis. Under the petition plnp
DO not carry the party
me. Does the contemporary sagges,
seriousness that Republicans. Dem.
rats, PfoRressiyes, Pr0hibiiionists.
q Socialists, eliminate themsclyes
organic entities just for the sake
supplying q substitute for sone-
lng that can ard ought 70 be sun
ed only by legislative enactment
y the contemporary ever before
opposed such thing In the years
zen the primary WAS wanted but not
intea Must mt bffs Of these
ftics disassoeiate themselves from
~ Organization Does The journal
NY and honestly advise the creation
= political hash and the ioosening