The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1914-02-26

boro and Bellows Falls, that of assist
ant judge of the county court. Gener-
Gus, indeed, of the two large towns to |
allow the other 81 towns one offieel Op.
ponents of the primary may present |
figures and speculate as to results. but
we present facts from actual workings.
Under direct primary all this would
be different. The people would come in
to their own
Direct nominations would better the
public service. Interest in public mat
tiers would be stimulated If the people
had faith their votes would count. The
character Of nominations would be
greatly improved \ man with no con
victions could not win the mass of vot-
ers. The representatives of corpora
tions could not scheme their way into
office. 1t rs always easier to control
the few than the many. Under the
direct primary only men who represent
wholesome principles could be nominal
ed The public official would be
| cmancipated from control by the ma
chine. An official owing his nomina-
ton directly to the people would be
under no obi cation to any one but the
| people as whole.
| 1t would destroy machine politics
| The politicians would be out of Jobs
| 1t has accomplished that in every state
where used. 1t would do the same in
| Vermont, which, more than any other.
now needs to be delivered.
System Plain and Simple.
Direct primaries mean the full car.
| rying out of the scheme of government
| which our fathers conceived when they
founded the republic.
! 1t is plain, simple, practical. If it is
proper to ascertain the will of the peo-
pile as to who shall be elected, it is
surely proper to ascertain the will of
the people as to who shall be selected
to be elected. Heretofore it has been
at caucus time that we have really
elected our officials. because Republi.
can nomination has meant an election
and u select few have nominated The
, adoption of the direct primary means
} the taking away of the privilege of Sc
Letting officials from the politicians
That is why they are all against it
! Heretofore we have gone to the polls
ut election time and ratified what the
politicians have done at caucus time.
The plan is simple because it sub
: stitutes for 2.lU0 caucusses and 60 con
ventions one primary election day fol
the whole state.
With expenditures for campaign pur
poses limited. nominations by use OF
money would be eliminated. Candi.
? dates would stand on their ability. not
their poe textbooks.
Under the present system quite as
many men are traded into Office as are
legitimately nominated through free
: al Df Al 1ota
Larger Participation by Voters
The direct primary results in a urg
+, Cr participation of the voters than has
I the. caucus system. In our state as
| whole less than 10 per cent attend eau
I cusses. The direct primary in various
states has resulted in the casting from
50 per cent TO ga per cent of tn,
| vote east at general elections. In Mis-
r souri, the average has been IS per cent
Fl Wisconsin. 50 per cent; in New Jerse,
go per cent; in Massachusetts fou
: times rs MANY as under the eaueu
4 system. The experience of every stat
is the same. The proposition is s.
self-evident a. to be beyond dispute
Under the direct primary the man o
limited means is not prevented. rs i
The people OF a sovereign state have tn
right to command the services Of thei
o best citizens and not be obliged to sc
q lect officials from those patriots { 4!
- who. on Bonded knee with hat in hant
beg to be honored, men willing I
sacrifice self.respeet for some cheap Of
- fee.
y The direct primary has been success
l. full wherever tried. Ne state or othC
political subdivision which has adopte
= it would discard it,
The nomination OF candidates by d
rect vote is the spirit and life of repr,
Z sentative government. The people hay
been aroused TO the dangers of longe
n continuing the caucus system.
=. At the coming March meeting of til
voters they are confronted with gres
" responsibility They must vote for til
i basic principle of this government {
y ours or. against it.
~ Some of the Objections.
@. 1t is well to consider some of IL
If objections to the direct primary whic
a have been urged.
,u ]. 1t is said Il direct primary simpl
IN means another election. If it is prop,
id to expend money for an election
as ratify the choice of the politicians
caucus time it is surely proper ana ne
30 essary to expend money to get at Il
10. exact will of the people The amour
ed which the state would spend for Il
primary election would not equal on
ld fourth the amount which is expend,
by the people of the state for caucuss
= and. conventions. In the past the pc
ticians have been willing to nomina
4