Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1914-02-12

has been retarded other States for that
are disguised with existing conditions attending
evils will split their vote in the referendum March
tween the direct primary and the preferential primary leaving
margin of advantage for the present delegated caucus sys
TEN.
In order to help the people Of Vermont guard against this
possibility the Free Press has secured from Secretary of State
Guy Bailey sample ballot which is reproduced on another
of this ISSUE marked with the voter should
mark at the polls in order ballot in favor of the
substitution Of direct nominations by the people pres
indirect system through delegates usually adopting go
as-they please" policy of nominations.
These sample ballots with instructions will shortly be
posted under the direction of the secretary of
respective towns but voters should pay particular attention
the fact that the first primary proposition which the careless
voter might naturally mark be skipped entirely and the
cross marked opposite the second Yes directly below the
first
Advices from different sections Of the State Indicate that
public sentiment strongly in favor of the primary and
the idea rapidly growing popular favor Here are some
OF inc considerations VIII cl counting the the
system OF direct nominations by the voters individually:
1t will compel candidates appeal to the intelligence of
the voters themselves directly instead relying local
manipulation to delegates and will tend increase
interest in public questions
1t will thus make necessary candidates to tell the
voters where they stand the leading of the day in
stead Of remaining dumb and indifferent public opinion
1t will thus help to induce 90 to the polls
than does the practice of degatng the duty selecting cam
dldates to others.
It will stop the niqutous practice of buying delegates to
conventions which campaigns has dsgraced Yer
mont
will stop the nsdous practice of paying the expenses
of delegates to conventions who might not sell their
votes directly.
will enable the people vote for their choice for all
positions on the party ticket and not force them remain in
the dark as to where their for all
low the head of the ticket usually the case in the seec
ton OF delegations to nominating conventions.
1t will stop delegations to conventions trading the
man you might want to support for other candidate you
might not support under circumstances since you will
press in the primary your individual choice.
will deprive the political bosses of their chief stock in
trade at political conventions weaken her stronghods"
for conventions will longer nominate your candidates for
1t will consequently strike serious blow at invisible
government by powerful outside interests which largely
dependent for it's upon ability to handle few men
in strategic public places.
will tend to stop powerful from selecting your
candidates for the State Senate and controlling egsla
ton through sixteen men in the Senate
1t will deprive unscrupuous of the advantage thew
often gain in honestly conducted convention for the
people as whole will make the nominations.
By bringing all candidates for public office into direct
touch with the individual voter will that
sense of personal responsibility Of public
crate which the indirect and complicated system opera
ton has so largely destroyed.
1t will help the voters of the smaller towns to make their
influence felt directly their polling places without that
undue and manipulation which enable the large
TO dominate delegations to conventions leaving the small
towns helpless well as voceless.
candidates well policies and thus make it possible to
avoid some of the mistakes which frequently from hasty
and iconsidered action in convention assembled for dav
1t will make possible for the body to which is delegated
the framing OF declaration of principles devote its whole
attention to this one duty and thus elevate the platform the
place shoud occupy as program of service to be faithfully
carried out by those elected to stand thereon public serv
ants.
1t will check the wholesale expenditures of money for cor
rupt purposes, since it is difficult to buy community
than few delegates representing that community in cauclses
elsewhere and the expended be largely devoted 70
campaign literature and public meetings.
Will tend to force political parties conduct their cam
agns open and above board thus promoting that publicity
which the panacea fo many of the ills the BODY pot
cal.
1t will denote" the professional politicians who oves
his advantage over chiefly to his ability to manipulate
caucuses and conventions and participation in politics
more respectable thus inviting the service of some of the
better class who shun caucuees.
1t will make 1t more easy detect expenditures of
large of and through the aid publicity cor
rpt practices legislation the abuse of the ballot box may
be reduced to minimum.
It will bring into play the considerations of segov