The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1914-07-08
The Primary Plan

Elsewhere The Herald publishes il
full the plan for the unofficial or in
fom primary, submitted on Thurs
day to the meeting of state republi
cans and by them recommended to
the state committee. This is done
both as matter OF news and repub.
| llcan duty. although it is with slight
hope that the voters will give the
plan the careful and conscientious
| study it deserves.
This scheme for a "soap-box pri-
| mary has been carefully worked out
by the subcommittee. so carefully
that, with few changes, it would
serve as an excellent groundwork
for a direct primary law. The scrupu
lous fashion in which Messrs. Howe,
Barber and Darling have done their
work must be commended, but the
failure OF the republicans present at
the meeting to appreciate the magni-
tude of the labor it entails is simply
astounding.
Far from being limited, as was
freely stated in the meeting to a few
hundred Of dollars, the plan will
probably entail an expense of thous.
ands If II is carried to a successful
conclusion, TO say nothing of the I'M
and oxacting work which |
1t will demand of the county and |
town committees
Putting in brief form the work |
with which the state committee
seems about TO charge itself, one
must noe the following:
/. Printing of filing blanks and
certificates of nomination;
:. Collecting and checking Of same
md printing of ballots with cards OF
Instructions, circulars. etc. (Candi
lases must also be pledged to abide |
~ RESULT
3. Pc sonal supervision by county
nembers of every town committee in
making arrangements for posting no. |
ices. securing of polling places and
Gliding Of primaries; i
Getting votes out to primaries
hecking voters, listing same, count |
Is ballots, tabulating and certifying | I
nd In most cases collecting retu rs.
Delegates must he pledged to vote 9
IT candidates getting highest vote. a
8. Arranging for state convention. (
citing out decent attendance and
'rtiiyinS to secretary of state; IL
In addition to this, the COMPRESSION | t
district committees and the county | e
must make arrangements | Il
r getting thei' tickets on the state | c
Hot or provide ballots of their own. | e
iiowing up the progress of the pri- | 81
ary exactly as the safe committee II
lst follow M the state ticket. al
Then, after all is ACCOMPLISHED and T
the hands OF the secretary of ; /:
tie. these same commi.te must
)ceed to get their candidates elect |
The latte, in itself may prove q y
/ mans Job. to say nothing of the -
and, with all due re- ~
&C. to the present state committee. .
task seems beyond its proballe ~
ancial or executive power to &c. ~
nplish. IN
here seems It. The Herald no roa. ~
liable warrant Ter this helyy OK. W
lditure Of labor and money. ana -
failure Of the plan would not on ;"
be serious republican misfortune -,
black mark for the primary y,
lch II does not deserve. wi
he Herald is steadfastly opnosed -
IN extra session of the legislature
must recognize that of the TWO
$ an absolutely limited session.
err a signed guarantee to adjourn
N direct primary law had been
rted, might be the less. ter
THIS were decided on. the commit anC
primary plan ought to be careful. ma
evised into a workable statute YIN
lshed for at least two weeks in sun
he state papers and then submit. chi
TO a self-limited session. wb,cb suP
not exceed "A hours for cnac, II
I. chill,
plan like this might very readily turr
al to Governor Fletcher and Tho | Wu
bers of the present Legislature.
tland Herald. -
re f. more catarrh IN this sectio, ~ ~