The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1914-07-15
The informal Primary

opposition to the informal primary.
Part of this is sincere and to be re
garded. Part is insincere and de-
serves TO, be dis:egarded. For So
called Republicans who have been
bowling themselves hoarse in favor
of the direct primary and condem-
ming to the bottomless pit any mem
Der Of the party who had the Slight
est misgivngs in, the matter-for
these, we say. to turn now and with
out being able to make single well
grounded cpLlcism OF the plan offered
save that. il wasn't framed by them
selves or under their auspices, is so
absolutely spleenish as not to be
worthy of moments attention by the
state committee, who have the. final
determination of the matter, Ran
dolph Herald and News.
1t is difficult, indeed, to see where
in The Republican state committee
can be criticised for the attempt il
has made TO give the people of Ves-
mont primary with which to do bust
ness this fail II may be that the
Han now formulated is not what we
all nigh. desire, but in Judging Of an
act or thing, one must take into con
federation tho conditions that actual.
ly exist and have their impelling in
tiuence. In the matter OF construct
ing an informal primary plan the cor
ditions aee far from being ideal. As
matter of fact there should be no
call for anything but a legal primary
under state laws and state sanction,
No party should have been called W
on to provide a makeshift Primar-
les and elections are ordinarily and
properly to be. carried out in accord
ance with the provision of laws that
actually exist on the statute book.
But this was a matter over which
the Republican party had No control
Nothing the state committee might
do could bsing about the proper
measure. True. it might suggest, i.
might advise; and all this it did. The
state committee had no desire to
take up this matter of primary, for
! recognized that ii was function
that ordinarily was outside OF its
province
But the committee was confronted
by condition. not by theo,y, Here
was the state declaring emphatically
Tor n direct primary. The committee
HaciFn1 that tho NnfaA Of ~ l..
should be heard. There was a period
of waiting and lis ening for the call
which would give the people what
they wanted. The waiting was in
vain. Time was quickly slipping by
and If there was to me any action II
must be taken at once. Il was taken.
and the result is the plan that has
been recently given to the public.
The plan, with It's merits and de.
fccts. for nnqaestionably it has both,
is just what it represents itself to be.
The Messenger has absolutely no
doubt but that il Is an honest attempt
TO do the very best that could be
done under the conditions. and il
must be borne in mind that the con-
ditions were far from ideal.
Now 1t is possible that ouble
might arise from its use Il there
were disposition TO make trouble
II has none OF the sanction OF law,
and there is nothing legally binding
in It's provisions. But 1t does serve
notice on the state OF Vermont that
The Republican party stands ready
and anxious to obey the mandate of
tho People
The success or failu OF the plan
depends in large measure. perhaps
entirely. on the spirit in which 1t is
used. There is question OF expense
which may or may not be Important
iieutenant-Goyernor Howe. s.rong
y 'imary, advocate, says that the ex-
pense need worry no one. There may
be other features that cause concern.
But what if there are? There is no
pretense that II is hole proof and that
1t is perfect. The thing TO remember
is that 1t is an honest attempt on the
part Of The Republican party to do
what II considers It's duty to the cleo.
torate. There is little gtacc i'm con.
demning an act thai is ct on,r hon.
es' and well intcntioned.-St Alhars
Mrrcenvar