The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1914-04-29
DIRECT PRIMAR Y
IS ENDORSED BY
COMMITTEE
Prominent Republicans Attend
Meeting at Burlington
DISCUSS EXTRA SESSION
Committee Appointed 10 Provide for
Elections In Case Primary
Law Is Not Enacted

Burlington. April 2s.-The call o.
the republican state committee
brought together in this city a large
number.-estimated az 200 or more
men who are prominent in the indus
trial. commercial and financial az
fairs OF Vermont.
Candidates were hardly mentioned
but the question OF what Is to be
done by way OF organization TO carry
the party to victory was the main
topic OF conversation. The utmost
good feeling prevailed throughout
the meeting which was held in the
roof garden OF the Hotel Vernon.
Tho object OF the gathering, which
was in compliance to request q
the state committee which desires
suggestions or instruction as to fu-
ture procedure in the method OF OBJ
tanning the ballot in the coming cleo
tions. the voters OF the state having
placed themselves on record at the
recent March meetings as favoring a
direct primary system for which
there is no provision by law at the
present time. was to secure n con
sensus OF opinion.
Il was the sentiment of all present
today that the nominations at the
next elections should be by direct
primary.
The business OF the meeting was
largely a discussion OF whether an
extra session of the Legislature. 10
enact primary law, was advisable
and IL not what means could be de-
vised to secure at the caucuses a d.
rec, expression OF the voters on their
choice of candidates.
The discussion resulted in the
adoption OF several resolutions. One
was to the effect that the governor
in considering the necessity Of call
ing an extra session of the Legisla'
ure give due weight TO the great
need of enacting a direct primary
law.
Another was that the meeting no
quest the state committee 10 carry
out the will of the people TO have a
primary law so far as possible at
the next election.
A third resolution was that COM
mittee OF three be appointed to act
with the state committee in making
provision for a primary at the cleo
ton in the event Of failure to enact
a primary law. This committee is
composed of Hale X Darling OF Chel.
sea, Lieut.. Gov. Frank f. Howe and
Secretary OF State Guy w. Bailey
The discussion was very animated
over the form the resolutions should
take It being the desire not to give
cffense to Gov. Fletcher by appar
entity going on record as debating to
him. w. ]. Bigelow of st. Johnsbury
introduced a resolution that it be the
sense of the meeting that the COVER
nor call an extra session. This. how
ever, was amended. Clarke c. Fits
Brattleboro. introduced a substitute
which was adopted as follows:
Resolved, that in considering the
necessity of calling an extra session
of the Legislature the governor give
due weight to the great necessity of
enacting a direct primary law. the
passage of which the gathering OF
republicans earnestly favors.'
Percival w. Clement of Rutland
asked about the cost of conducting a
primary under the direction of the
state committee. Secretary of State
Guy w. Bailey said it would cost
about as much as an election.
Marshall J. Hapgood Of Peru intro
duced a resolution as follows: RE
solved, that we favor a rigid enforce
ment of our criminal law. 1t was
adopted unanimously.
After the mass meeting the state
committee held q meeting and adopt
ed the following resolution:
Resolved, that the republican
state committee, having in mind the
recent declaration of the voters OF
the state of Vermont in favor of c
direct primary law, hereby pledge
their efforts toward carrying out the
expressed wishes of the people as tc
the manner of the nomination of car
didates, so far as the same may be
done by the committee under exist
ing law or under law which may be
enacted hereafter, and to that enc
the committee urges cooperation o.
all republican voters and especially
of all persons who are, or who here
after may be candidates for nomina
ton by the republican party at the