Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1915-03-06

the standpoint of practical politics.
Mr.. HILL Of Corinth: Mr.. Speaker,
l come here as a representative from
one of the country towns, representing
the farmers in my section and l want
to put myself on record as to the SEN
timent in that section. 1 will say here
today that I think 80 per cent. Of my
constituents and the people in the
surrounding country towns are oppos-
ed to the present primary law. We
used to have, under the old law our,
senators distributed around over the
country: now they are all punched in
the cities that we have in our county.
You can not get the farmers out at
these primary elections; it is impossi-
BILE. In a town where they threw a
hundred votes think there were six
votes thrown on both sides in the last
primary election; you cannot get them
out, and they won't come out; and I
know l am correct when l say that
90 per cent. of the farmers here are
opposed to the present primary law;
and one reason why they have not had
their petitions here is because it was
considered to be a foregone conclusion
that there is so much dissatisfaction
over this law that there would be no
opposition to it's repeal; and when you
look around and see where the Senti-
ment comes from in favor of retaining
this law, it is enough to satisfy every
farmer in this House as to the man
ner in which he should vote today.
CApplause)
Mr.. MCLLIN Of Lincolnville: Mr..
Speaker. 1 will say that 1 know the
primary law has its defects, and per-
haps we ought to have the old eau
Gus system; but I also know that in
the old county of Waldo quite a large
proportion of the county officials are
from the country. They were nominal
ed at the primaries as other officials
are. and elected, some of them in OPP
position to the city candidates; and I
do not think the men from the coun-
try, the farmers, are unfairly dealt
with on account Of the primary law
in our section.
Mr.. WASGATT of Deer Isle: Mr..
Speaker, l come from a county that
is not either blessed or cursed, as the
case may be under this law, with
large cities; and I think that I feel
as most do who have much to do with
the mana cement of the political part
of the matter, that this law to quite an
extent and in many ways works an
evil: but l believe it better to let the
law remain as it is until such time as
the people get their minds made up
about it. l think we had better leave
it as it is.
Mr.. SMITH Of Hampden: Mr.. Speak
last foil in, 70
a portion of the officers went to the
residents of cities: but l have yet to
hear from any one of my constituents
any blame laid upon the direct pri-
mary law, or upon the residents of
those cities who favored their own
townsmen on the ticket. The country
community from which l come blame
themselves for not having attended
; the primary election and securing the
! nomination of such men as they wish
ed to vote for in the September cleo
ton. l think that this matter if left
/ alone, that they will have seen it's evils
I by the time of the next election, par
ticularly if a change in the date of
that election can be had. We have
talked this matter over and it has
! not worked out as we hoped it might:
but if that vote could be taken on the
day of our March meeting, perhaps
some day when it would not require
our especially travelling for that pur-
pose, and taken at a time when near
ly all the people of the town were
present, / think it would work out all
right. We have had so short a trial
Of it that my idea would be, and 1
thjr1LS "a 7 Ri Of
M constituents. that it be lef for a
time as it is.
The SPEAKER: The question before
the House is on the motion of the gen.
tleman from Brewer. Mr. Higgins, to
adopt report 3 of the committee on le-
gal affairs, reporting Ought not to pass"
on bill, An Act to repeal Chapter 221 of
the Public Laws of the year 1913 enti-
tied IAN Act to provide for nomination
of candidate of political parties by pri-
mary elections and amendments there
to- Upon this motion the yeas and nays
have been called.
A sufficient number having arisen,
The yeas and nays were ordered
The SPEAKER: All those who are in
favor of concurring with the Senate in
the adoption of report B on this bill to
repeal the primary law, the report be-
ing Ought not to pass,' will vote yes
when their names are called; all those
who are opposed to the adoption of that
report will vote no. The clerk will call
the rail-.
YEA-Albert. Allen, Ames, Ballard
Beal, Benn. Besse. Bourque, Bragdon
Drawn, Brown of New Sharon. Bussey
Campbell. Carson Chaplin. Chamberlin,
Clement, Cobb. Coffin, Comedian, Con-
nors, Corlss, Currier, Danforth, Desco-
teaux. Dilling, Drapeau. Durgain, Dut-
ton. Ellis, Evans, Fay, Ford. Fossett
Gala CHER. Gerrish, Goidthwait Gooding
/ Goodwin. Gould, Grant, Creation, Green
law, Greenleaf. Haraden, Harper, Hart
Haskell. Higgins, Hobbs. Hodgkins, Holt
of Gouldsboro. Holt of Skowhegan, Jane
son, Jordan. Lewis, Lombard. Lord, Max
we'll. McIntire. Mckinley. Michaud
Mitchell Morrison. Mullin. Nicholas
Moves, Peabbles, Perham, Peterson
Pierce of Pennington, Plummer, Ran
ney, Kicker. Roberts. Russell of Alfred
Ryder. st. Clair of Calais, st. Clair of
Rockland, Smith, Snow, Tabbutt
Thombs, Tobey. Towle, Turner. futile
Narney. Ward. Wasgatt, Washburn, Wa
terhouse, Watts. WEIGH. Wescott, WISE
Wyman-9,.
NAY-Blake of New Gloucester, Brann,
Brown of Auburn, Chadbourne, Clifford
Colcord, Douglass. Drummond. Edwards
Erskine. Hanson of Saco, Hill. Law
renee Libby. Littlefie!d, McCurdy. Mea-