Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1915-02-19

continued from rage TUO)
which this Bill was referred e,ldeay-
ored TO De -osolutely fair and impartial
The hearing was extensively advertised
and held five weeks after the bill was
introduced by Senator Hastings Of AT
droscoESin. E:eIy man in Maiqe had
Al opportunity 10 6e heard IN some way
If there WIS wiie> o!eal demand for
the passage ot II bill. I had no doubt
but NJ p>s7ale would speak up in
meeting, i given the opportunity. That
there IS y" demand. that the people are
not ready FOR the proposed change the
lacW Of interest II the hearing demon
stratol. Only four men wera prese.t,
=" no spoke for the passage o. the bill.
l hardly thought myself justified in sub
s~cribing 10 the faitA which ~a. in them
rather Tell ike standing for this Lay
Of The People fol- the Peop.e and 3! the
People" unit. L had oeen given fai.
AID sufficient test and ne people ay pc
tition or otherwise asked 70: its repeal.
The people nov have the opportunity
oc voting directly :or whom they please.
When tacr. i TO contest for nonnim2-
himself is = good man for the position
Il is no fault o. the Law because votes
are not thrown. l know 0: no objection
TO the present system which does no-
apply II greater degree 10 the caucus
and convention systems. Under the OLD
regime the political boss had powers far
in excess Of his deserts Under the new
regime the people are supreme. the
.-o,it:CaI !os: having been shorn of his
old time prestige Obviously ne is chat
ing under the restraint. He now has
influence only as his ability and stand
ing give him prestige. No one who de-
serves TO be q candidate for any Office
thinks OF abiding by his verdict if i IS
unfavora bic BIT he makes his appeal
directly - the people; if the candidate
has their confidence and respect he is
likely to win. II he has not that conf
Lence and respect he deserves to lose.
Some mean may have sufficient power
to manipulate a convention and in very
care instances a Legislature, but TO
manipulate the entire electorate Is too
big a JOB for any one man, hence the
desire of the old political glory boys
for the repeal of the law.
To admit that the Direct Primary Law
is a failure is admitting that our pres
ent form of government is failure.
It NAV be that the law needs amending;
If so. doctor it. but do not kill it for
you would then go back to the old sys-
tenn with its party boss and its might
before
In behalf of the $4,000 people of the
State of Maine who made the Dlrecl
Primary Law. in behalf of the thou
sands who believe the law has not had
a fair and sufficient trial; in behalf o.
every elector who wants an oppor-
tunity to vote directly for the canal
Date of his party: in behalf OF all
candidates who desire to enter upon
their official duties, unhampered py
any obligation, save his duty TO the
people, l ask you TO sustain our re-
port.
Mr.. FLAHERTY of Cumberland:
Mr.. President: l am in favor of re-
tanning the Direct Primary because 1t
is in line with progressive legislation
and it is in accord with the principles
Of the party which have the honor %
represent in this branch OF the Legs
lature. AS far as I am able to learn
there is no great demand for the re
peal of this measure. and what there
is comes from the professional poll
ticians and bosses who find their &C.
cupation gone, and are anxious to re-
turn to the conditions which CAV
them their political prestige. Hand
picked candidates no longer rule III
Maine, as the people through the Di-
rect Primary have taken matters IN
their own hands, and now say who
they want to vote for, and not have
thrust upon them only such candi-
dates as the bosses and the so-called
party leaders want in Office. The pres
ent Legislature is proof Of the efficacy
and wisdom of the Direct Primary. I
doubt if there ever was Legislature
of this State so free of boss in
fluence as is this one. We are here as
representatives of the people in tho
broadest sense. Nominated by the
people, and elected by the people, We
are answerable only to them, and are
under no obligations to politicians of
high or low degree. In its present
form the Direct Primary may fa;:
short Of perfection. but il is so fa-
superior to the old system, it seems to
me the height Of folly to change to