The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1915-03-18
SHARP TURN
IN SENTIMENT
Small Towns Led to Believe
Primary viii Hurt
Their Interest
PROPOSE RESTRICTION
OF THE PROVISIONS
House Debated the Measure
at Great Length
To-day

4 prospects eHleFldllcu ytStciu"S ~ ''N
passage OF the bill providing for direct
primary with little if any opposition van
ished rapidly this morning and the
House adjourned shortly after noon
without having taken any action on the
BILL and with an amendment pending
offered by Mr.. Brown OF Lunenburg,
which changes materially the bill and
provides only for candidates, state Off
GERS, presidential electors and members
of Congress alone being chosen by the
primary and would leave the present
county conventions in force.
The amendment seemed to strike ia
yorably many members OF the House
and if the bill is passed, ii is safe to
venture an opinion that it will be as
amended.
Mr.. Melendy of Londonderry as on
Wednesday opposed bill on the grounds
Of taking away much power from small
towns and as an additional argument
expressed the belief that the primary
would result in great deal more ex-
pense. Mr. Hapgood of Peru said he
was glad to see the member from Lon
| donderry have the grit to express his
honest opinion and believed there were
others in the House with the same SEN
| timents.
| Mr.. Foster of Calais made a strong
| largument for the bill as being remover
OF boss politics and pointed out per
sonal experience in attending conven-
| tion where he was overruled, and where
the ticket had been arranged before the
convention convened.
Inc discussion Of the primary bill was
about the only business transacted by
the House. but the Senate worked late
to pass upon multitude Of bills. The
| Boston q Maine b. was debated at
length and opposed strongly BY Senator
Smonds and finally ordered to lie.
Primary Bill Discussion.
AT the outset Of the direct primary
bill discussion. Mr.. Melendy of London
derry read figures to show that on the
referendum the majority Of "yes" voters
came from the cities and large towns.
He claimed that the printing of the bal
lots would cost more than $4,000 Tor
state officers, and criticized the arrange
ment OF names on the ballots. lie
thought the small towns would suffer as
result OF the enactment Of this act.
MIR. stone Of Vergennes moved TO
amend BY inserting in section Is pro-
vision that the state shall pay TO town
clerks the sum of 50 for their services.
Mr.. Moore of Barnard opposed the
amendment.
Mr.. Wilson Of Chelsea thought there
was law enough at present to pay town
clerks for their services at primary cleo
tions. He opposed the amendment. He
Thought the member from Londonderry
was in error in his statement regarding
the printing OF ballots. He had consult
ed printers and found that the extra cost
would not b. large on account Of shift
ing Of the order Of names on the ballot.
Mr.. stones amendment was defeated.
Mr.. Spaulding Of Plymouth moved to
amend by inserting in section 6 before
the words notary public the words
atown clerk. and the amendment was
agreed TO. Mr.. Morse Of Hardwick rad
from the Republican platform Of 1914
the plauk declaring In favor Of the en-
aetment Of a direct primary law. As
matter Of personal honesty and party
faith we should pass this bill i Il for
rs after having been elected 70 say 20
the people that they didn't know what
they were voting forf
Mr.. Atwell thought the caucus and
convention system had been condemned
throughout the country. lie thought
such a law was taking the power from
bosses and giving it 20 the people. "
the law doesn't work well i can be
changed in two years He favored The
bin. Mr.. Hapaood thought the system
vas not applicable 90 Vermont He
thought the New Hampshire primary la~
had not worked wcll.
Nj D,meritt 81 DuNbury opposed the
bli and referred 10 bic oath be had tax
IN not 90 pass auy bad measures He
referred % tie cost Of the bfll lie
thought Il would amount az least 90 SIS
600. He thought one party could nom
Inate . weak candidate 0f enothcr party.
Mr. Foster ~ Calais opposed the con
tention system and favored the bill "
4 doesnt work ucll. tuo wears hence
~ VIII smite IL b. the earth.
Mr. Brown of lsuufnhurg thought The
Question lad passed beyond Tire pale Of
faftV PLATFORMS. Un the referendum ~
ant III every l60 voters voted on tli-
erection Hs thought the dntF 81
referendum uas t8 The whole reapie. ~
ilrsurhf tho direct primary was enc ui
ftr esidenrcs 81 political uHrest ard
ffztrria tl.st had apTesrsi during tie
Iasf to n tlIree rears. He thpuglt
thafe si0uid ~ fHsrspns.reuess 80 putsie
a.frinr - existed a. 3sF. rather thar
81 rrrftnrs tHse fIe nogHd e. rmrra
s. rrutffnr that the a.f slsuaia aFrlv
54Ir e. state aHers Tnlted >tates ser
afs rrH rsafrfssffatifHs in IfuErfss. .
ns ftuneff this uas fsr Hnaaeh e. e.
arfH trtsi 81 ths sTstam he'd istr
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