Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1915-08-04

last legislature is quite large and it
will probably be read by very few
voters. The Rutland Herald has put
together briefly the main features OF
the primary law from which an intelli-
gent opinion can be gained of it's provi
sions. 1t follows:
Undoubtedly not one-ffth of the
voters of the state know what the
direct primary law is, but if that one
fifth should happen to vote for its
adoption and the other four-ffths
neglect to vote, this measure would
be forced upon the state, willy-nilly.
The main provisions of the proposes
primary law are as follows:
Nominations made by petition. 500
signatures for candidate for COVER
nor. United States senator and other
state officer, $50 for representative
of congress, for county officers, not
less than per cent of votes cast at
preceding election. for representatives
to general assembly, not less than
per rent of vote cast;
Fr-s charged, none, any number Of
persons Dejng permitted 10 hie II SLfn
cient signatures are secured;
Expenses to be met from public
treasury;
Plurality vote dominates, tie votes
to be decided by party committees;
Primary held on second Tuesday Of
September, with practically same
machinery as for general election;
Presidential primary in presidential
years, third Tuesday in May;
Publicity of campaign expenses under
penalty of $500 fine;
Fine of 500 for failure of town
clerks to forward returns within two
days;
Fine of 500 for using money, liquor
or anything of value to influence votes
General penalty of $500 for violating
any provision of law;
Party must have polled per cent of
vote for governor at preceding state
election;
Party caucus to nominate if no can
didate files for office of town repre-
sentative. otherwise party committee
fill vacancies;
Act takes effect March 20. 1916, if
majority of ballots cast are YES, or
March 20. 1917, if majority are NO.
There are many other provisions.
covering, in fact, about five columns
of newspaper type, and the chances OF
the average voters reading the act in
detail are practically nil. The theory
of the act is the removal of the con-
troll of DETERMINATIONS from the
power of the party leaders. The
actual effect is to destroy party re-
sonsihility for candidates. as no re
striction is placed on democrats voting
for republican candidates. or vice
versa, for example The expense OF
the primary will be practically the
expense of general election, with ar
additional cost for presidential pri
mary every four years, and al comes
| from the pubic purse The act is
fairly we'll framed for a "wide-open'
primary plan, but it is question il
| Vermont should proceed to saddle upor
| herself the considerable machinery
required for two elections every two
years, or three every four years, wher
all ne essary safeguards again>t manip
ulation of caucuses are provided b!
the present law.
1t will be recalled that the people Of
Vermont voted strongly in. favor of ;
direct primary law at the March tow
meetings in 1914 and that the follow
ing legislature refused to carry GU
the will of the people. Instead. tn
issue was sidestepped and anothe
referendum measure adopted on which
the people will vote again 1t is no
surprising that the Herald should TAX
a position against the adoption of tn
direct primary but there is no reason
to expect that the people have change'
their views from year ago. TIL
direct primary may not be cure TO
all evils but it has been found to be al
improvement over the convention svs
them of making nominations Let tn
discussion be full and unbiased so tina
the people can vote intelligently OF
the question next Manufacturing tol
Clipper.