The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1916-02-19
Representative E. A. Melen.
dy Emphasizes Feature
of Direct Primary
SAYS EXTRA EXPENSE
is TO NO PURPOSE
Doubts that Any More Would Attend
Primaries than Caucuses, and If Not
then All Extra Expense and Bother
Accompanies Nothing.

The Reformer prints herewith the
second communication from Represen.
tative f. A. Melendy of South Lon.
donderry in opposition to the proposed
direct primary law.
Editor of the Reformer:-
Cost of Printing the Ballots Under
the Direct Primary.-If six or eight
candidates for governor YOU must al.
ternate names at the head of tbe ticket
for each town, and each ward in the
city. This also would apply to coun-
ty candidates. Think of the number of
votes that must be printed! A man can
withdraw Il days before primary cleo.
ton, leaving 20 days for printing and
distributing. Each town has to have
a separate printing showing name of
town and, If city, name of ward. See
what extra printing each ward makes,
Names of candidates must be changed
as many times as there are candidates
IN each town and ward. The cost of
printing at the last election was over
500. And the amount for printing
extra ballots required would be sever
al times as much with the number Of
candidatcs,-Wo estimate not less
than $4,000.
1t is fair to estimate that it will
cost at least $4,000 for the election of
state and county officers We are ask.
ed to approve a bill which is irving
to save money, and yet we are acting
on bill which viii probably cost
$4,000 and very likely much more.
and all to no purpose. To all this mus
be added the cost of holding the prI-
marles, for posting notices. paw of
election officers, etc, for the same
machinery must be used as in holdinc
the regular elections This year beina
a presidential year, there would be
two primaries, one in May and one in
September. Should it be necessary at
any time to hold a special election
Tor L. 5 Senator or Representative
IN Congress primary must precede
that election with all the expense con
nected with it.
After all this there still remains the
need OF nominating justices of the
peace in each town
AT each primary the box must be
kept open from noon till o'clock in
the evening; the votes then counted,
the results publicly announced. and
duplicate blanks filed out showing re.
suit of this voting, without anv adj
Journment or intermission whatever.
No wonder then that the provision
IS made for meeting of the town
clerk and others on the following day
to canvass the votes for representa-
tive to the General Assembly.
A fair estimate of the cost of hold
ing each primary, based on the actual
cost of holding recent biennial cleo
tions, in my home town would be at
least $40, and in cities and larger
towns multiply by number of voting
places, and it is fairly open to cues,
ton whether such expense is at all
needed.
If complaint be made that because
Of slim attendance at eaucuses there
have been failures to get the real
voice of the people, pray consider
what assurance or even hope can be
held that any more or greater inter
est will be shown in attending pri-
maries?
If there be no material change in
TINS respect, under the primary. ali
TINS extra expense and bother practi-
caily accomplishes nothing.
EMERY A. MELENDY.
South Londonderry, Feb IS.