News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1916-03-01
DIRECT NOMINATIONS
Reasons for Favoring Primary
Elections for Vermont
Editor Ne,cS and Citizen:-

Editor News and Citizen:-
the fight over prohibition and othel
town meeting interests should not caus,
the voters TO forget that the issue
whether or not Vermont is to have s
Primary law is to be decided by the
voters on Tuesday, March 18th
The question before the voters i:
whether or not to accept the provision
of the Primary nominations bill passed
by the legislature last winter with a
referendum clause attached. If the
voters are satisfied with the old system
of nominations by convention they
vote mo" If they are not satisfied
and would like to try the system Of Sc
Letting nominees by direct vote they
should vote yes"
In spite of all that has been said and
written on the question there are still a
good many people who do not under
stand the working of a Primary, law al.
though it Is simple and easily under
stood. In brief it is as follows: Voters,
who desire TO support certain candi-
date for the state office, U. S. Senator,
member of Congress, or county official
can circulate petition asking that the
mans name go on the Primary ballot
1t takes 500 names to get a man S name
onlthe ballot for Governor or other state
Office or for u. S. Senator. For member
of Congress it takes $50 names and for
county office it takes number of names
equal to two DER cent of the vote cast at
the last election.
with the names thus presented by the
voters themselves an election ballot is
made up for the Prims-v election which
is set for the secoad T-es ay in S p
tember
From the names of, red for the vari.
GUS places the vO'' : make Their selec-
lions for each pace aud the man who
Re most vo.os is the noni zee. The
candidates of eac party are III separate
columns Ind the , otter must confine his
marking to the column of enc party or
invalidate his ballot.
The Primary election is held at the
same place and under practically the
same rules as regular election and the
laws regulating regular election apply
to Primary, including penalties for
bribery, intimidation, use of liquor, etc.
In addition the Primary bill also pro-
vides penalty for the voter who solicits
bride or any other thing of value.
1t will be seen that in this way every
y
date for every place on the ticket
Under the caucus and convention sys-
te N the fight in the caucus is almost al
ways over the candidate for Governor or
some other one place on the ticket and
the voters get no chance to express
preference as to the other places. The
Primary gives him q chance for an en-
phatic vote, for or against the man pro-
posed. With all the candidates on the
state, congressional and county ticket
to be considered the interest in the Pri- |
mary is ordinarily much greater than |
in the caucus and in this way a much |
more general expression is secured.
1t is well known thai under the eau |
Gus and convention system the dele. |
gates sent to the state, district and coun-
ty convention, are about the same men |
year after year and some Of them get /
expert in slate making and wire pulling
to secure the nominee they want rather
than the one whom voters would prefer.
Wouldn't it be far better and more sat
to allow all voters to go to /
their regular polling place and register
choice OF candidates as they now go
there for the regular election? Those
who believe this direct vote is best
should vote for the Primary law now
The opponents of the direct Primary
have made the statement that the Pr
mary is more expensive than the caucus
and convention system. This statement
sfincorrect OF the two. the Primary is
less expensive. Most yot-