The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1916-03-04


Cost Refuted.
With the great interest that is be-
ing taken in the liquor issue the Pri-
mary bill before the voters next Tues
day is partially lost sight of though
it is Of equal Importance with any
issue that has been before the voters
OF Vermont in recent years.
In brief the primary question is the
question whether the voters will make
their own selection of candidates or
will send delegates to the state and
district conventions to make the
choice for them.
The points that have been argued
against the primary by E. A. Melendy
OF South Londonderry, and others, re-
fer largely to few things and in
these the actual facts do not bear out
their conclusions. One of their pr.nci-
pal claims is that the primary would
be more expensive than the caucus and
convention system The reverse is
true.
In Vermont at the present time
there are three political parties
which hold caucuses and conventions
There are caueuses to choose dele
gates to the state convention. the
county convention and to nominate
representatives. With the three
parties this means, in large number
OF towns, nine caucuses, three state.
SIX district and forty-two county
conventions. The total cost of these is
much greater than the cost of a pri-
mary which is practically the same as
that of a general election In a pri-
mary all parties participate and make
their nominations at one time.
Of course the cost is differently
distributed. Under a primary law the
state furnishes the ballots and the
towns provide the local election eff
GERS and the place of gathering. Tn
der the caucus and convention svs-
tenn individuals, candidates, and no
ht1eal committees pay the expenses
and too often control the preference of
delegates through paying their ex-
pense IN attending conventions. In
this way the will of the party voters
IS often thwarted as has frequently oe-
CURED in Vermont. Would it not be
far better for the voters to 20 to
their regular voting places and select
their candidates By direct and secret
ballot, without outside influence OF
persuasion? Supporters of the primary
Mr.. Melendv argues that the cost
OF ballots furnished by the state would
be excessive but in this he is mis-
taken as he will learn if he will read
the act carefully. The change in posi-
ton of names refers only to the head
Of the ticket and does not applv to
every town and voting precinct. The
extra cost of this change for the whole
state OF Vermont should not be over
fifty cents instead of three thousand
dollars. which he estimates, apparently
through imperfect knowledge of the
BILL
Should the primary law be accepted
ON March seventh there would be alb
solutely no change in the method of
choosing delegates to the national con
Ventlons. The provisions of the pri-
mary III reference to national candi
dates is merely that the voters NAV
express their preference for the bene-
ut of delegates chosen 20 attend
these conventions. 1t seems to me that
any delegate who honestly desires to
represent his state or district would
be glad of such an expression.
1t IS argued in this connection that
Vermont republicans cannot express
their preference for Hughes. but in
this the situation is no different than
IN nearly every other state of the
Union with the added advantage in
Vermont that a resolution in the con
vention can readily indicate the
choice of that body.
The man who desires to 90 to a
national convention as an uninstruct
ed delegate because he wishes to work
his own viii or put over some schemes
hi m oil II
Is not an honest or representative dele
gate. On the other hand it is perfect
~ proper for man to oppose instruc-
ton when it is not clear what the
choice of the voters may be or when
sentiment has not crystalized to the
point of decision. A candidate for del
egate under this latter condition
would welcome the preference vote
provided by the Vermont primary.
The reason for preferential pri- !
mary instead of primary ma king in
struction positive in the national
campaign is clear to those who have
given thought to the question. A
preferential primary on state matters
would be merely subterfuge be-
cause the Vermont voters have the sole
right to select their own candidates
for state Offices and should have the
privilege. In national matters Yer
mont has only small fraction of the
say in making up national ticket
and must join finally with the dele
gates from forty-seven other states.
For this reason the preference vote
on national candidates is proper and
desirable and would be of more
actual assistance to an honest, right
seeking delegate than would a bind
ing instruction.
Mr.. Melendy instances Pennsylva-
MIA 5 election of Senator Penrose as
proof that the primary does not do
away with political bosses. Friends of
the primary do not claim that it makes
over the voters, merely that it gives
them an opportunity TO do as they
think best. The fact that the Pennsyi-
vania primary selected Penrose as the