The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1916-05-11
REPUBLICAN STATE COMMITTEE
EXPLAINS NEW PRIMARY
LAW
How Efficient the New Statute May be
Depends Entirely on the Voters
Themselves.

How Efhcient the New Statute May be
Depends Entirely on the Voters
Themselves.
Chelsea, May IA statement issued
to the Republicans of Vermont by
Stanley c. Wilson, chairman of the
State committee, explains the working
machinery Of the new primary law,
and how the voters themselves have il
in their power to make the same most
efficient
The statement follows:
| To the Republicans Of Vermont:
There appears to be so much misun-
derstanding with reference to the APP
plication of the new primary law and
the relation between the primaries,
caucuses and conventions TO be held
next month that the State committee
deem advisable a few suggestions
which are in effect answers to ques-
tions that have already been raised.
The primaries to be held on May l6
are unlike the primaries to be held in
September. The presidential primar-
les to be held in May are preferential
only, thus giving the voters an oppor-
tunity to express their preference for
a candidate for president, but not do
ing away with the customary caucuses
and conventions. Caucuses will be
held as usual at which delegates will
be elected to attend the State conyen-
ton, where the delegates to the ma
tional convention will be elected. One
change, however, should be noted, viz,
that all Of the delegates from Vermont
to the national convention will be
elected at the State convention, in
stead of there being four elected at
such convention and two each at dis
trict conventions in the respective con-
gressiona districts, as heretofore.
The primaries to be held on May is
will be under the State law and in
charge of election officers the same as
at regular election. The caucuses
are purely party affair and held ex-
actly as in former years.
The State primaries TO be held in
September will be direct primaries
and the voters at those primaries will
nominate their candidates for State
and county officers and town represen-
,ative. There will be no caucuses call
I'd for in September, as the State con-
yention for the formation Of a plat
'orm will be then made up of the nom
nees Of the party for State and county
,fiicers and town representatives
the State. Town commit
ees should, therefore, be elected at
he caucuses in May.
The value Of any nominating or
lection machinery depends upon the
ctual use made Of it by the voters
The State committee
tands ready to do anything it may,
onsistent with an impartial attitude,
0 assist the Republican voters and
.epublican committees 10 further the
rue intent Of the primary law by &C.
lring as full vote with as fair an
Spression Of preference for president
) possible on May 10. This commit
e urges that local committees use
ieir efforts to get out the Republican
tiers both 70 the primaries and 10 the
.ucuses which will be held on the
me day, there 70 record their real
ishes. The State committee expects
ter to issue a pamphlet briefly sum-
arizing the law which win bear on
G September nominations and Nov
nber elections. Meanwhile we hope
,al committees will examine publish
copies Of the laws and familarize
emselves with this provision 50 far