Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1916-02-10
WHAT OUR NE|GHpORS SAY
The Direct Nomination system WIN lie
Found Easy by Vermont
Voters.
uron the Vermont Triouucl

"What arc the people Of Vermont going
10 do with the two referendum propos,
'ions. tho primary aud Statewide prohi-
hitiou?" was Il question put some time
ago to n gentleman who is close OBJ
server Of affairs in this state
II believe they arc going to adopt them
both" was the reply.
The latter proposition is being pretty
thoroughly discussed just now. Tho first
named is not being held up in the lime
light to as great an extent, hut its i'm
portancc must not he overlooked.
What is this direct primary, as to the
deaira bility Of which he voters arc to
express an opinion next month" 1t is u
substitution of the direct uhat is. straight
from the people, for the indirect Ohat is.
around by way of delegate nvcntiong,
method Of nomination. The direct pri-
mary goes further than the ordinary eau
Gus or primary and it is we'll not 10 con-
found the two.
How does the direct primary work? a
person who desires to become the uandi-
date of his party for Office is required to
secure certain number of signatures TO
n petition the number increasing with the
importance of the Office sought--tho re-
CURED number varying widely. When n
petition with the necessary sigma lures IS
filed with tho proper official, that assures
the candidate that his name will appear
on tho official primary election ballot. on
tho day of tho primary the voter is hand
cd the ballot of his party and he casts his
vote for his choice
Should the voters of the State. at the
March meetings. adopt the principle Of
direct primary elections, ii would remain
10 those who framed the law to decide
which form to adopt-wheth her the open"
primary (wherein n voter may vote for
the candidates for nomination Of any
party or the closed" primary (wherein
participation is limited to members of the
party who have been previously enrolled
who have complied with some sort of
test of party allegiance
In its most extended application the di-
rect primary system is made to cover
nominations for local and county officers
all State officers. and representatives, and
frequently senator's. in Congress This is
called a Statewide direct primary, and
now exists in a majority of the states
1t looks easy doesn't it, both for candi-
dates and voters. It is.
It has a direct, representative color
hasn't it? Rather moro direct, rather
more representative. than the convention
method.
The law passed at tho last session Of
the Legislature, on which the voters are
called upon to act. provides the necessary
machinery for the new system in case the
popular verdict is in its favor. and the
provisions Of that law include safeguards
looking directly toward the interests of
tho people and the prevention OF corrupt
practices.
The law wa enacted in response to an
evident call for tho primary system. lis
friends believe that such a system will
hiring the people nearer to the government
and the government thus nearer TO the
people. Vermont has nothing to lose, and
lot to gain, by tho esta blishment Of a
closer relation between these two. and
she can afford to give the proposed new
departure in elections fair trial. There
is abundant testimony thai it has worked
well elsewhere