Oxford Democrat., 1916-05-16
The Coming Primary Election.

Although it 10 still some weeks TO the
date of the primary election, 1t is well to
be reminded that such an event is COM
ing. On the use that Is made Of the op-
portunity to vote at that election this
year, the existence Of the primary may
depend.
The primary election Is for the choice
OF candidates of the several political par
ties, TO be voted for at the state election
in September, and IL takes the place of
the conventions of delegates formerly
held for that purpose. Because so many
of the people felt that they had no real
part In the choice of csndidates-that
both caucusss and conventions were
manipulated by the "bosses" Of greater
or less degree-there was undoubtedly q
demand for the direct primary, where
every member of q political party may
register his choice directly.
But during the few years that the pri-
mary election has been In existence, 1t
has been used but little. The number
of voters who 60 to the polls and partic-
ipate In the choice of candidates has been
hardly If any more than the number who
will attend the party caucuses for the
choice of delegates when there 10 no con-
test and only q psrfunctory interest In
the result. This was particularly notice
able In the case of the Republican candi
dates In 1914. With conditions such
that the candidates were known to have
little chance Of winning, there were few
contests, and only beggarly fraction of
the voters of the party took the trouble
to 90 up stairs to vote at the primary
election.
Az an institution the direct primary
has never been In universal favor. Some
have been strenuously opposed to 1t, and
others mildly, from the beginning.
Others have believed In the principle of
it, but have wished to test Its actual op-
GRAFTON before declaring unqualifiedly In
It's favor. An attempt which failed was
made in the last legislature to repeal it
and re-estsblish the convention system.
II In the coming primary election the
voters make good use Of their opportuni-
ty, and q representative vote is cast, it
win tend to maintain the direct primary
rs part of our political system. On the
other hand, IL the voters are Indifferent
and manifest no particular interest, the
movement for repeal of the primary law
will receive Q strong impetus.
One change in the law was made by
the last legislature. In the original law
there had been two separate sets Of hours
for the polls to open, In the larger and
smaller places respectively. The change
makes the same hours for all cities and
towns-from II O'Clock noon till O'Clock
In the evening. These hours will give
an opportunity for those who do not
care to leave their work during the day
to cast their vote In the evening, and
should increase considerably the number
voting.
The list of candidates who have filed
nomination papers and whose names
will be printed on the ballots In Oxford
County has already been published In
the Democrat. 1t should be under
stood that no voter 10 obliged to vote for
any one of these candidates. He may
fill In any other name he wishes, and
vote for any person who 10 eligible for
any Office on the list.
While there are few contests In the
other parties, there is good list OF Re-
publican candidates, and contests for
nearly all the offices to be filled. 1t is
mp to the voters to make their choice at
the primary election.