The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1921-03-24

/ hnE amendments parts OF Wileh W.T.
reported by a majority Of the tw'
-onmatees. An amendment offere'
by Mr. Hadley Of Craftsbury wai
adopted BY a rising vote, 90 to 95
lcspite the opposition Of Mr. Stearns
champion Of the normal school bill
This amendment leaves il optional
with the state board Of education as L
how many pupils shall constitute o
training class.
Until the vote on the Hadley amend
ment the SteaIns forces held together
in about the same proportion as that
I by which the teachers college bill
| (S-44) was rejected
Chase Begins Primary Debate
The debate on the primary repeal
bin was begun when Mr.. Chase OF
Bennington, withdrew his amendment
providing for a referendum. Mr.
Flint Of Mortified was Immediately
recognized and urged the Legislators
to improve the primary law instead of
discarding it,
"The Australian ballot" he said,
"did not prove to be the political
panacea, but who would think of dis
carding it? To repeal the primary
would be distinctly reactionary."
Mr.. Cushman of Rochester, follow
ed, for the repeal of the primary He
said that pure democracy did not ex-
list except in the town meeting.
"When it is undertaken to extend
democracy indefinitely, it is unsafe
and impractical. The ultimate end
Of democracy is seen in Russia" The
speaker favored caucuses and conven-
tions as a means of political education
and based his arguments on plea for
representative government in party
affairs as well as public affairs.
Bailey Defines the Trouble
Mr.. Morrison of Covington, made an
earnest appeal for the law in behalf
of the women and Mr.. Bailey of Col
chester said that the primary was a
sort Of tuberculin test, and that the
trouble was that a number Of well
known politicians had proved to be
"reactors."
"The primary" he continued, 'has
not produced the kind Of candidates
certain gentlemen wanted but if we
let the law remain for two years, with
the women voting, it win be q brave
man who viii undertake its repeal"
NJ. Luce Of Pomfret said the pri-
mary favored a certain element in
every town which was always against
progress
"When this undesirable element" F."
said the speaker, puts up an unde-
sirable enemy, he can be defeated by
the other combining, but at the pri-
mary such a candidate can win out
when there are several other candi1
dates running"
Mr.. Wishart of Barre city referred
TO the attitude of certain interests
higher up in the state government on
this proposed repeal. He paid a high
tribute to woman and said that her
sphere was not limited.
"Why this haste to take away from
our new voters the right to partici-
pate in party primaries" he asked
ave ratified the 10Th amendment by
almost a unanimous vote. Give wom-
en- a square deal. Don't try to legis-
late her out Of her rights"
Mr.. Darling of Chelsea said the bill
restored the caucus convention sys-
TEN, but offered home rule or local
option as to whether each town would
select delegates by caucus or local
primary. He denied that the bill
would disfranehise women, saying
that they would turn out just as
freely to a caucus as TO primary.
He preferred to vote for men that he
knew and trusted, to selecting party
enemies. He said it would be benefe-
ial for the women to meet the men
face 70 face in party councils.
Says Small Towns Oppose II
at is better TO meet the candidate
in a convention" said the speaker,
"than it is TO see their pictures posted
up on every barn and stone wall in the
state. The small towns are vitality in
terested in this bill, and il ia an out
rage and fraud to force the primary
on US when we don't want il. The
system that gave US Abraham Lincoln
Is good enough for me"
M Chase Of Bennington said the
por ee ~ the bin would be a betrayal
Of tbe voters trust. at is their man
dats' he said. "They wrote the law
on ne statute books"
Nr Dorsey Of Rutland called atten-
ton to many defects of the law visible
even . a layman and said il meant
the return Of the slate and beginning
politjcal campaigns in March
Mr. Blood uf West Windsor said The
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