Daily Kennebec journal., 1921-12-28

has never been a candidate nomi-
mated by a majority, where there
were more than two candidates. In
the convention form of nomination it
is just the reverse. Mr.. Pattangall
said that he had never known of a
convention at which the nominee
was nominated by plurality, ma
jority being always required.
In the primary method, there is
practically a city control of politics
AS it is harder for the people of the
rural districts to get TO the polls than
for the city resident, larger propor-
ton of the latter vote at the primar-
les and so gain the majority. In the
convention, there is a regular stand
ard that assures the country dis
tricts of equal representation in the
choice of candidate.
In the conventions, the main
thing under consideration has been.
the aims of the candidates, or. what
their attitude on the issues of the
day is. This is not so with the prim-
ary selection. The candidate is Sc
lected for his personality and not his
dliHS. ANoW CT thfs VIC dlC as
the speaker figured, taxed directly
or indirectly to the extent of about
$500 for each family. with this eX-
pense it is necessary to find If the
candidate is capable of distinguish
ing between necessary and unneces-
sary expenses, and what his policy on
this question is. In this manner we
can decide upon the qualifications of
each man for he Office to which he
sible representation.
The problem of personal politics has
another side. In a conventions the men
are ftce to face and the battle. while
heated. does not extend beyond the
hall. Mr.. Pattangall quoted instances
which he had seen in which opposing
candidates went to the platform arm
in arm. Because they are not face to
face the personal part of the campaign,
in a campaign conducted under the
primary law. becomes heated in quite
a different manner, or, to say II in an
other way, mud Singing becomes
a common practice.
Instead of going after the united
party vote on the strength of the is
sues at stake. Is is done in tie con
vention, the primary candidates &C
after different factions such as the
church faction or the labor faction.
This is done by methods which will
appeal to these small factions rather
than to the majority of the parry.
Another thing that Mr.. Pattangall
thought is partly the reSu. of the
primary system is the fact that cor
gress is detnrioratinE as dcliberat-
ing body. This is easily shown by Tho
fact that all bills coming before the
House today are put through on n
regular routine. A cate is SO. for ~, .
vote, so much time is allowed for de-
batting. so much time for mchdment::
and finally tho Sc amendments mus. /"
voted upon at the same time. This
docs not allow imp prtant bills the time
and con nsiderat ton that they should
have and so works hardship upon
the people in the matter of good leg
iSlation.
The last objection is that it actually
helps to put political control into the
hands of the men Of power This i
tie same objection that is made about
the convention system and the'ansvcr
10 this is that in order to elect &
party candidate it is necessary to nom
mate a man who is acceptable to tine
people and will draw the votes. If
it is possible for any one man or a
small group of men to control the
candidate at convention-snd his
is an. extremely hard thing to dot is
ccrfainly easier with the primary, as
there is not that meeting of men who
of the party. which interests are real
ly those of the people. and 50 cam
didate who is not. for some reasons.
the logical man for the Office il pushed
forward and the people have nothing
to do with his nomination.
Previous 10 this interesting talk
the regular business meeting of IN.
lie que was held and the officers for
the ensuing year We're elected. They
are: President. Mrs. Horace Sturgis;
first wee president. Mrs. w. r. Pat
tanGall; second vice president, Mrs.
George Brickett: recording secretary,
Mrs. Rena Foss: corresponding Sc re
tary, Miss Eosamond Connor: treas
urer. Mrs. Orin Frost: auditor, Mrs.
F~T!.inc Noyes.
q