The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1922-03-31

told on the system much as our
present day living tells on ours
1t may be proof that harden
ing of the arteries is disease
of age without too much stress
being laid upon our mode of &C.
cumulating this age. The ancient
Egyptians had hardening of the
arteries, we have hardening OF
the arteries and it will all be the
same in hundred years.
While we think of this repub-
lie as being we'll established, as
a matter of fact, it is still young
enough to be in an experimental
stage. Vermont has somewhat
recently adopted a primary sys-
tenn as against the old conven-
ton system. Here is what the
Miami Herald says of the prim,
airy system which has been in
operation about twenty years in
Florida. Florida in some ways
is comparable to Vermont for
each is one party state and all
the controversies are settled in
the primaries or the convention,
certainly before the voting stage.
The Herald says:
fWan-
ty-one or two years ago, that Florida
adopted the primary system of nom
mating candidates for office, the
state of Minnesota also adopted the
same system. Now the state OF
Minnesota is modifying the primary
system in that state to cure, as far
as possible. the evils that have de-
veloped in the manner of nominating
1t proposes to try out the convention
system in conjunction with the prim-
airy system.
Thinking men in Florida long age
discovered that the primary system
was not all that they had hoped for
when it was adopted. 1t has not
eliminated all the corruption of the
old system and it has introduced
some political methods that have not
been conducive to the peace and
dignity of the state.
A leading editor in Minnesota says
of it, after that state has had the
primary more than twenty years,
that:
When there are many men
seeking the same office, the one
picked is seldom the one best
qualified. We think we are
wonderful democracy, and then
go to work to limit ourselves in
the choide of men for public
office to those who have the
"cheek" to file and pay the fee
necessary. In trying to make our
political system more responsive
to the will of the people, we have
made it a system that is almost
wholly at the mercy of political
ambition. The character of the
officials that the primary sys-
tenn has produced cannot by any@
fair-minded man be said to be
an improvement on that brought
forth by the convention system.
That indictment for the Minnesota
primary holds good for the Florida
primary as all who have taken part
in the elections in this state and OBJ
served the result will testify.
1t is safe to say that in Florida the
primary system has disorganized the
only party that has reason for exist
ing in the state. until it cannot now
be ascertained whether the voter be-
longs to the one or the other. 1t has
utterly failed to prevent the Intrusion
of the members of one party into
the councils Of the other. In fact,
it invites participation in party
primaries by men who do not hold
with the party on state or national
issues. 1t has. with few exception
al cases. failed to bring to the ser
vice of the state or the nation the
best men in any party. Its work
ings have been so repulsive that the
best men in the state will not seek
office. thus depriving the state CT
their services. 1t makes the running
for office so expensive that only men
of more than moderate means can
now expect to receive the suffrage OF
their fellow-voters. 1t limits the
choice of voters to the few men who
offer themselves; the people do not
choose them, they choose themselves.
Men become candidates and receive
recognition through publicity and
not because of their eminent abilities
for office.
The time Is coming when the
people Of Florida will recognize that
the present primary system is not at
all adequate to their political needs
and they will insist on following the
example of Minnesota and other
states in modifying a system that has
made for mediocrity in office rather
than for the lettering of the public
service, without eliminating the cor
ruption that was charged against the
old convention system, which charge
was largely responsible for the adop-
ton of the primary system.
orr INT, AyDmc