Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-02-24
THE CURTIS BILL

Representative Curtis of Brewer
goes through the Legislative mill the
people Of the State will be afforded
an opportunity to decide between the
present primary law and one with
the notifications proposed.
This bill would provide that the
party caucuses may be held and
nominations made which later
would be submitted to the voters of
the party through the medium of a
selection at the primaries, as now is
done. Any other names could also
and along with the caucus nominees
be submitted at this same primary.
In this there appears no lessening,
rather an extending Of the processes
of selection, the party functioning as
an organization and its members as
Individuals.
g., The present primary law is heauti-
full in theory. but in practice is a
subject of various conclusions. a
cause Of apprehension, a method
which shuts out the candidate of
limited means unlesa willing and
able to secure financial support from
others Anyhow, it has not done all
that which it was to do and it has
done that which no one anticipated it
would do. Under it, Clifford Pinchot,
a man of world wide fame and UNI
improbable integrity, expended a
hundred and twenty-five thousand
dollars to secure the nomination as
Governor in the State of Pennsyl-
vania. How much his successor will
have to spend may not be estimated,
but this much is not open to ques-
ton, he will have to be a rich man
or subject himself to suspicion as
being owned by whomever or what
ever supplies the funds.
There is an abundance of good
material for public service which is
not and will not be available under
the present primary law. There are
many who would like distinction,
who would take pride in public SER
vice, but who either cannot afford to
be candidates or will not under the
exactions of the present primary law
Those who do become candidates
don't have much opportunity or oc-
casion for giving any considerable
amount of heed to their political
party either before or after. The
party habit is strong and many arc
not get weaned but their allegiance
Is decidedly weakened and continu-
ance Of direct primary will inevitably
further weaken it. General Dawes
declares that it is leading us to mob
tyranny and there is plenty of evil
dence from which he may make
good argument.
Whatever of good there may be
derived from party methods in gov
eminent is in a fair way to become
extinct. The blocs and minorities in
legislation recognize no obligation to |
party. Yield to no party discipline. |
Their methods of appeal and sources |
OF strength are comparable with |
those of the leaders of mobs. Their |
to depend on their understanding of I
mob psychology. The possibilities !;
of all this carried to a logical con-
clusion are not pleasant to contcm- |
plate.
How many of Names voters have !
given consideration to these aspects /
of the present primary law may only |
be estimated, as also the opinion
they hold respecting the law. 1t is
generally conceded that many would !
hesitate to return to the old condi- |
tions even If forced to admit they |
were better than what we now have. |
In his commencement address at the |
University of Maine last year, Prcsi- !
dent SillS of BoWdoin college sur- |
GeSted that nominations could be |
made by caucus and convention sys-
TEN with the pro. ision that a pri- |
enary later could be held. The Cur
1is bill complies in the main with |
encse suggestions and offers the OPP |
portunity for What seems to be an |
improvement on the present law |
We use the word SEEMS" thinking
of how the primary law seemed when |
first presented. 1t has not proved to |
be what it seemed All intelligent
people should be aware of that fact. |
They should have a chance to i'm
prove on it if they wish to make the |
effort, as we believe they will when
ever they fully realize all that is in J
volyed. !