Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1925-01-14
THE DIRECT PRIMARY.
BETTER than Evils of Convention Sys-
tenn, Says Governor.

Better than Evils of Convention Sys-
TEN, Says Governor.
Governor Brewster, in his In
augural address, came out strongly in
defense Of the direct primary He
said:
| Certain incidents of this past year
have brought home very clearly to our
/ people the Indifference that would pc
, generated in our electorate by the
, thought that elections were not hon
estly carried on. AS result OF the
! confusion created by the debauchery OF
I the ballot box, and by an over-generous
participation of members of one party
in the primary of another, a very re-
grettable situation arose.
Those citizens who have opposed the
direct primary almost from its incep-
ton some honestly and some selfshly,
Immediately seized upon the situation
to advance their cause. Both party
platforms two years ago declared for
referendum upon the primary law. MY
exception to that proposal as dele
d
noted at the time. Both party plat
forms failed to include any declaration
for or against the primary law in the
platforms adopted this last spring. al
though the original draft of the re-
publican platform contained plank
calling for a referendum. but this plank
was struck out before the platform was
adopted This might be construed as
declaration in favor of leaving Things
as they are, although it hardly seems to
me such an inference would be war
ranted in so far as the platform Is con-
cerned. 1t would rather seem that each
individual memberof either party in his
official capacity was free to make up
his mind on this question entirely IN
accordance with his own judgment as
to what was best.
In my judgment. the direct primary
has freed us from many of the very
serious evils incident to the convention
system. and the difficulties which 1t has
brought have been far less serious IN
extent. 1t seems to me that you stulti-
~ not merely yourselves. but the peo-
ME of your community who selected
YOU. if you contend that the intelli-
gence or the integrity of our repre-
sentatives has declined because OF the
, voice which the people now generally
| exercise in their selection The women
who have recently entered our electo-
| rate in such numbers, are very potent
influence in the primary, but their in
| huence would be practically negligible
! in a convention. Many citizens of our
State will greatly regret to see their
influence lessened at this time.
Many thoughtful citizens are of the
opinion that it would be wise to give
! the direct primary a fair trial by ap-
propriate changes that shall strength
: en- and enforce certain of it's provisions
| particularly by requiring enrolment IN
' practically all towns throughout the
! State, and by strengthening the pro-
visions to prevent the participation in
I a primary of too recent converts to the
standard of the party they seem to
espouse Otherwise we shall simply re-
ward the corruption that was practced
by certain influences in the recent
primary in this State by taking the
very course that those interests would
most desire if they could have their
way. a new enrolment al ONci lho
State substantially in advance of the
next primary might be warranted to
purge our lists at this time.
From my observation of conditions
over the State it seems to me extreme
1y doubtful whether a sufficient case
has been made out to warrant refer
endum upon this law in the degree of
popular interest that has been shown in
favor of a change. The provisions OF
the constitutional amendment provid-
ing for an initiative will afford ample
means for d referendum upon this
measure whenever a widespread popu-
lar sentiment shall exist in favor of its
repeal Meanwhile, we may perhaps
safely await that demonstration OF
popular interest in this movement and
may address ourselves to strengthening
the provisions of our present law and
to mending the defects in our laws re-
garding registration and enrolment
Several of these were revealed very
clearly in the recent storm through
which we have passed.