Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1925-02-10
THE PRIMARY

I THE PRIMARY
This Legislature must consider
several serious problems. Among
them all we believe there is none Of
graver import than that pertaining
to the direct primary law. Its i'm
portance is not to the immediate fu-
ture alone. What Maine does will
exert an influence by no means con-
fined within the States limits.
The way the situation is shaping
up it is expected there will be suffi-
cient petitions to require the Legis-
lature to submit the question to a
referendum. How shall the question
be submitted to secure proper con-
sideration Of the issues involved?
Furthermore it will be possible for
the Legislature on its own account
to remedy what nearly all recognize
to be defects in the present law. It
would seem under obligation to pre-
vent, in so far as able. the recurrence
Of iniquities experienced in the last
primary election.
The Legislature has before it two
bills Of prominence. ono to repeal
the law and return to the old con-
vention system with certain safe
guards about the caucuses; the other
would return to the convention sys-
tenn with a proviso that a candidate
defeated in the convention might ap-
peal to a direct primary. If his ap-
peal should be supported by is per
cent Of the voters in his district.
Some argue this is too large. On the
other hand it should be large enough
to prevent filibustering. It is easy
to foresee that not all will be salts
fed whatever be done. On the other
hand partisanship appears to be alb
sent from the controversy and the
recognition Of faults in both the old
and the new is quite general. Know
ing these facts there should be unit
ed effort in finding some method that
would be an improvement on the
present one.
Unmistakably there is widespread
interest in this problem. There
should be. The recent largely at
tended hearing is significant Of that
interest. And yet. from the incep-
ton Of the law. there has not been
enough Of interest in it displayed at
tho polls to prevent it being used as
4 sort Of Jimmy" with which a min
GRITTY might. if it chose. burglarize
the suffrage. Women as we'll as men
are waking up to this: are enough
OF them awake? Those who are
have been considering and compar-
ing what has been done under the
primary with what was done under
the old convention system. They see
that there were Objectionable fea-
lures in the old system but they are
beginning to believe there were not
as many as exist under the present
arrangement.
The primary favors the city at the
expense Of the town: favors the
candidate whose name begins with
an A and so stands at the head
OF the list and is unfavorable to
the candidate at the bottom If his
name begins with q. It is costly and
cumbersome. 1t does not insure a
greater vote and interest. which
were predicted for it when it was
introduced. 1t favors the self-seeker
with plenty Of money. or a group
with a political ak to grind. 1t dis
courages persons Of limited means
and those not disposed to blow their
own horn. from entering the lists.
One Of the gravest charges which
may be brought against it is. briefly,
that 1t encourages departure from
the principles of a republic with two
great opposing political parties. and
stimulates a trend toward democracy
manipulated by blocs. each with a
personal ambition or a group hobby
for its nucleus. and so puts effective
results at the mercy Of group Jock
eying. II followed to it's logical re-
suit it would establish in this coun-
try all the evils Of bloc politics which
already are discouraging belief in
democracy among foreign peoples
and In Italy and Spain have resulted
in dictatorship. After Dictatorship
what? That question will eventually
have to be answered in those coun-
tries, probably in all countries that
become debilitated by group graft,
group buccaneering, insisting upon
payment Of tribute or on the adop-
lion OF some group notion, each paw
inx its political debts out of the
treasury Of the country by way of
government Jobs.
The United States Government at
tained its eminence under the two
party system. Is it to be made an
incubator Of dickering groups? This
Congress has afforded us foretaste
OF what to expect along that line.
1t recognized no party responsibility.
In short no responsibility except to
Its group support. The people have
manifested their, disgust with the
situation. but party discipline is not
restored. group ambitions are yet
scheming. Those that might not Jar
me management Of a party machine