Evening star., 1928-03-18
sc.ctsl Dispatch to The Star.

|
BOSTON, March i7.--With the presi-
dental primaries in Massachusetts only
J month away. Gov, Fuller has sent 4
special message to the LEGISLATURE ask
/ ing for immediate legislation to permit
! the voters of the State to express di-
rectly their preference for President
If such legislation is enacted, 1t will de-
| feat plans of the administration leaders
headed by Chairman WilliSm M Butler
! Of the Republican national committee
| for strictly unpledeed delegation from
| Massachusetts, to the Kansas City con-
vention. as the delegates would be
morally bound to respect the ma ajority
choice of the voters,
The rank and file of the member
ship Of the political parties have little
or no part in the selection of their
party candidate for the presidency" de-
clarcd the governor in his message.
They have no part directly for the
| selection is made for him by delegates.
They have part indirectly only to such
extent as the votes of the delegates may
| perchance reflect Their preference.
! Under the present law. unless dele
! gate declares his preference or a presi-
| Dental candidate has permitted the use
of this name, the voter has no oppor-
tunity Of expressing his choice. Legis-
lation that provided such an oppor-
tunity would be in accord with the prin-
| ciple Of the public opinion act which
has obtained In Massachusetts, for many
/ years"
Politicians Puzzled.
! Politicians generally are somewhat at
/ a loss to understand just what the gov
ernor is driving at. He has expressed
i himself as favoring the nomination of
/ Herbert Hoover. although there is 4
movement under way among number
Of candidates for delegates to vote for
Fuller as a favorite son candidate. The
governor refused TO head the at large
delegation known as the big seven
selected by the Republican leaders.
In public speeches he has declared
that the voters should demand to know
| in advance who the candidates for
delegates intend to vote for before elect
ing them,
John Richardson of the law firm OF
Ropes. Gray. Boyden &, Perkins. an in
! innate friend Of the Secretary OF CON-
merce and who is looking after Mr..
Hoover's interests in Marrachusetts
states that he believes the governor S
action constitutes the most significant
step that has been taken in the State
since the governor firSt announced nIm-
self for Hoover Mr.. Richardson, along
with other Hoover supporters. would
welcome a Statewide vote on their cam
didate. believing that he would sweep
Massachusetts, by about eight TO one.
This feeling on their part. however,
/ does not take into account the possi-
| bility of a Fuller for President move
being launched throughout the State
Just before the primaries, not by the
governors friends. perhaps. but by those
, who are opposed to Hoover and who
would seek this means to prevent him
from amy overwhelming victory in
Massachusetts. with whatever effect
/. such a vote would have throughout the
country coming from President Cool
idge's home state.
Asked for Purpose.
The governor was asked just what he
had in mind after he sent his special
message to the Legislature. He said he
did not believe in the so-called prefer
ential primary for the presidency as 1t
formerly existed in many States and
still exists in some States, where the
names of the candidates who will give
their assent would be printed on the
ballot He said his plan was to leave
a blank space on the ballot, together