Evening star., 1928-03-18
FULLER SEEKS PREFERENTIAL
PRIMARY IN MASSACHUSETTS
Plea for Special Legislation Is Blow at
Buffers Plan for Strictly Un-
pledged Delegation.

with instructions that the voter should
write in his choice.
Massachusetts had the preferential
primary system at one time and gave II
trial. but It proved to be only farce.
In 1912. when candidates were running
for delegates pledged to Taft and To
Roosevelt, the preferential system was
In vogue, and while Roosevelt carried
the State by wide margin. Taft OBJ
tanned most OF the delegates. The
preferential feature was speedily re-
pealcd.
The time for the filing Of nomination
papers by the candidates for delegates
with the secretary Of state expires
Tuesday. The Republican at large
slate headed by Mr.. Butler, Is not OPP
posed. but several battles are shaping
up in various districts where avowcd
Hoover candidates are opposing those
who say they are unpledged and will
not reveal their preference In many
cases. This latter group is believed to
represent the support for Vice President
Dawes.
While the Republican situation is
somewhat confused, the Democrats are
all headed one way. They are all for
Gov. Smith Of New York. and the only
question In the delegate contests is who
is to have the honor of going TO Houston
and voting for him. In most of the
districts a merry scramble for places is
going on. but no opposition has ap-
pearcd to the at large slate Of eight
candidates, although the method OF
the choosing Of these eight has come
in for some sharp criticism.
Slate Is Announced.
Charles r. McGlue. chairman OF the
nSfSnrPattr
the at large slate as follows: United
States Senator David l. Walsh OF Fitch
burg. Former Mayor James NJ. Curley Of
Boston, Gen. Charles II. Cole of Boston.
Joseph B. Ely Of WeStfield. Mrs. Colin
w. Mcdonald of Boston. District At
torney William j. Foley of Boston and
Representative Edward j. Kelley OF
Worcester.
1t has been charged that these
choices were made by Mr.. McGlue and
Charles F. Riordan. treasurer OF the
State committee, without consulting
any of the other committee members
and without asking the committee as n
whole to ratify the selections. as Is
done in some States 1t has been fur
ther charged that by hand picking this
slate some Of the most prominent Demo-
Gratis In the State have been sighted
and considerable resentment has been
aroused.
Whitfield Tuck. who long has been
an ardent worker in the Democratic
ranks has publicly rebuked McGlue
for his action Tuck Is a dry" and he
declares that the entire at large slate
is made up Of "wets," which he declares
to be tactical blunder. He also points
out that while Senator Walsh heads
the Massachusetts slate, both Senators
in New York refused places on the
ticket. stepping aside to give some OF the
brown derby Democrats" a chance
He further states that the woman voters
have not been given a square deal in
that their numbers entitle them to more
than one place out of eight. In this
connection he calls attention that the
Republican big seven" gives three
places to women. adding that ''it is
no wonder the Republicans are making
steady gains among the women voters"
Regardless of the little squabbleS that
are breaking out among the Democrats
the party as a whole Is so solid for
Smith that all differences will be ironed
out when the right time comes. And
If Smith is nominated the party believes
he will sweep Massachusetts, against any
candidate the Republicans can name,
not excepting President Coolidge.
WENDELL d. HOWE.