New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-11-28
pFF0P,r1y PRJu1RY ELECTIONS.

A thorough reform in the methods at pres
ent followed by the political parties IN TINS
CITY and State in nominating candidates 1Or
Office is one of the crying needs OF the times.
1t will be the duty of the next Legislature 10
pass wholesome primary election law 10
meet this want Happily both parties are
committed to the necessity for such leGisla-
ton. The Republican platform adopted at
Saratoga favors stringent legislation to secure
"the purity and honesty of primary elections,
"tbat all possible safeguards should be thrown
"about these sources of the political action of
"tbe people" The plank in the Democratic
platform in regard to the same subject is less
satisfactory, but it favors "the speedy passage
of general laws providing against fraud ana
intimidation at primary elections"
It is almost hopeless to expect Democratic
LEGISLATURE to pass q satisfactory law on TINS
subject. There is the greater need, therefore,
that it should be agitated, and the members
elect made to realize that the demand
for such legislation is imperative. AS this Is
not party question there ought to be Dem
ocrats enough in the next Legislature, Ike
MIR. Brooks and Mr. Chaplin, who favored
such LEGISLATION in the last one, to JON
with the Republicans and pass satisfac-
tory bill on the subject that will apply to the
whole State. Republican members like General
Sharpe and Mr. Alvord, who declared last
snrlng that they could see no need for such a
law have been left at home. Had such an
act been III force it would not have been III the
mower of Mr. Sharpe's friends, even by fraud
and forgery, to have nominated their ticket
at Saratoga, and this would have spared him
the humiliating defeat that followed his Ell
forts in the State Committee to elect that
ticket.
In speech in support of the bill which he
introduced in the Legislature last winter, Mr.
Brooks said that only 1000 votes were cast
at the Democratic primaries held in this city
in 1881. 1t is we'll known that about the
same number of Republicans do all the voting
in the primaries Of their party. There is
a bond of sympathy and self-interest be-
tween these machines. and when hard pressed
they help each other. In this way both parties
are ruled by mnorites rather than MAORI
ties. The utter failure of the methods now
| followed to express the will of party could
not be more effectually demonstrated than in
| comparison of the result at the Saratoga
Convention with that at the polls on No@ Z.
A primary election law that will secure to all
| the members of party voice Ill the n0ml-
nation OF its candidates. will end the rule of
bosses and machines aud produce har-
mony instead of the dissatisfaction that gen.
orally follows the result Of nominating
conventions as now conducted. With nomina-
tons and elections alike controlled by the peO-
pie and elections held i'll alternate years in
stead OF every year as at present, there would
follow a welcome and beneficial relief to the
public mind. This would also afford many
politicians and taX-eaters an opportunity to
look for other employment, and join the pro-
ducng classes.
The bill introduced by Mr.. Brooks in the
| last Legislature. while open perhaps to
constitutional objections, was nearer approach
to the requirements of primary cleo
ton law than any other bill yet considered
by the Legislature. The Chaplin act, which
applies to the city of Brooklyn alone, has
proved beneficial there. bnt it is wholly made
quate to meet the caucus evils under which we
now suffer. California and Ohio have more
stringent laws and they have had a whole
some effect. There is great need for such leg
isation in this State.