New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-09-20


The men who are selected in this way as delegates
to State Convention may be men who could not
have been chosen in their own localities, and who
do not represent the sentiment of the party They
are often men chosen by the managers and ready to
be manipulated by them. The apathy which has
characterized the Republican primaries in many
portions of the State this fall is ascrbed in part to
the feeling of voters that under tins system they
had really little to do with the party legislation,
and they might as well leave the whole matter
alone.
Senator Millers plan for curing these evils. bring
ing fresh blood into the party and fusng all fac
tons together was, roughly outlined to the con-
vention, to enlarge the State Conven ton as to
give, say, every town delegate bringing the con-
venton up to the size of those Massachusetts; to
provide for the election of the delegates by the
direct vote of the people in town meetings or
caucuses and without the interven ton of local con-
ventions at all; and to hold these primaries on the
same day throughout the State according to the
plan which the Pennsylvania Republican Conven-
ton commended to the consideration of their State
Committee. thus giving the primaries much of the
dignity of an election, and rendering it impossible
for local bosses to make the woIk of manipulation
easy by setting district conventions on different
days. they frequently do for that very purpose.
In this way Senator Miller would secure a coDven-
tion of 200, 800, or even 2. 900 men, The people
of every town who had joined in the electIon of a
delegate, instead of having chosen somebody who
chose him, would watch the proceedings of the con-
vention with real personal interest. The result
would arosal to them directly as their own work,
and there could hardly fail to be a quicken
ing of enthusiasm. Under the present system,
Senator Miller declared, majority of the primaries
are not attended bv 10 per cent. nor even by per
cent, of the Republican voters, and the State Con-
venton does not contain one-tenth of per cent of
the voters of the State.
EFFECTS OF THE SPEECH.
The speech not only made a strong impression on
the convention account of the ideas suggested
In it, but seemed to lift Senator Miller into much
higher place as party leader than he had before.
Mr. Miller is no such rhetorician and orator Mr..
Conkling was, and he makes no attempt to domi-
nate his friends. When he comes to convention
it is simply as a delegate from Herkmer, and 1t
would be utterly foreign to all his habits to play the
boss even In small way. whether as
to candidates policies. He goes about
among the other delegates like any Of them. as
he Is; and what infuenc he gains with them Is
through his force of character and the soundness of
his ideas. The contest between this democratic
Senator and Mr.. Conkling. who used to affect the
most OstentatlO secusion at State Conventions
and retreatng within himself in a magnificent man.
ner, would keep trent ng retaners at his door TO
bar out intruders, Is striking enough. SO to-day
was not because of the rhetoric IN which 1t was
clothed, for that was not always of the best, nor
because of bis position, but because 1T was felt
that he struck chord to which there would be
a quick response among the Republican masses.
His friends believe that the speech, made under
the circumstances of today, when most men would
have tmIdly avoided all risk of giving offence by
dealing in gttering generaitIes. was fresh proof
of his natural abilities as a leader and must greatly
strengthen hlm before the people OF the state
The impression made bv the speech was such that.
later in the day, wLon Congressman Skinner
offered a resolution reciting the PRINCIPAL sugges
tions made by Senator Miller, and directing the
State Commltte. to report to the next State Con-
venton plan for carrying them into effect as lar
as possible, enc opposed II, though probably no
one outside of a few of Senator Mlers friends had
any idea at the opening of the session that such
radical reforms in the system OF party machinery
would be much as suggested. much less acted
upon. The recommendation that primaries be beld
every where upon the same day was received with
special applause, seeming TO show that this idea
is already popular.
HOW THE PLATFORM WAS RECEIVED.
The platform was read by MAJOR w. f. Kissct-
bergh, managing editor of The Troy Times, chair
man of the Committee on Resolutions IL attracted
attention by the degree of notice given to questions
affecting corporations and labor. The cordial in
dorsement OF President Arthur moderately ap
plauded The platform was adopted without DIS
sent, but just before the con ventlon adjourned D
" r. Cruger of NewYork SAID that the New-YorK
delegates felt that tho reference 10 reorganization
I'm Nev-York hardly covered the case, aud offered q
resolution directing the Central Committee 10
carry out the plan OF reorganization proposed ny
the Committee OF Eighteen, with such amend
ments As may be deemed advisable by sald Com
mIttoo. This adopted after John +. Brodsky
had explained that its object was 10 avoid all fur.
tber question as TO the authority OF the central
Committee IN the matter. 1t IL understood that
this was done 80 that the Central Committee can
compel Commissioner Msson's district association
TO comply with the plan, which up to this time 1t
has refused TO do.