New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-01-14
BLACK WIDENS THE BREACH.
HE WILL NOT CONSENT TO PLATT'S
PRIMARY ELECTION BILL.

NO MEASURE CAN GAIN his APPROVAL WHICH
DOES NOT TAKD EFFECT BEFORE NEXT
FALLS ELEcTIoNs-UP-sTATE RE
pUBLICANs WITH HIM.
Albany. Jan 13 (SpeclaD-Governor Black
says he Is determined that II any law is passed
this year for the reform Of political primaries,
1t shall be an honest effort 10 open the doors 10
all voters, that the party rolls shall contain only
the names Of persons entitled to vote. and that
the votes cast shall be fairly counted. He says
he Is also bound that the act passed shall apply
to the election of delegates to the State conven-
tions OF 1898 and its effect not be postponed TO
time when such great office as United States
Senator may be the grand prize behind the con-
test for the Legislature.
There have been several primary reform bills
introduced one by Senator Davis and Assembly
man Hill. embodying the Kentucky registration
system; another by Senator Pavey. also con-
tanning the registration method, and a third by
Senator Brush The bill Of the New-York ma
chine. suggested by Lemuel f. Quigg. and now
supposed to be taking shape in the head or
Edward Lautcrbach. has not yet arrived. The
Qugg bill obviously will not fulfil Governor
Blacks requirements. for II Is to have n pro-
vision that the enrolment shall take place in
December each year. Such enrolment would
not apply to the election Of delegates to the
conventions of 1898
Mr.. Black to-day expressed his dssatisfac-
tion with this feature Of the bill. and plainly in
dicated that measure would receive his ap-
proval which would not go into operation prcvi-
Gus to the election Of delegates to the Republi-
can and Democratic state conventions. The
rural Republicans support Mr.. Black in his at
titude toward the Qugg bill. for they are
heartily sick OF the tricks Of Quigg. Lauterbach
and Plat TO hold fast to the organization Of the
Republican party in the city of New-York.
Governor Black and a large proportion Of the
upstate Republicans keenly desirous Of the
cooperation OF the Republicans who supported
Seth Low for Mayor OF New-York in the cleo
tion Of a Republican State ticket next fall. y
sham primary reform law. they clearly see
would affront this large class. The Qugg bill
in its proposed shape, therefore, is offensive to
them.
An honest Primary Election bill will receive
the support Of many Democrats desirous Of
building up better DeTocratic organization
in New-York City than that controlled by Rich
ard Croker. The primaries OF Tammany Hall
we'll known to be fraudulent Mr.. Croker's
tyrannical course since the election OF Mayor
Van Wyok and the nature OF his appointments
have offended many Democrats. who would
now like TO destroy the unalimity OF the New
York City delegation to the next Democratic
State Convention and prevent Croker from
being the dominating force in the nomination Of
the candidate for Governor
Neither the Democratic machine nor the Re-
publican machine will grant decent primary
law without a struggle. Governor Blacks in
fuence in the Legislature, however, is large
and he has been practical politician in
Rensselaer, County himself he is competent TO
decide on the merits Of the verious primary re-
form bills. The members Of the Legislature are
observing with much interest his various steps
In this matter.