The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-02-08
HONEST PRIMARY LAWS.
CoMarITTBB OF % HAS NO VIEWS
TO OFFER ON THE sUBJEOT.

mr.. lkenyen IL rec Busy MAKING = New Party-
mr.. Hroeh1eia Was Views, Though. ana
wants q Law That viii Protect Majority
nsuie. - witch re Engages 90 Yield.
When the Committee Of Fiftythrce was
formed last fall Its promoters announced that
they had been led to begin the organization Of
new Republican county body beoause of tho
shortcomings and defects of tho regular Coun-
ty Committee. which, the officers Of the now
movement have frequently declared, was based
on q padded enrolment, and held its power by
means Of improper practices at primaries and
conventions. Moro fault has been found with the
enrolment of the regular Republican machine
in New York county than with any other Of its
alleged defects. Since the Fifty-three began its
work, n movement for primary legislation that
will protect every voter In any party In his rights
has begun. 1t has been supported earnestly by
the officers of the Republican County Commit
tee, and Chairman Quigg himself drew one of
the bills which Is now before tho Judiciary
Committee Of tho Senate in Albany. Tho Com
mittee of Fifty-three has not taken any part In
the movement. and Its attitude on the matter
has been tho subject Of considerable oonJec-
ture.
Mr.. William Houston Kenyon, the Chairman
of the Fifty.three. was asked on Saturday to
give the views of that body on primary lesisla-
ton. Answering Q question, he said that the
subject was ono that had never been brought
action on the question had ever been taken.
For these reasons he declined to talk for publ.
stStemonts which have been issued by the com.
mittee Of which Mr.. Kenyon Is the Chairman
have al dweit on the fact that the movement
and the claim has been put forth repeatedly by
the committee that; 1t was acting, simply in the
according to Mr.. Kenyon and his associates,
wanted a new organization, In which their
has nassau said. was What The Fifty three in to
provide, and beyond doing that 1t had no
R %"s not i Gon a pSosisioSy to s SPEAK k on tSo subject ssSjjs; s of
primary legislation for the committee, nor had
he given sufficient thought to the subject to
yon's remarks was that the. Committee of Fifty.
three was not organized or empowered to act on
matter. ~
No ono was moro active than MI; William
Brookfleld in the organization of the Fifty.three.
Since its beginning he has taken an active in.
tercst In the movement and has called on Gov.
t alsck Mr. H AbIS pooEa to di %ss asked sRs po 9Essssrd si5u 70
tell just what was wanted by him. and his
friends IN the way Of primary legislation. Mr.:
Vas as follows: nA TIC II" - VIC s'''.''l
is needed is a law that will secure honest pri-
maries. and, IL it Is possible, win go to the con.
ventions and make Il, them honest. We 90 not
men, but q law that is made for the people. and
applies with equal force to every member Of all
must provide heavy penalties for violation Of
its provisions, and i must be possible for those
conventions should have the same safeguards
thrown around them that protect the ballot.
how @m su Mi1 q q lavish Should aha be ad drawn y af but t there sas
must be some way of providing Tor the punish
m .n,io OF , dishonesty on ,SSro AZ ! a ,d primary Inn ryyn or at a con CO
man who votes illegally or commits murder;
The law that is needed is mot one that would
is opposed to laws that provide for the punish:
mont of murderers or thieves. Why should
that viii punish dishonesty at primaries or at
conventional l do not know of any honest
man who ydn ID, does frsa An nx honest primary in a5y is sh 1s NJ neG rs
people us an honest election, and my idea is that
to be effective such a law should extend to the
the names Of Others. The law should provide
in a political party who substitutes the name Of
another for that of the elected delegate to a
A a Republican. I am and always have
been ready to bow to the will of the majority, |
put put ! have to been beer. ana "a " di continue ie to to 3 m Sno 81
ty, no matter how it secures its power. My be. |
lief is that If the Republicans OF any section Of
the should be allowed to have it. I am con.
WINGED that Republicans do not want such or
do until a majority so decides. I will not think
so because a minority OF the party seems con-
tent Win Sucn an organization. |
A to the effect on the party of the passage Of
proper primary legislation. think it would
be good. l am not a prophet. All the bills
affecting primaries now in Albany have good
points. 1t seems to me that out of them an
excellent primary law might be made, Ii this
draft a bill which would meet the require
ments Of the situation. Such o bill is the only
that there is any opportunity for the passage
Of an improper bill. Coy. Black wants a good
law. and / do not think that no would sign a bill
which was not a good one. The pas sage of such
a bill and the fulfilling of its requirements
would undoubtedly have a clarifying effect on
tho political atmosphere in this county.
cannot predict whether the two factions Of the
party here will unite or not. ! am neither q |
prophet nor tho son of a prophet. Such a pri-
mary law would unquestionably have n good
effect. Republlcans everywhere. so far as l
know them, are willing to submit to the will
Of the majority of their fellow party men, but
they, strongly object to being ruled by q minor