New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-02-27
PRIMARY Reform.

Every practical politician DESTROYS OF honest
primaries knows perfectly we'll that no primary
bill is better than bad one. \ law loosely
drawn. with provisions not carefully thought
out 50 that every turn of its operation is fore
seen. might become the OppressOr Of the in
divldual citizen instead Of the guardian Of his
rights 10 voice in the conduct of his party.
just as certain provisions Of the ballot law
\ which il was thought would protect independ-
ent voting have in action made independent
voting almost impossible. II is therefore much
10 be regretted that a disposition seems 10 exist
in certain quarters 10 take snap judgment on
schemes for primary reform and threaten Anti
Machine Republicans with the responsibility for
the failure Of remedial legislation unless they
Immediately give their adhesion 10 some bill
which they have not had time 10 consider in
all It's details. Nobody should be stampeded
by any such fears II the Legislature ad-
journs without passing good primary law Il
will do so on It's own responsible lity and il is
safe 10 assume that il will not adjourn against
the wish Of Governor Black. An honest and
adequate bill would doubtless harmonic all
Republicans by making ii possible for all 10
work in the same organization. and no merely
captiOus spirit should prevent hearty c0-opera
ton 10 devise such measure and carry il into
effect But such cooperation does not mean
blind acceptance of some halfway measure I'M
0er pain of being considered an obStructionist
The Governor himself some weeks ago pub
l!cly assumed the responsibility of seeing that
q proper law was passed. A. that time bills had
been introduced embodyng various schemes of
machine men and reformers. Governor Black
undertook 10 combine their good features and
Of with ,f
various interests secured the agreement Of the
machine men to all Of the points insisted upon
by The independent members Of the Legislature
just then new bill was projected upon the
scene. Mr. Elihu Root and his Union League
Committee after some haSty consultations with
an improvised subcommittee Of the Committee
OF Ffiy-thrce. sen, it to Albany containing pro
visions which were adversely criticised by some
Of the bes,-lnformed students of primary laws.
ard II was at once enthusiastically taken IN
by the machine men. who saw in 1t apparently
less sweeping measure than what they feared
they might be compelled 10 agree to. The ma
chine people Immediately affected 10 believe
that this bill was The perfect flower Of re-
form wisdom. a committee of The new organ
zaton FASTENED 10 confirm the idea and any
body who had the ;emerity 10 question anv
word Of II was frowned on as a dlsturber %
the peace.
The aim OF snch tactics as these is very plain.
~ making the Union League sponsor and the
subcommittee Of the Fifty-three indorsers for a
bill. responsibility for the character OF the meas.
ure shifted from the shoulders OF the law
making powers 10 the club and the sub-co1n.
mlttee and the reformers who were not CON
v!nced were put az a disadvantage as doubt
Ing the work Of their own friends II the
bill failed 10 secure reform support The com
Dine' wond say: You don't know what
you want among yourselves" n II failed
altogether they would say: we should have
passed n good law, but you sent up bill Of
your own and took the matter ia your own
hands" II il gave chances for new appca-
lions Of Cd nachnc methods for the iptrcnch-
mcnt of the old gang they would say: sec.
we give you your OWL way and then you
cant do anything And all these responsi-
sNlliies were to be put upon the Anti-MSohine