New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-03-21
PLATT MACHINES PERIL.
BLIND FOLLY OF THE LEADERS DIS
CLOSED AT ALBANY
MEETING DEFEAT AFTER DEFEAT IN RURAL
COUNTIES THEY Still. SHOW NO WILL
INGNEss TO EXTEND HONEST PRI-
MARES TO THE DIsAF-


FECTED VOTERS
Albany. March 20 (SpeclaD.-The Primary Re-
form bill is now in printed form and probably
on Tuesday will be taken up In the Senate for
discussion. 1t is believed to be satisfactory to
most OF the Republican members Of the Legis-
lature as well as to Governor Black. There is
a rumor that the Tammany Senator'S and AS
semblymen may vote for It for two reasons
first. that they know the Republican majority
has the votes to pass Il: and, second because OF
the patronage. amounting to S3OOUo yearly.
which will come to the Tammany haders in
New-York City through the authority given to
appoint election inspectors who will act a. the
primaries.
Senator Elon r. Brown. OF watertown. will
probably offer amendment to the bill au-
thorzing county committees 10 establish sys-
TEN OF enrolment Of voters II they 50 desire
The only thing we suffer from at our primaries
in jefferson County" ne said few days ago
is the numbers Of Democrats who in times Of
excitement among Republicans vote al Repuoli-
can primaries If there is hot contest between
two Republicans who are seeking to get nomi-
nation Democratic voters are induced by
potent argument to attend the primaries. The
r.nraff OF towns also. floats about from primary
10 primary Naturally. the Republican who is
seeking nomination feels aggrieved II he is
beaten out Of it by the voters of another party.
and there Is great ill-feeng. Without an en-
rolment you cannot check this practice"
Thus far the leaders Of the Republican ma
chine have shown no willingness 10 make this
concession 70 reform the rural primaries. and
yet there are signs OF just great a revolt in
the rural counties Of the State against that ma
chine as in the cities. Elections were held in
about n dozen counties lasr week, and there was
one characteristic which general. namely,
the peoples tickets" Peoples tickets are
shields behind which Democratic or Republican
voters may act against the machines Of Their
parties With revolt among the Republican
voters Of the rural counties of the State well
as in the cities. it would seem that the leaders
would welcome such an amendment to the
Primary bill as that proposed by Senator Brown.
While mandatory clause might not be
ceptable 70 the machine a permissive clause
should be. The county and city elections have
been steadily against the Republican machine.
Its leaders, therefore. have abundant warning
that they will need every vote for the Republi-
candidates they can possibly gain next
fall
one hears row and then OF late rather
markahe statement coming from Republican
ernor' they say. is nice man. but IL is pity
he is unavailable as = candidate this year" Then
there follows q statement that after Mr.. Black
has acted on the thirty day bills and thus used
up his authority. the party leaders would bet
ter look about 70: some other candidate FOR
Governor These statements plainly not
made out OF any dislike Of Mr. Black. but are
simply an indication Of the politicians opinion
that stormy times ahead for the Repub-
lean machine. and great precautioa Will have TO
be taken in the management Of the campaign.
The steady Republican loss at the elections OF
Supervisors in about forty counties has made a
great impression on the average Republican
politician. Al first they thought the slumps
were due TO accidental causes but Of late the
acknowledgment has bean made that the Re-
publican machine seems in ll-favor. The Primary
bill for cities is only half concession; the re-
form should embrace the other half Of the State,
the rural districts.
Democratic politicians who are acquainted
with affairs in New York City say that they be
there By Tammary Hall will end the
new Primary law goes into effect. a former
Democratic Assemblyman Of NeWYork said to-
day: A large number Of the Tammany Hall
leaders have no true following in the districts
which they supposed 10 represent II the
opinion of voters can be secured by honest
prmary this fact Will soon b. disclosed. There
will be a revolution in tho affairs Of the Demo-
cratic party in Newly City il honest prima-
res are held and NJ. Croker will not be able 70
send d unanimous delegation TO the Democratic
State Convention