New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-01-13
FOR FAIR PLAY IN POLITICS
Mit- HILL OF ERIE. INTRODUCES A NEW
PRIMARY ELECTION BILL.
THE MEASURE DRAFTED BY THE REPUBLICAN
LEAGUE OF BUFFALo-How 1T Is DE
SCRlBED BY THE INTRoDUCER-A
LOGICAL SEQUEL TO THE
SAXTON BALLOT LAW.

one OF the Independent Republicans of the As
sembly. tonight introduced the most compre-
hensive primary election bill yet presented to
the Legislature. The bill has been drafted by a
committee OF the Republican League of Buffalo,
and will have the support OF the Independent
Republicans Of the Assembly. we'll that
Of many other members of the Assembly who
favor fair play in politics The bill is best de-
scribed in the words Of its introducer. who said
Of It tonight:
The bill provides a complete system both for
registration for the primary and for the vote
and count at the primary. 1t is in effect an APP
plicaton of the more successful provisions OF
the Australian ballot law TO the choice of dele
cations 70 conventions. II goes much further
than any OF the bills already introduced or an
nounced all Of them being silent as to all mat
tiers not connected with the registration Of 'rty
utilization or the enrolment of party voters.
The bill have presented not only makes
party allegiance depend on intention to support
the ticket OF a party at the next ensuing cleo
ton and thus avoids any criticism based on
constitutional grounds when such allegiance Is
made to depend on a declaration Of support Of
party nomination in the past. but also. by COM
bining the most important of the primaries with
the first two days Of registration Of the year,
hits upon a means to get a large vote at party
primaries The bill fits into the present law
controlling on election day. and many Of IT'S
most important provisions are taken from the
recent primary election laws. with which the
Australian ballot law has been supplemented in
Massachusetts,. Michigan. Kentucky and Call
fornla.
"It Is thus far the most comprehensive statute
which has been proposed on this subject: It has
been carefully drawn. and is based the belief
that, inasmuch the Nation, State and mu
nicipality are In a sense governed II not by
parties, at least through parties. the law should
be so framed as TO make the primary through
which alone the great mass Of party's voters
can speak. as democratic and as easy Of access
a. possible. to the end that party nominations
may be less open TO criticism. factional discord
less likely. and through fair and free vote at
the primary. parties may win back and retain
those voters whom unfair primary representa-
ton has drawn from the parties.
THE bill provides that the sixth Friday the
sixth Saturday. the fourth Saturday and the
third Saturday before Election Day shall here
after be the four days Of registration in all cities
and villages where personal registration IS re
CURED. The law now puts those registration
days the fourth Friday and Saturday and
the third Friday and Saturday before election.
Another provision, similar to that proposed by
the Pavey bill Of last year. calls for two
columns in the registry bookstore for the entry
Of the name OF the party with which voter
shall declare affliation when he registers and
the other for the entry of the word voted when
such affiliated voter shall vote the primary ballot
Of his party.
1T Is also made obligatory in every city and
in village Of more than five thousand people
that the choice OF all delegates to all conven-
tons (other than State conventions and conven-
IN NH ch del stO ariIv cho
by other conventional by which candidates are
nominated who are to be voted for at the
ing general election, be made at primary cleo
tons 10 be held for all parties the first two
registration days. and the expense thereof is
made public charge. Political parties and the
committees thereof are made part Of the cleo
ton machinery and a systematic scheme is pro-
vded for the choice OF their members. The bill
provides that the members Of the State Commit
tee shall be chosen by Senatorial districts and
at the biennial Senatorial conventions. 1t pro-
vdes generally for county committees In all
counties except those wholly in the city OF New
York. and that the members Of all county COM
mittees shall be the district committeeman
elected in the election districts or towns and
that in New-York County the political commit
tees shall be chosen by conventions Of the cleo
ton district committeeman. To all political COM
mittees is given great latitude in the framing
OF their rules but for the purpose Of the primary
law they are obliged TO have each a chairman
and secretary, and TO certify the names Of such
officers and Of the members Of the larger com
mittees 10 the proper public officers
There are also minute provisions for the pro-
lection both of the party committee from nomi-
nations by those not members OF the party, and
Of the elector from arbitrary action on the part
of the committee. No ballots other than official
primary ballots can be cast on the two annual
primary days. There are also explicit provisions
for the furnishing Of all stationery and supplies
nv the proper officers 10 the Board OF Inspectors
on the first registration days.
1.-The bill adopts the substance OF the Pavey
xx~ht tQE frOv IA
known Kentucky law, adding to the questions
nut TO electors when they offer themselves for
registration first the questions: DO you desire
to register for the purpose Of participating IN the
primaries Of the political party with which you
are a:niatedT and il the answer is yes the
further question: With what political party 40
Won wish 10 affiate?' Places are provided for
the entry Of the answers, and these questions, or
at least the first Of them. must be asked or each
elector who offers to register on any OF tne FOUR
making these answers the basis Of all party en-
roment lists for at any caucus during the
year are also adopted.
the inspectors when elector shall have thus
affiliated with political party, TO give MIN the
primary ballot OF such party ana the PROCEDURE
thereafter. so far as The marking, casting ana
counting OF such ballots are concerned, is MOD
elled after though made much more simple than
that OF Election Day. Ample provision is MAGE
for watchers and for party chalengers in the
polling place II Is also prescribed that cha-
ienge bv any elector OF the district is possible,
and IL directed to the electors rlght 70 ANIMATE
with or vote the ticket Of the party OF his choice.
cornnels the inspectors TO reject his vote unless
he makes and subscribes an oath on challenge.
This latter is made the basis OF party member
chin In other sections Of the BILL and Is TO the
effect that the elector is generally In sympathy
with the principles Of such party and that 1t Is
his present intention to support the nominees or
such party generally at the next ensuing cleo
ton The phraseology Of this test is based on
on examination Of all the statutes OF the differ
ent States on this subject. and expresses the
evarooe NJ the most recent and complete pri
mary laws therein.
"In short the bill should II become law
,on uben ne made the voters OF the State &C
onainted with the merits OF the Australian bal
lot Jaw The Primary Election law have to-
night introduced is It's losicai outcome: EVety