New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-03-16
RURAL POLITICS.


HENHY G. BURLEIaH THINKS THE PRl-
MARY Law SHOULD COVER THE WHOLE
STATE - SOME COMMENTS ON MA
CHINE METHODS IN THE COUNTRY
70 the Editor OF The Tribune
Sir: have read with great deal OF inter-
est your editorial In The Tribune OF Iuesoey'
March g. entitled Rural Politics" and also the
extracts from the address OF Judge Sanoro T.
North, OF Genesee County. His statement as 10
the caucuses in Genesec County in 1886 Is
moderate statement OF what occurs IN aoout
every county in this State. The fact is the eau
cu.es in the country are more corrupt than they
were ever thought Of being in New-York CITY
The machine politicians OF the country districts
have a vast patronage at their disposal. ana IL
this patronage Is not sufficient to save for fhem-
selves their positions the use Of money Is Always
resorted to. 1t must he remembered also tha'
the patronage OF the State Government mas III
creased fvefold since the days OF arthur ahd
ConkIins Bills are being passed every year
creating all sorts Of commissions and appoint
ments 10 strengthen the power OF the machine
This year the whole power Of the state GOV
eminent directed by Mr. Payn Ga paid STATE
of,ciaD. and the whole power OF the National
Administration directed by Mr.. Plat VIII be
used TO carry the county districts Any primary
be a total failure. and should be defeated You
might with the same proprlety have the Blanket
pallo. law cover only the Democratic cities that
the Primary bill Is now expected TO cover, ana
leave the remainder of the State TO the old
fashioned method of voting we had In the days
OF Jackson The soventy-hve millions OF patron
age PASSED over 10 the Democratic party ana
into the hands of Mr.. Croker by the unholy ALL
ance Of last fall will take care of the Demo-
cratic primaries in Greater New-York. and the
National patronage Will take care OF the Re-
publican primaries In the same city. however
conducted Therefore. the whole power or botn
State and National patronage Will be concen-
tra,ed In the country districts, and the machine
will provide the money to take care of them
II they lack any delegates at the State Conven-
ton they can seat contestants as was done at
the last State Convention when the regularly
elected delegates from Herkmer County were
thrown out 10 make sure of the election of Mr..
Hackett as State Committeeman. Fearing the
Herkmer County delegates would not make
them absolutely safe. the contestants from one
district of Oneida County were seated. which
district was carried by Mr.. Davis by vote OF
IS TO %
The safeguard OF good government is pure
primary law that covers the whole State There
never was time In the history OF the State
when an honest and wholesome primary system
was moro imperativey needed. l think sys-
tenn OF booth-voting similar 10 that IN use under
the present election law would secure this end
II would eliminate the irresponsible vote and
bring out the better citizens. and it would prac-
ticaliy do away with the improper use OF money
! believe there should be a system OF regstra-
ton so voters could be registered on one or
more days before the primaries. l think the
present election registration boards are compe-
tent TO attend to the registration for the pri-
marles. also think the polls at the primaries
should be open all day. or at least greater part
Of the DAY and all primaries OF the same party
IN "A city or county or district should be held on
the same day. In fact. can see no objection TO
having the primaries for all parties take place
nj the same time and at the same places pro-
vdng different sets Of ballot boxes for each
party.
ty) the caucuses were held February II. The
whole power Of the State was directed against
TIE independent movement. All the contractors
on the canal work, all the inspectors, the en-
gineers and other canal officials. whether legal
voters In the district or not, were actively at
work 10 carry the towns for the machine dele
gates 1t is a we-known matter of fact that
Governor Black was nominated at the last con-
vention by delegates from the canal counties
who were mainly elected by those In control OF
the canal patronage OF the State Pure pri-
msres would be the best and surest way TO
curb the growing tendency toward machine gov
ernment. 80
At the caucus held in this town there were S1S
votes cas-. which sixty-three more votes
than Mckinley had. and there were at least
seventy-five Democrats who voted for Mckinley,
the same proportion as he received all over the
State Governor Hill informed me II was one
OF the traditions Of the Democratic party that
no delegates elected TO a State Convention be-
fore the convention was called would be seated.
II you can elect delegate eight months before
the convention, why not elect him to the State
convention the following year?
In this connection I would say Of Governor
HILL and to his credit. that he Is not In politics
lor ~ ftava Ia IN haU on rel in
bic authority that he has not much money
to-day as when he left his law Office In Elmira
fifteen years ago. II. G. BURLEIGH
Whitehall, y. Y, March 10 1898
SIGNIFICANT FIGURES IN ALI.EGANY.
~.pxrD rarrrNo orr OF THE pEpI-RrJcAN