New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-03-26
A FAIR CHANCE TO ALL.
ANTI-MACHINE REPUBLICANS SATISFIED
WITH THE PRIMARY ELECTION BILL
IT'S PASSAGE by THE LEGISLATURE GRATIFYING
TO THOSE WHO HAVE OPPOSED BOSS RULE
TALKS WITH GENERAL swAYNE. PAUL
n CRAvATH. WILLIAM HOUSTON

10 THOSE WHO HAVE OPPOSED BOSS RULE
TALKS WITH GENERAL swAYNE. PAUL
u. CRAvATH WILLIAM HOUSTON
KENYON AND OTHERS.
Republicans Of this city who have been opposed
TO the machine control OF primary elections padded
enrolments and boss rule IN their party have
pressed much satisfaction with the Primary Elec-
ton BILL declared that It's passage by the
Legislature was an indication that the machine
leaders had felt obliged yield TO the popular de-
mand for real primary reform. There has been ox-
pressed the belief that under the operation Of the
new law, many Republicans who have held aloof
from primary elections in the past will participate
IN such elections in future. and that tho primaries
Will represent the prevailing will Of tho party In
stead Of the will Of the leaders The an;i-machine
Republican organization in this city VIII continue
under the law an Independent force within
the party and exert influence FOR reform.
General Wager Swayne president OF the General
Committee Of the Republicans OF the County OF
New-York said last evening: II am well satisfied
with the new Primary Election law. believe that
II makes for righteousness. and what makes for
right aousness makes for harmony. Although our
organization has not taken any action as an organ
zation regarding the bill, believe that most OF
the members are in favor Of the bill. Some Of them
would have preferred other provisions not In the
bill but they all probably agree that much good
may be expected from the provisions which the bill
now contains"
Paul u Cravath yesterday afternoon said: "Of
course the unanimous passage by the Legislature
Of the Primary Election bill is very gratifying to
those Of Us who have given so much OF our time
/ during the last few weeks to It's advocacy. We all
felt that the bill while not satisfactory IN Its de-
tails TO any one man, contains all OF the funda-
mental provisions which seem essential TO good
primary law and represents the nearest approach
TO adequate legislation in A new field which mas
haen ACCOMPLISHED BY the Legislature OF this state
or OF any other State for many years Inc long
and tedious process by which fairly satisfactor!
Election law was reached is fresh in the minds OF
ali and 7 think II can be fairly said that the re-
sults which have been accomplished IN primary
election reform at one session OF the Legislature
are fully a. important as those represented by the
! Election law We cannot be too grateful 70 Gov
ernor Black for his courage and stcadfastness OF
purpose in advocating tho measure
FAVORABLE SIGN.
"rbs una,,nltv with which the bill was passed
nv both houses is n favorable sign II Is an ihu'cA
ton OF the strength OF the public sentiment III ~
! snonse 70 which the bill passed. ana presaseS
| , rrucb greater activity in party primaries than
was nossble under the old system IL ~ an open
/ sac-et that some Of the so-called pracucai po'i-
! tician, who are now anxious 10 express 'ne'i
enthusiastic approval Of the bill nave poem a. M"
! onnosed 10 IT, and ne outset did "ha' '"eS
,,,d ~ se~,,re It's defeat to cause II TO ne so
mod
| ,oas,ra now simply means that they want 10 pe
! - ,,a ronular side I am glad. however 10 say
! ,ho, mink the number OF men OF whom th's -
| ,rue Is comparatively small. ana tha' '"e 90
! majority Of Republicans. In the machine n"u ~,
| w. ,o,- MAY and gave their support TO inc r'i-
mary Election bill when they reahzeu "
NO. 49,. ,,ba, Vas sought to be accomplished
yt-in,an Houston Kenyon had this TO say re-
rod ,ha massage Of the Primary Election Dill az an
| event OF the first importance. "ha'eVe' VI" -
d,a,a effect upon the parties. the u''l'i'"'' " -
| 900, the State will be Of great consequence ~
uP' ..,, /, ,ha making OF nominations Is al
-. os greo, an achievement for the morals ana
welfare OF a people the preventing OF i'aut
! elections The bill is a recognition OF INC ''s''
nerticnation as an incident OF cl'hehsH''' " wy
/ making OF party nominations Wheh Inc '''' "
sucb participation is generally recognized as per
tanning 10 citizenship. our modern government ~
- ,,u, have made a revolutionary advance Inc
! primary bill provides the machinery Tor inc eA.'
else of that right and duty. II has peen loieeu ",
a growing appreciation OF the right II wiz ''seiI
| becorne an important educator IN regard 10 .he
duty II Will make the participation OF decent ~
zers N marty affairs worth while. Hereafter the
responsibility for bad party management, WI! res.
upon the shoulders OF those who are TOO ihulle'en
| N take part in party primaries TO Tx justly anu
| -a,,,v the responsibility FOR evil Is to take
great step toward correcting that evil Inc Hepuo
ucan revolt Of last November at tho poiis III ',''
c,+v and the determined stand since taken undeT
! the leadership of the Committee OF fhty-'hreo
| have together with the sincere cooperauoh or the
press forced the present situation and made the
| passage OF the bill not only wise. but necessary
STEP AHEAD.
"As the Primary law gives everybody" said
| Gherardi Davis. "a fair chance 10 enron ana vote
at q primary and as II provides for representa-
,,or hased on votes cast ut election for Gov
amor and not on the number OF names enrolled. It
| seems 10 me we have made a great step ahead or
| course no law will make people 60 TO primaries
| hut under q law which protects the primaries as
This does everybody who can ought 10 enroll and
vote I should think the unanimous vote In the
legislature might be explained BY the fact that the
! measure had become popular one, even II II does
| not go as far some men in Albany wished Be
sides this however. the law will not hurt the So
called machines In certain districts II they actually
control as many votes they claim 10 control. and
they are proba bly, counting the continued apathy
OF their opponents at primaries Only the primaries
will show whether they mistaken or not in
this"
Chase Mellen said that he could speak only for
b,-nseN although he believed that most Of the
| ort,rachine Republicans in the city would agree
With him in the belief much real reform would
come from the Primary Election bill Il have not
believed that the bill perfect" he said. but
us most important provision. such az the safe-
Guarding OF the rolls the secret ballot AT the pr-
rore4 the official count and record Of the votes
and the provision regarding non-partisanship In
municipal elections are important steps toward reaI
urinary reform ! believe that the organization OF
the Republicans OF the County OF e"-iork h'ue
.ho ross,oe 81 such good bill possible The new
organization OF Republicans VIII not be "lpeu o"'
nv tho hill because arc not politicaI parry az
DESIGNATED In the bill. As an Organization We nave
no, taken part In an election. We may continue
under the bill as an Independent organization Win
I'm tho Republican party. taxing part III '"e pr
na-ies az individuals and preserving our organiza-
to- for tho nurpose Of holding caucuses and exert
,nr moral influence against boss rule, and Tor me
nomination Of good party candidates
samuel G. French Secretary Of the General COM
r,,,tee said last evening that the new primary
49, IA k Immediate change