New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-02-07
REFORM OF THE PRIMARIES.
PROVISIONS OF THE BUFFALO REPUB-
LICAN LEAGUE BILL.
A SUBSTITUTE FOR AssEMBLYMAN HILLS ORIG
NAL MEAsURE-IT AIMS 10 MAKE Pr
MARES AND PARTY CoNvEN-
TIoNs FAIR AND FREE.

s,duous labor. on the subject by prominent MEM
bers OF the Republican League OF BuHa'o FAIRY
in the session Mr.. HILL working IN conjunction
with this Republican League introduced Ms Hrs'
urinary bill and determined TO push Ii 10 passage
II possible His measure has Incorporated IN "
tho best features OF the Kentucky and Massachu.
sets statutes primary elections since inc oiii
was introduced officers o; the Republican League
have kept in touch with other organizations seek
ing reform O, the primary laws. with Governor
Black and with the various legislators who nave
drafted and introduced primary election DIS Inc
committee OF the Republican League having this
matter in charge. consisting OF Charles j. North
John Martin Henry E. Smith. Louis W. Gay, DR..
Samuel G. Dorr William H. Hotchkiss and Mark
s. Hubbell has just 10 Mr.. Hill an open letter
in which the primary reform question Is carefully
reviewed.
OBJECTS TO BE ATTAINED
The committee says in this letter:
From the data thus in hands. and from
yourself but with others Of the Legislature and
with party leaders well. We take II that the
following matters have been substantially agreed
First-That the present Legislature will pass and
election law for the State of NewYork which shall
be fair TO al, parties and factions and make the
the opportunity ii'' 10 so do easy to ali.
Second-That the test Of party allegiance VIII be
motebu 9' on GpC Adherence to the principles
specified political party C intention to support Its It's
ton. ana 81 non-paricipatioh in the primaries OF
and non-aitiliaton with any other party since the
Third-That the law will recognize party com.
mites as part OF the machinery OF eeGons p ISs
methods Of their choice or the rules afecung ther
Fourth~That the primaries shall, in any event
be held at public expense, but that such expense
s1s be T ' The as oReers Of such shall
be the persons who shall have been chosen 70
that they shall be furnished the regular supplies
with the eXSspon Of ea Hd b snq De y
Of the formalites provided for the day OF general
sixth-That there will be given to any specified
locality not greater thar a city or county the
sas e for Try the wn Choice * party
ever a majority Of the voters OF such locality shall
In 2t sush he for the pro-
lection of the individual voter as well as OF party
Of political committee, primary officer, a conven..
tion any elector touching the orsanizati0,nI OF
Conventions together with SUFFICIENT penal prov-
s sn o give h Pr eass IL hy ny
EisS;h-That the new law shall have immediate
time as to be controlling on all the primaries held
erates TO State conventions of this year.
There may he differences as 10 detail touching
the matter err in Hand the above gives nearly
Posse the on nIonoe 81 'he w seem be
determined upon
WHERE OPINIONS DIFFER.
The letter then goes on discuss at length five
important propositions which, the committee be-
ueves have not as ye, been determined upon. They
are as follows:
First-Whether the new law should take the form
Of amendment 10 the Election law or snoar1
Election law" and. in either event what should be
IN New-York advocated by Senators Brush and
Ford or the Kenucky system s5od Se
the means employed in making up the primary reg
Third-Wheiher there should be official primary
day for all parties. 10 be held at pubic expense
s ssSn re % 6oh pses as board Of primary
spectors or whether there should be separate prl-
MARES for each party to be called as may be Pho
over by the election officers OF that party.
for All bsrs 'P be held on
registration Of each year or on 0her cay not
FithWhether there sh9gd be an Official primary 6y
ballet for S each p parry o. al ceTd
by any reasonable method delegates or groups OF
delegates the political conventions OF that party
WHAT PARTY WISDOM DEMANDS.
The letter ends as follows
With these considerations before us we have; as as
you know aided YOU In redrafting your Dill miro,
duced early in the session and Win this le'er send
you brief summary OF the substitute blI. so ar
quickly and also learn wnat changes have been
In thus taking up the matter in detail trust
recognize
being active members Of the Erie County Repubii-
ts pans md Policies BUT Ig Being we
rseos9se that as has been ssd ae 6 may words oe
party" and organization" In short; we believe ,
win WIN which recognizes that the masses Of the voters
arc fair and honest. and that they appreciate those
a sie bsSe Il been ene Growing bnd and the people fall
ing to recognize this difference between organiza-
lion OF parties II is our purpose. If possible, by
fair 20 all and free TO all. 10 reverse this tendency
FEATURES OF THE NEW BILL
The bill is in form an amendment 10 the cleo
ton law of the State, and is divided into twelve
sections The chief sections are as follows:
Section / This section amends Section u OF the
Election law in some minor particulars hut chiefly
must be nominated by party orsaIf bn Tx, daW
Of registration may be held earlier than now
See This section amends Section 20 Of the E I
Saturdays before election as the four days Of regis
tration. instead Of the fourth and third Frida yg
differs from the original bill, In putting the regis,
tration days on four successive Saturday, instead
OF on the Friday and Saturday OF the sixth week
and the Friday and Saturday Of the fourth week
Sec g. This section amends Subdivisions ard ?
OF Section p Of the Election law by providing Tor
of which is put the name of the political party
with which voter aiiiliates and in the other ne
primary day. This section Is identical with that in
the original bill.
See 4 This section substitutes i'm the places OF
Section 30 10 50. inclusive. Of the Election law
(Which are the sections controlling on pr!naries)
new matter. follows
Section 80 Definitions. Defines Political Par;v
political Committee ''Nom!na ton Paper" Con-
yention" Primary Election and Unit OF Rep
resentation." The only change is by the addition
OF the last definition. in order 10 recognize the
unit OF representation in vogue in the city Of New
Yor,-.
Sec. 81 Test o, Party Allegiance This makes
membership In party depend upon the willingness
of an elector 10 make and subscribe oath either
at nj IN "A no . loot
Ol he IS generally In sympathy with the principles
Of d specified party, 90 that IL is his present in
;ention 10 support the nominees of that party
generally al the next ensuing general election and
% that he has AFFILIATED with par;lcipat ted
in the primaries of any other political party since