New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-02-17
REFORM FOR CITIES ONLY.
THE MACHINES DESIRE AS TO PRIMARY
LEGISLATION.
PRESENT METHODS ~ RURAL COUNTIES TO RE
MAIN ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS LikEbf
TO BE HELD THIS SPRING
fay TELEGRAPH TO THE TRiDUNE.l

fly TELEGRAPH TIE TRiDCNE.l
Albany Feb. l6.-Frlmary reform legisia.ion -
said to he largely engaging the attention oi Wv
crnor Block and the leading Republican members
of tho LEGISLATURE. There have been sood hH"S
conferences on the subject in the Executive Chain-
bor and II ls reported that n sketch OF primary
lav, enactment has been made there. ready 10 90
acted upon waen the Union League Club the city
Club end other organizations send up theH p'i's
from New-York.
It would app that Senator Pat Is opposeu "
any reform of the primaries in rural New-forK al
though they are corrupt as those helu III 'i'e
cities Whether indeed he will consent 10 the
nassng Of a primary law affecting the cities Is not
vet clear But good many Of his followers IN '"e
LEGISLATURE frankly oppose any changes III the laws
which will modify materially the me'nous VI
manning" the primaries In the country DISTRICTS
They describe the Immaculate nature Oh 'ne '"'
primaries The farmer is never gull'y Vi AIMS
bribe there are no strap caucuses' the 'o'e ~ '''
estl,, counted. and the stories Of the payment Q.
.,.,,a,a. -, dollars at rural primaries are all
haeoloss ur Pla;t's followers talk about limiting
the new Primary Election law therefore, 10, ''e
cities OF New-Yorl. Buffalo Albany. Troy oS'a
cuse and Rochester. Whether they VIII De ao'e ~
carry out this projec. the coming weeks acuoh o'
tn, Legislature Will disclose ,,.
Some Of the Republican members OF the Legisia'-
uro favor delaying the holding Of the new primaries
until scptember They would push forward the
frs, dav OF registration weeks. have voters reg
lister for their party primaries with the eIcc''''
officers and then take part in the election OF oe'e'
gates TO the State conventions Voters. they say
would register and take part In party primaries III
far greater numbers in the Ia! than In the spring
good many OF the machine men argue tha' inc
enrolment ought to take place as early as May or
June anproachlng The election inspectors ana poll
clerks who would execute this important Work
we're appointed last fail Mt the suggestion OF me
Republican and Democratic machines. According 10
Senator Ford. the fact that a Republican IN New
York City voted for Seth Low would NOT depar MIN
from, the Republican primaries The only test
would be his statement that he geheraly sup
ports Republican candidates for ONCE
TIL. sanate and Assembly Judiciary committees
hold a Joint meeting this afternoon and listened 10
arguments for three hours on all the primary re-
form measures. Senator Brush opened the discus
sion by urging up the committee the best features
OF his own bill He called attention 10 the pro"'
sion against the unit rule In primary conventions
and to that which places the primary elecuo" mI
chinsrv in the hands Of the officers OF election lie
aIso asked the committee 10 adopt that section Of
b,s hill which provides that the signatures OF
tyentv voters in each county shall be SUFFICIENT 10
nut an independent candidate for Governor on the
blanket ballot
senator Brush was followed by Assemolyman
Hill. Of Erie County, who ADJ coated the prlmsaryy
bv a committee OF the Republican League o. BuI-
falo lie urged the adoption OF presen, ''''"''0"
rather than past party allegiance as tesl.
sere,or CIV asked Mr.. Hill II this would not
compel a man 20 take en- oaNH 10 9"'IO'N '"
dates yet nominated. ,, !. - t.. NAN
Mr. I'M replied that IL should 10 so, ior man
had business to attend a caucus gnu az -.
without supporting the candidates chosen 10y the
Assemblyman Wright OF Brooklyn, adv29ated
the measure INTRODUCED oy nifns a ,ps II niacad
tba selection of the candidates in the hands OF the
electors directly instead Of by way or a nominal.
ing convention Mr. Blair ex-Coninissi,one' t 1s
Elections OF Brooklyn. the next sneaker. he
stated he did rot come before me comiii'tee III
advocacy Of any single measure bur simply IN ,ne
aid Of primary reform. He closed MS IeH TN
NJ Blair opposed the PROPOSE ton urged py MI.
iii OF making tho primary law part OF 'H9
election Law. ., ,-o..o1 90 Mr.
Blair limited perhaps. et the object or those VINO
will draft the primary bill to be passed II any Is
passed. A.. .o.,,,o,,
to amend the Ford bill 70 make the enrol
rnent OF this present year occur in May?
THAT would be excellent" said Mr.. Blair; but
In future years December :. 10 my mlhd' inc
proner month for enrolment 80
Northumberland Woodruff also asked Mr..
Blair II an enrolment IN May or June would be a
he Nj Woodruns participation IN the considera-
ton of the matter at this point indicates that the
Plat machine" thinks % holding the Republican
primaries this spring.
senator Cantor asked senator Ford II. under his
bill a test would be made this year as to whether
a Republican had voted for Wallace.
NO" replied Senator Ford: we only make n
test on Governor ard on President"
hssemhlyman Laimbeer advocated the Pavey
bill saving that he believed its adoption would
bring back into the Republican party many who
had been forced 70 leave II because OF the unfair
ness Of the primary organization Of that party in
New-York city