New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-09-15
DIRECT NOMINATIONS.
A SUGGESTION FOR ABOLISHlNG CITY
AND COUNTY CONVENTIONS.
DATES At THE PRiMARIEs-ITs SUCCESS IN
THAT CITY AND IN BOSTON.

DATES At THE PRiMARIEs-ITs SUCCESS IN
THAT CITY AND IN BOSTON.
To tho Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: There Is now before the people one OF the
most important questions in relation to the
election system which has been submitted Tor
popular consideration in many years II Involves
the possibility Of a radical change in the primary
system 1t ia matter which the members or
each party must pass upon separately Ihey
may take action concerning II at the party
caucuses which occur this week. a discussion
Of IT is. therefore timely.
Section Il OF the Primary law permits either
party - adopt the plan of choosing its candi-
dates by direct vote at the primary election.
II applies 10 all city and county nominations
1t abolishes the convention. Its Importance Is
apparent.
IT a man wishes to put IN friend FOR
nomination for Alderman, for example, he VIII
put his friends name on a paper called a nomi-
nation paper" take It around ard secure the
signatures Of a few OF his neighbours certainly
rot more than twenty-five. and then file the
paper with the City Committee. For the pri-
mary election the city Committee prepares
ballot. on which is placed the name Of this man
with those Of two or three others, perhaps put
up in the same way. On this ballot the voter
nomination. There are seldom more than three
-orten but one or two The voter chooses the
man he wants as the party candidate for each
office The man who receives the largest num-
her OF votes becomes the party candidate. and
his name Is put the ballot for the general
election So the man whom the largest number
Of the party voters choose is the nominee. II
there had been such n system in use lasi fall
the Democratic voters would have had ballot
nj the primary election with the names OF Van
Wyck George and Dayton on 1t for the Mayor
atty nomination. The man the largest number
wanted would have been the party candidate
The fight between Low and Tracy would have
been settled In this way
In Cleveland. Ohio. this system has been In
use several years The Republicans nominate
all their city and county candidates In this way
The voters like the system Some OF the lead
ers" do not 7, Is hard n work deals In this
way In 1902 under the convention system.
6113 Republicans voted al the primary election
In 1892 under tho direct vote system. l4l-''
Republicans voted at tho primary: and In 1871
23 96J votes were cast at their primary. This
certainly shows that the people will take part
in the primary election under this plan
Frederick l.. Taft. a leading Republican or
Cleveland states in circular letter on this
Hover in the popular vote plan NJ nominating
candidates Since the popular vote plan
ha. been in operation in this city the Repub-
ucan party has been uniformly successful. and
a, the present time there ia not an elective
Democratic office holder In the city OF Cleve-
land or in Cuyahoga County The evidence
81 practical experience is worth more than a
deal Of theorzine II the plan works in Cleve-
land n will work In New York.
The direct vote plan has been in use in Bos-
ton by both parties. In one form. several years.
II hns proved a success there. rs applied II
! l. nraised by Democrats and Republicans. They
choose the candidates for Common Council and
the members ~ the party committees hy direct
vote They choose delegates TO conventions for
/ tho other Offices But the people want 10 know
whom tho delegates stand for; So they now
generally place the name Of the man who II up
fcr nomination above the group Of dele
gates The voters pick out their candidates
| without paving attention to the delegates. In
word. the candidates are really chosen by
| popular vote In Boston. in order thus to place
a name uoon the primary ballot the signatures
/ Of only five voters are required They seldom
have more than three names up for a nomina-
ton This shows That the fear that there may
be many candidates for each nomination al the
primary Is groundless
ours is n government by the people Few OF
! the voters however, in our city take part In
! the nominating Of the party candidates. which
| H. as We all know. the most important feature
! or the process ~ choosing our rulers. Few can
| take Part under our present system. that Is. IN
| the sense Of really exercising An influence upon
! the result.
Tho law admits NJ change being made. and
Of tho full control Of the machinery OF nomna-
ton being placed fairly In the hands 81 the peo-
! pie DO the people want IL?
Ielfe hat he ri "
s!rcs 10 have our Institutions endure can al
/ present render greater public service than
| by attending tho caucus Of his party and max
ing n Arm demand that the members Of the
! CIV Committee be instructed TO support the
plan Il nominating candidates FOR All city and
! county Offices by direct vote at the primary
! election abollshng the conventions. as allowed
! bv Section II n the Primary law" J. r. A.
brooklyn. September II. lS9S
OBITUARY.