New-York tribune., 1902-03-30
OPPOSE NEW PRIMARY BILL
GREATER NEW-YORK DEMOCRATS SAY
IT WOULD DISFRANCHISE
MANY VOTERS.

John c. Sheehan. leader Of the Greater New
York Democracy. said yesterday that Assembly
man Weekes's proposed new primary law. dolHS
away with the May and June enrolment III thls
city. would be attacked in the courts IN case II
became a law by the Governor signing IL. Will
tam Hepburn Russell. chairman Of the executive
committee Of the Greater New-York Democracy
with several members of the advisory committee
of that organization. VIII attend the public hear
ing on the bin before the Governor tomorrow.
Mr. Russell in commenting the bill last
night said:
IF Governor Odel wants 10 drive all the in
dependent Democrats into Tammany Hall, he
can DO it by signing this Weekes bill. If the bill
becomes a law it viii be absolutely impossible
for the Greater New-York Democracy 10 carry
a single election district at the coming primaries,
because the general understanding last fall was
that the enrolling could just as well be put over
till May and June. l figure that fully 175,OoO
voters viii be disfra nchised. so far taking
part in the primaries goes, if the Governor
signs the bill It is an outrageous piece OF
legislation. and designed to protect the interests
Of one or two district leaders in this city who
are afraid Of the primaries going against them
through largely increased enrolment in May
and June. Why ] understand that Controller
Grout is not enrolled he having waited till this
spring. assuming that opportunity would be
Governor on the telephone on Monday of this
week. and told him if he wanted TO drive all
the Greater NeW-York Democracy people back
into Tammany Hail he couldn't adopt a better
plan than TO sign this bill.
PERSONALLY l believe the bill to be unconsti-
tutional, as it deprives voters of rights under
the existing law. If the bill stipulated that
after thirty days following the passage OF the
bill there would be opportunity for the voters
TO enroll. It would have afforded 4 bare oppor-
tunity to order special enrolment We shall
begin action in the courts the first enrol
ment day in May If the bill becomes a law, to
test the consttutionality of the measure. Doubt
less the initiative viii be taken by some voter
who wants TO enroll. and he will apply for
rnandamus requiring the Board of Elections TO
show cause why It should not allow him TO
enroll according 10 the provisions Of the ex-
listing law"
Borough President Cantor says that the bill
IS blow at the more enlightened public spirit
of the times. inasmuch the people have been
working toward greater freedom at the pri-
maries.
THE argument against the Weekes bill is just
IS strong from a Republican as from a Demo
cratic point of view" said Mr.. Cantor last night
10 q Tribune reporter 1T is supposed 70 be
general bill, but at the same time il makes al
exception Of the city Of New-York. 1t seems to
me like a specimen of the worst kind Of poliu-
cal jobbery as It violates the clear spirit of the
statute as fl existed at the last primary. If the
law were worded TO take effect year hence
Il would be fair. because people then would
know just where they stand. The law is piece
of snap judgment I do not charge it, but I am
credibly informed that Mr.. Weekes is afraid of
rivalry in his own particular Assembly dis
trict. and that he fears he and his friends Will
be overW helmed If his opponents have op
portunity in May and June TO enroll. Mr..
Weekes has nc right TO disfranchise from par
ticipation in enrolment hundred and fifty
thousand voters in order TO protect himself and
friends. There may be good features to the
bill, but the provision doing away with the May
and June enrolment in this city is manifestly
unjust. 7 have no doubt that thousands Of
voters refrained from enrolling last fall be-
cause they understood. from being told by the
election district captains that there would be
an opportunity to enroll in May and June"
It learned last night that the Citizens
Union had sent 20 Governor Odell a protest
against the Weekes bill.