New-York tribune., 1902-01-23
NEW BILL FOR PRIMARIES.
RADICAL MEASURE INTRODUCED BY
MIR. wEEKEs IN THE ASSEMBLY.
TBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE. !

IBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUHE.l
Albany, Jan. 22.-Assemblyman Weekes OF
New-York. dropped in the Assembly box to-day
bill which may be regarded as the opening
wedge for the adoption of direct nomination"
system at political primaries. In drawing up the
bill Mr.. weekes had the valuable assistance of
William H. Hotchkss OF Buffalo, who took part
In the drafting of the present reformed primaries
law Of the State
Leading Republicans of Wisconsin for year
past have been attempting to establish direct
nomination" system. Mr.. Weekes in his BID pro-
vides that there shall be printed each ballot
directly beneath the party emblem, sentence
of not more than ten words, indicating clearly
the organization committee, faction, person,
cause or measure generally favored or opposed
by the persons whose names appear on such
ballot" The new bill also says that words not
more than ten may also be printed any ballot
under the name Of any delegate alternate. or
group of delegates alternates to a single
vention, or any candidate for public office or for
election s committeeman. provided the same
are for the purpose of indicating clearly the
ganization committee. faction, person. cause or
measure favored opposed by such persons"
II is thought that. under this provision. the
words could be printed the ballot. for in
stance. For John Jones for Senator" and thus
the delegates named on the ballot be committed
20 the support of Mr.. Jones for Senator Dele
gates frequently have mental reservations which
they do not disclose until conventions held.
and are thus exposed the manipulation of po-
itical leaders
MAY CHECK "FLOATERS' VOTES.
The bill also has been framed with the special
purpose of preventing the flooding of certain dis
tricts with 'hoaters" in times of a primary
contest To accomplish this end. the measure
provides that all transfers shall be filed sixty
5e,vs t.os+ ~ dox-
before primary. To support 'foaters" for
sixty days in order to permit them to vote at
the primaries, would impose such a heavy ex-
pense district leader or an aspirant for
leadership, that ii is thought this evil would be
checked to a great degree.
In order to prevent any illegal padding of the
enrolment books the bill provides that after
these books have been closed sixty days prior to
a primary they shall be opened and ready for
the inspection of the public thirty days before
the primary. This will give ample opportunity,
it is argued, to detect the of any persons
who are Illegally qualified to vote. At the pres
ent time. it is said. names are often overlooked.
and thus many votes are eventually cast by men
who have not legal right to vote. II is alleged
that because sometimes in factional fight one
candidate will print names of delegates on his
ballot which well known because of their
high standing, without the knowledge of the
men themselves. for the purpose of making a
deceptive ballot, many voters are deluded and
Influenced to vote Such a DdllOt. IN OrQer TO
prevent such occurrences the bill provides that
the names Of the proposed delegates be certined
before the custodian of primary records not
more than days or less than three days prior
70 the primary, and also that every delegate
proposed may decline, If not in sympathy with
the head of the ticket on which his name APP
pears. BY such a arrangement, any man VIII
have two days TO learn the misuse of his name
and be able 10 cancel it from the list.
PROVISION FOR EMBLEMs MADE.
In order to avoid confusion in the of sew
eral tickets in a primary fight, the bill provides
that each ticket have distinct emblem or de-
vice and words under 1t to indicate exactly
what il stands for A certificate of this emblem
is also to be filed along with the list of dele
gates. in order to prevent one faction usurpng
the emblem of another. By such means each
faction would be secure in issuing campaign
literature after these certificates had been filed,
directing their followers to vote under certain
emblem.
Under the provisions of this bill. II it becomes
a. law a factionai leader would first have to
make UP list of delegates for the various con-
ventions and committees and to obtain from
each his written consent, If found necessary
He would then need to file certificate of the
names Of these men and the emblem OF his rae
ton with the Board of Elections The certlhcate
would be practically as follows:
''I hereby certify that intend TO offer ballot
for voters at a primary the - day Of -
month year, in the - Assembly Dlstrlct'
similar In all respects to that annexed hereto
and DO hereby specify the emblem and oescrlp-
tive words and names of delegates.
The bill has been indorsed by the law COM
rnittee of the Republican County Committee.