New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-03-13
PARSONS WILL REMAIN.
Regrets County Committees action
on Direct Nominations, HoVeUer.

washington. March 12.-Representative Herr
bert Parsons, president Of the New-YOrk Re-
publican County Committee declares that he has
intention of resgning the presidency because
OF the action of the committee on Saturday in
deciding not to support legislation for direct
nominations at this session of the Legislature.
Mr.. Parsons made the following statement:
When became president OF the County COM
mittee had a number OF resolutions Introduced
relang 20 s4ch nsIggs a. s, ~ nons4ns,
and voting machines. My object to arouse
the County COMMITTEES meetings have been better
attended than in tne past was auth9Tized e
it did hard and most excellent work
Personally. I should have been glad and think
II would nave been wiser Y the executive COM
mittee had on Saturday voted TO recommend direct
nominations IN an optional form that Is such
iaf or Congress pistriet to try direct Examinations
in place OF a convention If it chose / had come
to the conclusion, however. that not only was
Executive comRRttse but that there was very ts
Geand ior IL m t1f Party I 81 5neK sha fS1
are free from one or two Obstacles that are now 2
our present primary system which is admittedly
the best convention system IN the country. Bus
direct nominations have the very serious ObJee-
,- The meeting Of the conference Of the National
papers printed some strong remarks against them.
and altogether l am told that the ma tority OF
sentiment in favor of direct nominations, the
Impression gained was that the conference was
SO far as the resolution for direct nominations
the subject Of leaders Is concerned that is di-
'rectly in line with what are and for number ot
years have been my ideas IL part Of th9
scheme for the amendment Of the county commit
tee rules to provide for direct nominations that
and Congressman Bennett introduced. for the pur-
pose or bringing up the matter for discussion Be-
fore became chairman OF the executive COMMITTEES
OF the county committee / said that I favored IT.
Two years ago was a member OF a subcommittee
OF the county committee 10 suggest amendments
to the rules and regulations. and proposed SUCH
amendment then, but It was not accepted
The present rule has always seemed to most
ridiculous and despOtc for il gives the presidents
of the county committee the power to appoint the
leaders in all Of the districts. This he do
under the present rule although the people in ths
district may overwhelmingly decide whom they
want TO be their leader. As a matter OF fact. tbs
president Of the county committee has never d.
rectly exercised this power. The custom has been
for him to appoint members OF the executive
jortty vote of the county committee delegations
from their respective Assembly districts.
This custom and the absence of provision thae
the leader shall be elected by direct vote at the
primary has however, enabled the people who were
elected members OF the county committee 10 recon-
mend particular man for leader to recommend
another and so betTay the will OF the people
This was done In my own district a number OF years
ago. when Mr.. Hawkes. won at the primary, but
majority of, the delegates TO the county commit
tee recommended another person for leader. and
that other person was appointed
Am / going to resign the presidency Of this
county committee? have heard that some people
think that am If the committee does not vote in
favor OF direct nominations. I have not and never
have had the slightest intention OF doing any sucf
thing.