New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-01-18
WINS ON BALLOT LAW
SAYS REFORM IS NEEDED.
Nezo- 7 orhc Laz0yer DeiUers address
Before State Bar Association.

Albany Jan. 1.-THE New-York Bar Association
tonight closed its annual meeting. An attempt was
made at today's session to have the executive COM
1ittee suggest to the legislators reopenins Of
the charges against Supreme Court Justice War
rem B. Hooker A resolution that effect was
introduced by Thomas F. Wilkinson. of Albany,
but on motion Of Lewis l. Delafeld, of NeW-Xork,
seoonded by Tracey Becker, Of Buffalo, who said
he had voted for the original investigation the
resolution laid on the table.
To-day's session was characterized by the discus
sion of electoral reform introduced by William IL
WINS of New-York, who spoke in part as follows;
A stranger to our laws and customs come 10
in America, would possibly find himself hopelessly
puzzled by the state OF anairs IN the elty OF New
mnistered 10 be one Of the best Il not the best
istration of our election laws has proved 10 be
almost complete failure Our e4ectlon Jaws nave
best ability in our representatives and second in
securing an unquestionable true ana honest repre- pre-.
most remarkable feature OF the development Of our
nav oI during the last years is
the fact that its 9as 4Hsn SO
to change entire electoral system 10 convert
into a method of ndirect elections to recognize S
political parties as part OF the iesa nacltney % Of
g0 0dnI 6oIe ana TO create pfa'''A
Conceive that it is precisely because Of this
factas an inevitable consequence Of it. because it
was SO entirely revolutionary in its character. and
saw so silentiy-and because Of this other fact.
namely the gFoWth Of ys5em W TGn Ra e ca
.'bosses, and our political capitalists who share
Pt6ese facts that the entire community is to-day in
a state of political revolt Notwithstanding al that
NAV be said about the unsatiStactortneSS OF our
present system. the law, in the course OF It's DE-
s9its for which our world OF politics is Infinitely
We have made it impossible for municipal elecI
tons be held in the same year as Presidential
and Gubernatoriel elections ano s InHs oi
Beginning with the compulsory registration OF
New-York Of 1872, we now have such d Id" toF
Tbe State now pays for the entire machinery Of
elections for the printing and distribution Of the
ballots and incident 10 this, we have seen an
oficeholders which lay at the foundations OF the
sm MS party bosses police oncaTs saiOOnkeeD-
and others has o1F 10 1on places were fire.
e a f2F to duot ss the Htany Of bats
an end ana until nightfan when the Jubilation
Begins our election days are now as peaceful as
our Ths ReW legislation has also rendered impossible
dhe ei bs1nsIess bribery Of voters at the polls.
The ballot boxes and their contents are are, nov pre-
sscon bonfrts once inspectors had signed
their certificates
SUGGESTED REFORMS DISCUSSED.
Lei US is H his great body Of legislation. We will
begn with the matter OF registration In view OF
the 9{gfg and Of criminal practice repeat
ing it is onr RaW Which shall provide ready
n ma he Identification of person presenting himself
FOR gne he proposes to vote shall not dis
cuss the merits Of the different e
Whatever system may be adopted It seems 10 me
that naT Fh eut n end to the practice because where
the system win suffice 6ros 20 VIE scarcev
have the courage to test It, at the possible expense
OF ONE ntS Of the chief OF the mscaTIiagss Of
our elections at the present time IN II fhe ey or
md capacity on the part OF the inspectors ana the
fact that or Bo a to- to f be pot
clans or as 70 Va e be Expense Of the public
While it would be impossible so long as the Re
force prevent the equal f def t%o Great State
spsGtos II seems to me that there is. NEVERTHELESS
p immense field for and that N any
eSSad With due regard to the constitutional pro
Vision. be subject to riVid civil Service e@Aihi-
nation.
pA11oT AND MANNER OF VOTING.
GIL We adopt the Australian or Massachusetts
,1int according to which all names of canddafes
for the same s 9 the title Of the Once for which
they are running2 To make TINS enan geRS a
eeaRst the premium which now prevails In favor
OF voting, the the discontnuance Of party en-
Si Ip5e Although foresee no possibility OF II In
this conpe ths features which viii demand the
u attention OF tr Ime organzed sentiment through
,t fb State in favor OF the passage Of corrupt
The work in the preparation ratio OF such
bill mas a. FOR the legislature 10 ind excuses for
not Do passing The eSks an 10 aps0a Of
sory or associations. political or voluntary
parteS VI u, candidates, OF all sums OF money
Vel as "a by them in the election OF the soIfss:
from when su 6ich they were expended and pro-
purposes loP Vnent by corporations of any
trout lions TO me 10 be Fundamental that at any
II Seems Dominating election TO select candidates
primary Elective office the voter should be free TO
IS for candidate for any city oee Without
regard 70 the citv Office for whom he votes-e. G..
for snolHSt a+ he votes for Citizens Union cand-
tne ia Sor the mayoralty nomination should IN no
date t LII him from voting for the Republican
way , Gov the nomination for Controller, or the
GGStIncrstic candidate for stin another city oice
DIRECT NOMINATION SYSTEM.
,rb.-a &c to-day a demand by large part
~ nc Community for the adoption OF what Is
Known as the system OF direct nonina tons For
,boea u,hn are unfamiliar with the meaning OF the
ferm may say that, in short, 1t looks 10 the
elimination OF all nominating conventions. ana the
6ract nomination OF candidates by the voters them
sslYss upon registration day. whsns salsx HASinS