New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-03-12
DIRECT NOMINATIONS.
Correspondent Believes That They Would Be
the Best Remedy for Political Bossism.


To the Editor OF The Triouns.
Sir: william N WINS. Republican advanced
leader and recognized refOrmer. has had much 10
say recently about the measures that hs and others
propose FOR the regeneration OF the Republican
party IN this state. and for the welfare OF ths
common people. agree with Mr. WINS in his gen
eraI policy concerning the specific questions o.
rapid transit and the other Administrative Guss-
lions which vitalIy concern the people OF New-York
State, but 7 am loss 20 account for Mr.. Iyinss
persistent silence upon the subject CT Greet noIli-
nations Mr. Wins strenuousIy advocates the adop-
ton OF the Massachusetts FORM Of ballot, and
claims that the adoption Of this form q ballot
would OF itself eliminate bOss-srl. as = has eH1--
mated bossisn IN Massachusetts
Tor a man Of NIr. Ivirs's acumeu. the advocacy
az the 1Tassa chusetts ballot. without Single rer-
ereucs TO the Massachusetts system OF direct noui-
nations az primaries is surprising. Il IS a little
more surprising that all the advocates Of the
Massachusetts, ballot seem 10 be without any IN
formation to the eject OF the MASSACHUSETTS
direct primary system. They say there are 10
bosses in Massachusetts, and they dsduce with the
doguatisrn OF Euclid that the Maz5achusstts balot
has wiped out bossisr Why does not Nj Ivln5
recall the fact that the direct nominations system
Is in practical effect in the thirty-three largest
cities Of the state Of Massachusetts. and has been
since 1882 Why does not AIr. WINS recall the fact
that AZ the primaries in Boston last fall T2O0O man
voted at the direct primaries for the nomination o.
Mayor and other city officers, out OF total cleo
torate Of 5000?
believe the Massachusetts, form OF ballot IS
good thing do not believe the New-Yorl form
Of ballot IS altogether a bad thing. The average
New-York citizen knows that Mr.. Jerome was
elected last fall. and each one OF the $4,000 men
who voted for him did so by voting split ticket.
Therefore. IT can be assumed that the New-Tork
ballot so far Mr.. Jerome was concerned, Is as
good as the Massachusetts, ballot
The writer vas a delegate at the recent con-
ference in this city OF the National Civic Reform
Association on primary and ballot reform, and lie
noticed that. with one or two exceptions. all the
delegates from the regions outside Of New-York
favored the principle OF direct nomination as a
remedy for bossism. One OF the exceptions was
James G. Monahan collector OF international reve-
nue. at Madison, Wis, who criticised the Wisconsin
Primary law and the La Toilette system. The
fact that Mr. Monahan IS a federal ofhceholder
and that he is closely allied with the SpooneT-
Phster Wisconsin Republican machine, which La
Toilette has nearly destroyed through direct
nominations ought TO be OF itself q complete ex-
PLANTATION os Mr.. Monahan's opposition to direct
nominations
At the same conference Congressman William S.
Bennett. also q Republican. openly admitted that
his nomination to the Office he now fills was de-
pendent entirely upon the action OF one man abe
Gruber), although he represented the SURFACES OF
10000 people. MI Bennett did not seem TO have
any convictions He said that direct nominations
would not destroy the power Of The bosses, OF
nation Mr. Bennett aid not give any reasons Tor
his belief that the direct nominations system would
be inpotent to destroy bosses. AS q long time op-
ponent of the Gruber rule in my district. d. not
agree with my Representative In Congress In his
unbelief IN this case
1t seems to me that the convictions Of eminent
and brainy men from all parts Of the country
where the system OF direct nominations IS prao-
tised. when these convictions expressed
ference OF the Civic Reform Association should be
of interest 10 Mr.. Bennett, Mr. WINS and all the
advocates Of primary and election reform.
There Is now before the Legislature at Albany
New-York. which contains the best thought OF
brainy Republicans OF New-York, men who have a
store OF practical experience IN politics at least
equal 20 the experience Of Mr., Bennett and Mr.
sentation TO the individual members OF the party
in the management of party affairs. It conserves
every legitimate interest OF the Republican party
Il Is worthy of the serious consideration OF Mr.
enairs- Mr.. Wins is sincere he viii no longer
and II. In bis opinion II IS desirable measure he
viii so state TO the public. At the very least ne
win. II be Is sincere define his position upon the
general question Of direct nominations, and thus
remove anxiety from the great number OF his
friends and admirers who are in the dark about
his convictions upon this question.
Wherever direct nominations have had a fun and
lar fTia the SYSTEM was put IN practice BY the
the pioneers In this movement 7 believe that ft
belongs 20 the Republican party Of NeW-York State
70 Ieaq IN this movement for direct nonina tons
ssk ~. ITlnai are you willing that William r
vocating the principle OF direct norninationsf
And again, In conclusion, 7 ask Mr. Iyinsi Why
DO you talk about the Massachusetts ballot and
say never word about the Massachusetts system
OF direct nominatlonsS
JOSIAH G PUNIPE1LY.
Nev~YorfI March O. 1903