New-York tribune., 1908-05-18
ATTACK ON W4RD BILL.
{. [. Says 1t Uould GiCe Machine
~. Control of Primaries.
TBy Telegraph TO TIE Tribune

A-osnF- May I'm statement given out to-
nigh -he Citizens Union. Of New York through its
legls- agent, j o. Hamrlitt, makes vigorous
srtack On the hill Of Assernblyrlan Ward. Of New
York. providing for official ballot for primary
elections, il which the bill is characterized as de-
signed 70 place the machine in absolute control Of
me primaries The statement is as follows:
There are indications that unless attention is
lstion before the extra session advantage will be
isken q the t5overnor's recommendations for pri-
Asserhyr7lan Wards fiIf providing an n1z5eisS
ballot for primary elections and method of nornf-
1sIo2s I vas presented at the regular session.
TIE bill Is 50 concocted that il would place the ma
celne IN aosoiute control Of the primaries The
TIE CLIQUE in control is the party. This CLIQUE is
y = e--es. Tec9gnlZed as TIE party. and great
t-Ss-s L = -e-o ol rs position as such.
-1e S5oEe-nor SAYS: To prevent frauds pro-
On an even footing without anT as1tan-ara T +bee
Who zre n power for the tine being, and should
encourage discrimination in The selection Of party
So ia Is The Ward bill from encouraging dis
cr--r-a[l91 N 1he selection OF party representa-
between the vsr1ous nominees This is caused by
zaeE isrge ns5L-l heT IN some cases there will be
case q q contest and seven hundred names with
on a-y contest Discrimination between names
on 50 EEge list is absurdly impossible An official
pr--1a-E ballot would be a fine thing but not this
= ne number Of names. Another essential is the
s2-.loa q the faction column provided for in the
Ike those provided for in the Travis-Green direct
nomination bill.
another vicious feature OF the Ward bill is the
1aeIaoq by which under il nominations be
made by a committee Of q caucus ANY enrolled
party voter can call of the enrolled voters
q MS party. and nominations be made and
1led by committee chosen by the caucus There
70 provision for method Of calling the caucus
o. Lhe number who must attend, but the commit
lee chosen oy the number al least
ter -o- single election district, fifty for ten dis
C1C-s. and SO Oh.
Z the bin means what II says, and the caucus
must be general caucus Of all the enrolled
o. tre district. this should be termed bill for
continuing t1e present party machines in power
src preventing effective opposition The machine
would be- IN most able TO control the caucus
i would be reEerTing TO the old-fashioned primary
Ehe-e attendance al Al one time and place
required when the heelers out in force This
would be- decided backward step. II q reasonable |
hunter q voters want 70 put the pri- 1
mary ballot z candidate they ought be able !
70 CO simply. easily and without ecessary /
1te-ve-l-ls machinery. and good is accomplished
o. tT--E down nominating petitions TO special /
Committee and requiring them be certified by /
chai-Ce- and secretaries If is necessary,
there is 20 reason why il should not choose can
clda-es directly, without turning its powers over
L Z committee And # a and committee
sre necessary. the size Of the caucus and not Of
lhe committee shOIld be prescribed.