New-York tribune., 1909-02-03
TO STUDY HUGHES PLAN
PARSONS APPOINTS MEN.
To Report on Direct Nominations to
County Committee.

President Parsons OF the Republican County
Committee has appointed a committee which, it
is understood he intends to have consider and
report on the question OF direct nominations The
committee was appointed under an authorization
Of the county committee, which. at it's December
meeting, passed resolution empowering President
Parsons TO name & committee ito consider Wnat
further amendments. II any. should be made to
The laws concerning elections and priT aries In
order to prevent, SO far possible. fraudulent
voting and to insure clean ballot
The committee named yesterday by President
Parsons consists of Edward r. Finch, chairman;
Collin H. Woodward. leader OF the 23d Assembly
District; Joseph F. Nedjedly, lea.ler Of the 18th
District: William Chilvers leader Of the 18th Dis
trict; Joseph Levenson, leader OF the I'd District;
James Cowden Meyers. Morris Einstein, Anthony
Luddin and John c. Boyle. jr.
When the resolution providing for this committee
passed the question OF considering direct pri-
mary nominations was not s,;ch burning one as
II is to-day President Perscns had in mind some
changes the registration law following the per
sonal Identification act OF last year, which would
be an advance In obtaining absolutely honest
ballot. Now the question to where the New
York county committee is to stand on the direct
primary legislation advocated by Governor Hughes
is being asked all sides
The general impression is that many OF the lead
ers here arc opposed to the idea, but few Of them
have permitted their opinions 10 become public
President Parsons. in particular has been careAul
not to express any conclusions on the subject
Although It will not be openly announced. 1t IS
understood that the Finch committee is to take up
the direct nomination question President Parsons
believes Il to be entirely within the province OF
the committee, and that such a settlement or the
problem, so far this county Is concerned would
save much discussion. OF course. the county com
mittee will have to pass on the recommendations
of the b-conmittee
Mr.. Chilvers is the only member OF the commit
tee who has stated his convictions the subject
He strongly advocates direct nominations, as sug-
gested by Govern Hughes. Mr.. LeVenson Is
known to be openly opposed 70 Governor Hughes
and his ideas.
There e meeting yesterday in the Offices OF
ex-Justce William A Keeuer OF those who are
organizing a movement TO secure and disseminate
information bearing the proposal to establish
in this state direct primary nominations in place OF
nominations by convention" After the meeting the
following statement was handed out:
meeting OF the committee was held this day at
the office OF William A keener, NO. 10 broadway.
The comittee unanimously of the opinion
that no legislation IN favor Of mandatory primaries
should be enacted without thorough lnVeStgatiol1
The coT1mittee has undertaken the framing Of a
bill 10 accomplish the Two toIiowinE oo9eGIs' oor
tunity the machine 50 called az the primaries;
. To prevent the possibility of the throwing out
OF legally elected delegates by conventions
General Thomas H Hubbard who signed the call.
but was prevented from being present at the meet
ing yesterday said he understood the purpose OF
the movement to be the collection OF information
regarding the subject, and it seemed to him 1t was
too early to talk OF drawing up bill
Il am opposed direct nominations as a prir-
cipGe' said General Hubbard. The same as am
opposed 20 the initiative and referendum Both
are moves toward a pure democracy rather than a
representative government Such things may ~ork
in a place like Switzerland, where you can get all
the people together, but do not seem feasible IN
this country"