New-York tribune., 1909-06-28
ASSEMBLY NOMINATIONS.

In the campaign for the Republican nomina-
| tion to the Assembly from Otsego County III
| which Assemblyman Charles Smith has just
been defeated by Mr.. Stephen c. Clark, the issue
was support of the Governor and his direct pri-
maries ulan. Assemblyman Smith was the can
didate of the Republican machine, and was un-
derstood at first 10 be Of the anttHughes per-
snasjon When Mr. Clark entered the field
a Hughes supporter and advocate of primary
reform Mr. Smith perceived that he had made
a mistake and announced that he had been mis-
represented, that he was one of the Governors S
best friends A little later, in order TO stem the
tide. his managers let il be known not only That
he was a friend Of the Governor. but that ne
was prepared to vote for direct nominations.
But despite Mr.. Smiths personal popularity and
his concessions 10 public opinion, he failed to
defeat the man who had taken the Hughes end
of the controversy from the outset
This is one of the few straightout contests
in which the direct nominations issue has been
raised. In another similar contest in the Os-
wego district the result has been similar, for
Assembyman Frank L. Smiths friends are un-
derStood TO concede his defeat by Mr.. Sweet the
anti-mac achine candidate. who attacked Assem-
blyman'S Smiths record Of opposition 10 the
Governor. Results I'm the Senatorship primaries
in Malone, Franklin County. are instructive TO
those who question the vitality OF the direct
who represented the Hughes forces. entered the
field for the nomination TO succeed the late Sena-
tor O'Neil only a few days before the primaries
he received in Malone 500 votes to $50 for eX-
Senator f D. Kilburn. the organization candi-
date. In general the friends of Governor Hughes
and the organizers of the movement to urge
direct nominations upon the voters have reason
TO be satisfied with the tests of public sentiment
thus far made. In the two Assembly districts
where a campaign has been organized against
opponents of the Governor the candidates sup
porting direct nominations have been successful,
and in Franklin County movement got up al
most overnight gave distinct signs of strength
and probably has not yet been heard from
finally.
The retirement of Assemblym8n Hamn, of
Wayne County, is claimed by the opposition 10
the Governor as a victory. but his declination 10
run appears 10 have been voluntary Certainly
the conduct of the opposition in Wayne County
did not indicate confidence. When the OrganiZa-
tion there heard of Mr.. Hamns retirement it
called hurried conventions TO name his successor.
OF its haste The Wayne Democratic Press
remarks:
called and held in this county this year does
not rebound to the credit Of the leaders OF the
grand old party Never before has anything
half as bad been attempted Primary after
primary has been called by telephone wire
less until not only precedent but the law has
been violated.
The law was violated. says The Press" for
committee called the Assembly district con-
vention. The chairman Of the Assembly dis
trict committee, it asserts did not know a con-
vention had been called until he read the ad-
veTtisement of it in party newspaper. Never
but once in our memory remarks 'The Press
has an Assembly convention been held before
the county convention in Wayne County" Such
haste does not indicate that the opposition 10
the Governor had the situation in the hollow Of
Its hand. 1t shows fear Of temporizng with
a dangerous situation.
Signs Of the same sort are observable else
where. For an off year, Assembly district pri-
maries are being held remarkably early. One
Republican Assemblyman was renominated be-
fore the session Of the Legislature closed. in
deed, before his constituents had opportunity
TO learn how he would vote upon the direct
primaries bill The general impression seems
TO have gone forth that II will be well TO make
nominations before the Governor has chance
to talk and before sentiment on primary reform
has an opportunity 10 develop And, for aught
we can see, it is prudent course