New-York tribune., 1909-12-13
REPORT AGAINST 1T
NO DIRECT PRIMARY.
Committee 10 Urge Drastic
Amendments TO Lar.

7. became evident 20 those who ATTENDED
81. hearings of the joint legislative COM
--,stee on direct primaries IN this city last
~.~k that the committees report would
~. favor the pssssg. OF the Hinnsn-C;reen
MI this winter: nor is IL expected that IN.
conmitree VIII favor the passage Of any
r,,rs direct primary measure.
n IL Understood. however. that the mem
,@-s Of ths conrnlittee sre agreed that the
--essnt primary lsw needs some drastic
amendments and legislation along that line
vi ~ recommended. Among other fhiuss
a. Is anticipated that ar o-scisl primary
ballot VIII he urged
Some of The members of the coulmitte,
favor s plan by which the convention sys-
r.n, would be retained while az the same
tiune the independent member Of the party
would have e chance 10 protest effectively
against any nomination that did not meas
u-e VI 70 his standard. Tho committee has
,r-esd upor its records The details OF A
Plan providing that any citizen who does
not approve of nomination or noniins-
sious MADE by any convention may. BY
obtaining 9 certain number OF signatures
secure the holding OF an orHcial primary
sste- the convention. Then those opposed
to the candidate or candidates Of any con-
veution may place IN nomination other
men IN opposition 10 those selected BY the
convention. should the primary name other
thar the convention nominees those chosen
~ The primary would become the candi-
Gates q The party a. the election
Although the general impression prevail.
that me committee vas empowered only 20
loek into and report on the merits Of 5ire-.
primaries its instructions are really rnuch
h-osser. T. has the power 20 recommend
r,av avs but also The election laws II
hss tsken testimony along these lines. ana
vii probably make some suggestions out
side -he field o. direct prima aries.
TRGE MASSACHUSETTS, BALLOT.
The committee win b urged % recon-
--end rho psssage - law providing for
~ Nssss chusetts ballot. the request COM
TX from those interested IN the campaign
STARED bv the City Club. l. Is not be
le-e6 -ovve'er. that the committee can be
hrougr- - fayor SUCH Legislation
= has been stated hv the advocates or
Si-ect primaries that tho ioiut legislative
rorr'-tec was chosen with the idea Of hay-
inc bring in q report unfavorable 20 su-h
. ~easr-r Most of SIS members are from
L1s-s-e and there b. much opposition on
90 par NJ inc Republican leaders there -
direct primaries and 20 the Msssa achusetts
lsrIot
Ez-Judg~ Walter A. Knapr. counsel 70
tho committee. who Is a follow roVnsTnsn
s-d rc~sonsl friend 81 Senator Raines.
spesk.ng ar fhe CIry club luncheon on sat
i--dsy. undertook 20 defend the COMMITTEES
f-or~ -he charge ~ prejudice against direct
primaries. He said
vHsf - ask .cl 10 give - this con-
r-,---s which 2 have attended during al
nos che entire summer months of This
-ssr reasonable amount Of faith and
r~rc. in MS integrity and iu It's good in
rerriors 70 60 - the truth of the rnaftsr
fs- e now disturbing rhe electorate ~
f-e Empire state. 10 matter lsovr the
corn.-rer came % Ne appointed. whether
frs method pursued IS approved By yo1
gent 'eu-oD - This club doing such Pr -
reueut work in this cicv and In this state.
- ra- r 80. Ike saying 20 you a. this
rnourLr -ha- this committee Is honestly
seeking r-tr and truth upon subject ~
Jess NJ -a~v politics. regard ess OF whether
ne are members or not of any so-called or
30 are iceutiied WITH any particular form
rf a~so0iari0n- or are Simply Wofklhs =
T-,H-c citizens FOR The good of The NAM
-x-U-DGE KNAPP ASKS CAUTION
N- knapp probably expressed the views
or Ina .e-fr- o. his committee. although
D. sad re did not pretend 20 speak for
Or other han himself. when ne said;
s. fa- e. reform IN the hsIlot Is -H7-
c-T--. 7 would ~uEEest ron'ething OF eau eau
.r. pe-1rI1e,itafl11 on SofertLIaehlsl
sTs.-s n non 30 be desired It Is much
es-ier f. 0sss bad law and Get N upon
&C. -'-ta-e book than it rs 70 get rld ot II.
- --" iv these matters of reform. both
o. -r ra"of and as 20 methods - norni-
hating naTfdl lGatas for or1ce, iet ~ nor
essIr 7r a. me ils De know not of, even
~ve rs-. - endure for the time some Of
frr-a .rrT which We suffer study. medi-
t-r.or. reflection Tho experience OF the other
~
fr-rirr. may 10 q value 10 US II IS that
l-H. nf experience which our COMMITTEES
ta- harr r~fnC 20 earn about thiS year
I'M Journey rovering seven or eisht
tHoG-a.I miles "a the study - municipal
s---ar.e -- most Of the important cities
20 r..l H-e- o-dea.oririg 20 arrive II
r"al former method shah - best Tor me
ho1- rH-.-Ic oF the Empire Sfare. ror sim
g." -." sake of giving eNeTy .-'l.5 .-lu.
O. NAVY rr Hs inherent 70 say Eho tho
Csrt't4-r -IaH b.. bur that We may on
ia.0 rH- Hr~'. the U ~ upright the mos
rou.r-'e-- pubic ser ants. when s-
lfra rH nr -re Ultimate aim, the goal OF al
r--. service.
Before returning % his home IN Roches-
'-r Sa.srar George l. Meade. chairman of
gro str- ror7rittee. said the committee
resizaf tury that the primary election
lsvT would have to Do improved material
d.. a.l-
"7r -sv 1raff ? bil. and v" u-E only
make =.--e-tiors for The drafting OF a
hr H- sr-. hut ~ VII suggest remedies
that p-r believe viu correct al the evils
tr nlr present system"
Eevsra- other members Of the committee
vigorously EXPRESSED che belief that cleo
49, ..rT.rore differed materially IN this
'- tr.~ hose .n other parts Of the state
Trf +rau r-v fhe direct primary IN
oar rarz -.f-.- said senator James a
Emerson ~ VNar-eusrurg. II d. not know
vr~ -1-r- -offs not frs this ides down
lsro they e-a 50 anxious - % 50. and
lrs-r al. --ercrn alone upstate