New-York tribune., 1909-02-25
GOVERNOR STANDSFIRM
UNAFFECTED BY CRITICS.
Oulv Practical Way to Make Parry
Nominations Responsible.
by Telegraph to The Trisune- J

N +be criticism ievelled at
covernor Hughes's plan for primary ie - -.
M. affected his IDEAS IN the least IL sHs1he -
E,r. of criticism has confirmed him IN ms Pe'.
- -. a, a.. .,,,- r-actisai. practicable way te
,i...n so--e respensibiiify for party hoilliiieoO
sna Al tie same time give ~ she rshS anu -
nartv voters an opportunity 10 say theH sNS =
who shall he candidates ,,- ,,
cav for the frzt time since he outlined ms hoIi
nRting committee scheme al Brooh'En Oh Sauna I1i
night He declined TO discuss his views i7i -, -
cation He has not been retieent. however WIN
friends who have sought 70 learn what iHPress'o"
shs stresn Of criticism OF his plan mas 'O
him ard his position is well understood mere
AS matter of fact. the Governor has been sofie-
what amused by the fashion in which al tne eioe ~
AZ his direct primary recommendation before taes
knew the plan he hsd in Enno nave SNN1'e ~
base Of action since his speech
They we're shelng position, aHe were rus
prised and grieved. when the smoke Gear o. 80 -
70 learn the Governor was not there was the ~"'
one OF IFS friends expressed H.
II seems, also, that this was no new posi"on iOl "
tho Governor Always he has regarded himseh as
g party man and a loyal Republican FssaFa'ess .,
what his opponents III that party thoush'' H
zbea he recommended primary changes ne oio -
with no intention of destroying or disrupuhs ms
azn zsrtv or any other. Without having WORKED
out the details Of his plan as he gave them AT
Rrooklrn or as eventually they VIII De efhpooieu
in the bill 10 be presented, he had in mind pan
,,ar,inariens and for giving the enrolled voters an
oppertuHsty pass on the list OF cenaioates ior
nomination before the nominations many Se'e
mad. Incidentally, he believed that there should
he surrounding the primaries ali the safeguards
ro4 srpli.o 10 elections including an official bal
Lot ana limitation Of expenses and that the state
Kheslls assume the expense OF thus guarding the
primary system
TOOK POSITION ADvIsEDLY-
The Gev.rnors frienes say he took this position
aoyise6ly. after long study, and is determined 70
stand bv il now since he believes In IL wheliy he
thinks il fs one thing eTticise plan, but quite
another 70 6svise which would be WoTkasie
sad hsve the courage te put IL out and have IL
voted Up OF Te,ed down Hughes men say there Is
much nniseeHcePtOn about the great expense and
tbs number Of candidates which this plan would
bring ferth. As FOR the two elections argument.
the Governor is believer IN the good old-fsshened
campaign where the questions at issue are fought
cut IN puhiic al length.
His plan MS friends VIE have ahsiFzea IL say
has these advantages:
Party committees chosen directly by the enrolled
voters ard answer bic 70 them. sts..o.
Publicity regarding the ORGANIZATION eahoioapes
Tine FER fun criticism Of organization candidates
and opportunity 20 turn them down al the pri-
a. erneisl urinary ballot and other primary safe
guards al the expense Of the state
In ethsr words the proposed system wenld put
into effect ell advantages anybody could claim for
the existing system, with all the improvements
in the system giving s the advantages OF publicity
and responsibility fixed by law, and the cheek OF
the primary referendum"
ARGUMENT NOT TAKEN SERIOUSLY
The argument that this system would give to the
party leader far greater power than he could nope
10 have under the convention system is net taken
seriously by the Governor and his supporters
How many control the nominations for state eI
fcers under the present SYSTEM" asked one Not
more than half a dezen, and in some instances 1t
wouldn't be hard to pick the interests actustiRg
them Nov, whom the state committeeman
responsible 10 under the proposed plan? The party
voters Who are talking leudest against this great
power te be given the state committeeman The
state committeeman themselves This is just an
esker Of straw
There Is little change the situation here. The
primary bin is completed yet; in fact, there
is still some disa greemeht among the upstate mem
bers about the basis Of representation Tor party
committees snd other details When it comes
sIorz and only then viii IL be possible 10 judge
accurately of the sentiment regarding IL in the
Legislature The Governors friends are feeling
well satisfied with prospects and say that the senti-
unent around the state in favor of the proposed
changes is 50 great that no Legislature would care
: 10 withstand IL