New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1909-02-22
HUGHES PLAN SOLUTION
Hailed By REPUBLICANS.
Manu- See Chance To Be Loyal to
GoUernor and Party.
- r.lsgraph 70 The Tribune.


rrsv Telegraph to The Tribune
.,hs,-, Esh q Strange as It may seem. dis
cussion TODAY OF Governor FIughes's outline OF -"
direct primary system at Brooklyn last hlgnt III
Gates that advocates Of the convention System .i
base their opposition TO the Governor P4ta
mainly on the ground that It would concentra.o
political control in the hands Of the bosses ~
plan for nominating committees and the carry mus
~ the selection Of these committees the regular
candidates for place on the oficial primary oai0'
is taken as the ground work for this notioh
Tbre ,bA Governors seduIous care to preserve
party organization Of the right sort-a tralt WHICH
his opponents in the past have declared ne u1 -
possess in the slightest degree-appears ooui"
become one Of the chief arguments against rs
primary reforms. Speaker Wadsworth. lnoeeo' us
this argument In discussing the Governor speech
Little doubt is felt that Barnes ana seFerdl go
politicians of similar opinions who nave oeeI me-
violently opposed to the direct primary hotioI w
take the same view. OF course. it will put theni-
the bosses-sonewhat in the position OF opPosihs
the very things in political life which the noS
ernor and his supporters proposing TO correc'
by direct primaries. The bosses would De oenouii0
ing bosssn
HAILED AS SOLUTION.
On the other hand. many Republicans VINO nave
been somewhat torn between loyalty 20 the Ho'
ernor and loyalty to party organization winch Ho
was represented wishing to destroy by the CIT
primaries, are likely to hail this plan as spleIdlu
solution OF the difficulty. Indications have been
a splendid thing for the party and all the leaoeIs.
and even for the Governor, II some GROUND oouiu
be found which the various elements couiu
unite because the leaders did not care 10 hno
themselves II open opposition to the Governor oh
a question which might result IN their motives
being seriously mscons;rued. That ground many
here believe has been found by the Governor anu
those men working with him. for this plan though
It never with any suggestion OF truth regarding
the Governors attitude could be called compro-
mise recognizes and deals with the objections OF
the party man to having party organization as
rupted. It is said that Buffalo and New YORK CITY
leaders will favor this proposition
The Governors opponents on this question
though consider his suggestion for a preliminary
process In nominations confession of the inefn-
caoy of direct nominations pure and simple Speaker
Walsworth. for instance, said:
don't care to discuss the Governors suggestions
oughIy to study his plan. But it seems perfectly
IONS about it. It's not fsh nor fow-a hybrid. il
you please: but surely not simon-pure direct pri-
Any political boss who wished to obtain and re;
very ESij sTate for this system At rst blush it
seems 20 me to offer the means for perpetuating
Governor. for instance by state committee would
wish TO see And that nominee, being the regular
tage Of having his expenses paid, his organized
backing assured and preferred Place on ON the d gT
saddle on himself and his friends the expenses OF
P P5 %th s s ton Work This pfao
ticaiy. would be obstacle n state the size Of
ours which 0 candidate is going to overlook. es-
peclaly when he realizes that the pre-prinary
G%Rann 1 96 Be os enough no to
the nomination Aside from all these objections
nominating committees is confession Of inherent
weakness in the direct no1ninauons system , ana
Of G yofers G'''' '''
Speaker wadsvorth IS scheduled to make a
speech at Lockport Friday night At that time
he probably viii take up for careful and detailed
analysis this scheme of the Governors
THE GOVERNORS ONLY AIM
Hughes men who have been working with the
steering committee drafting bin along the Gov
errors speeica tons declare that this line OF arsu
rnent is all beside the mark. The Governor aid not
recommend my system to put bosses out OF exist
ence or to produce ideal and perfect primaries they
sav So far as direct primaries are concerned. he
has not even recommended simon-pure direct
primary system OF necessity. His aim. oft eN-
pressed in various shapes has been 10 get pri-
mary system which would put the responsibility Tor
party nominations the voters Of the party. in
stead Of on rhe party leader. no matter how high
his character and ideals. And. than that. the
Governors desire has been 10 get a machinery
which would enable the party voters time they
wanted "a 70 step into action and DO their own
work IN their own way with certainty.
Whether or not the party boss would flourish
under such conditions would be nobody's business
but the party voters, since only by their consent.
direct or indirect could any boss or leader OF any
degree exist.
It seems probable now that the direct primary
bill Will be introduced fairly soon. within week
or two II the upstate legislators can reach an
agreement on few vexing problems. one OF these
will ba the subject OF proportional representation,
designed to DO away with the contention that the
heavy city vote would than outweigh ths
rural vote on statewide questions AS the steering
committee IS working out that proposition. # is a
sort OF unit rule AFFAIR. Under II the candidate
who carried given rural county by any margin
whatever would have tho credit Of the entire vote
OF that county at the last election for Governor.
This solution. though. does suit several legis-
lators who know OF Il. and those drafting the bill
NAV want TO study over IL more before the measure
is completed.
In view o. the determined attitude OF William
Barnes IT. in opposition direct primaries. there
is considerable speculation here about the trend OF
speeches at the Barnes organizations annual din
ner TO be held Thursday night. Senator-elect Root
will be the chief speaker. and. It has been an
nounced will reach here for conferences day or
two ahead OF time State Chairman Woodruff
will be another of the speakers. and Lieutenant
Governor White a third. Up to date. while he has
made several speeches recently. the Lieutenant
Governor has not breathed a word which could be
taken to indicate that he had heard there was any
discussion OF such subject as direct primaries in
this state.
APPEAL FOR AID FOR HAT STRIKERS.