New-York tribune., 1909-07-27
NEW PRIM Ky LEAGUE
IN CHEN4NGO COUNTY.
Er-Judge Wadhams Explains Sim
plicity of Direct Method.

! y.
League of Chenango County organized to-day
| under the auspices OF the Direct Primaries Asso-
citation of the State of New York. Nelson P.
| Bonney presided at the meeting. which at
| tended by prominent citizens Of the county. Sam
uel 4. Jones' who is making a campaign for the
| nomination for member of Assembly a direct
, primary platform against AssemhIymau Scott who
voted against the direct primary i'll the
last Legislature. WAS of the speakers. William
| II. Wadhams, of New York. president of the state
| association, and Merwin X. Hart OF Utica. VICE
president. also spoke. Judge Wsdhams said in
| part:
Ihe reason for the progress Of the Direct Pr-
Hughes's appeal Is that the ciizens Of this state
still believe in government OF the people, the
| people and by the people.
ot There mas grown up within the party group
OF men who style themselves The Organization
| anu VINO nave assumed TO take from the party
members. on The one hand the junction OF the
| didates. and from the public officer, on the other
hand, the control OF the exercise of his official du
| Let Us not confuse the 'bozs" with the party.
We are not opposed to party organizations Every
sahzt''on as any other member. Committeeman
! ship. and ne directly responsible 10 the party
posed plan each party oficer must be elected 81
| Efar pF me majority vote of the party members
| Under the present system, either through com
convention and }he 3Iceas @ tr are seIsSn 70
gets8t1S 10 the state convention ana these dele
state ,c@amitt.emen MT SO that The highest party
.ne , PsrE membership. and IN order 10 dislodge
sra'e committeeman f. Is necessary 10 be success
Under the proposed plan. the first name At the
nsad 81 me fer rsht hand GGinmn s the name Of The
elected each year by tho party members IN his
ent meIobars Of The ssat oa ans 2f 2o,S ,hS
tate 10 go before their district for vote Of con
! a state committee elected directly by the parry
nembership and representative or IT, Rmt hndsr
the present system the state committee is in
deas Of Y rs s o5ssonc2 Paa9n and is careless and often
| The is that the party committees generally
select all party candidates The party msn1bers are
| expected and required 20 surrender all partlcpa-
= ton. except when aroused over soma krsat isss.s
In the selection Of candidates for public ofica rrs
party membership IN both the great political parties
any Function as party members except to Tete the
ticket prepared FOR them by the bosses election
But that IS not all The boss idea iu party gov
public official is expected show due gratitudS 10
the particular boss who has selected him and die
the requests OF his boss after he has been elected
upon to make appointments suggested bv The
accused by the bosses OF inEratitude.
Further, when members have been by this
10 represent. not their constituency by any means
for their constituencies have little do With
therefore have witnessed the failiar spectSoe
Of members Of the legislature being delivered hy
Under this boss system the real power Of govern
official position, and who are not responsive for
Their conduct Through subservient men of their
exercise the functions of government, Had the
sented them rather than the people. the ultimate
result OF government of the bosses for the bosses
As # is we have in the exe@ve Se cbap sn
who wa was forced upon boss ridden convention by
an overwhelming popular demand which he plain
party in the state Of New York II Il wae nnt
beeded We have. therefore. witnessed clean cut
senting the people OF this state fighting their
@ battles by demanding the passage Of legislation
posed laws which were detrimental to their IN
seiactio of R T-bi1a6S sqf osher than upon the
There we're no r2rty pTincipies which dtstn-
guished a Democrat from Republican in the last
namely, between those who were deiirerabie by the
Ratnes,Grady combination which stood for the boss
vote under orders, and those who believed that it
was their duty to represent their constituents
parties of this state find themselves committed In
ment Of the bosses by the bosses and FOR the
bosses with the result that the majority party in
under the domination OF Tamnany Hall by the
Senate. member of the Republican State Com
satisfactory 10 the special Interests. 1t is pretty
that It might be too direct for them 10 move them
selves, formed an organization largely composed
Through this body pressure was brought TO bear |
which was Intended to be cover for the action q
defeating the placing of the telephone and tele- |
graph service under the Public Service Commission
The cover was hardly necessary; it certainly was !
not effective because it transparent, but ii |
gave members of the Legislature plausible ex-
cuse returning to their constituents for their |
failure TO represent them, and fer their eminent |
hand their promotion retirement private life
Further evidence of the adrnirabls working Of |
the boss system was the defeat Of the legislation
which would have strengthened the Public Service
Commission and enabled it 20 regulate the question
of transfers in the city of New York
The proposed system is fair. reasonable and |
workable. 1t is American in principle. The more !
II is understood, the more it will be supported bv
the people, because it is in the interest of the |
people Through this means not only will there he |
farer method of selection of candidates for party
Offices, but In larger measure the people Will |
come into their own in that their represen tatives
will be selected by. and be responsible to and |
therefore fight for the interests Of their constitu
ency.
The popularity of Governor Hughes is in large
due TO the fact that he is the sincere ad-
voc&te OF those measures which in the interest
of the people.