New-York tribune., 1909-10-06
TEN orEsTIovs 4. .WERED.

Our Genesee Valley contemporary, Inc
Rochester PostExpress'' demands more than
its fair share of our space. We have already
devoted two long editorials 70 its enIighten-
ment choosing among the many topics that II
pressed upon us those that seemed to us most
important-namely, its objection that primary
campaign expenditures could not legally he lin
tied and its charge that having formerly 'swal-
lowed the Governors primary plan with our
eyes shut we now only beginning TO
ask questions and express doubts. 1t is not sat
isfed. These matters it says, were not i'm
portant And our failure to answer ten ques
tions which il says it asked. each of them we
presume, to the extent of half column, it calls
strange 'reticence." Bless you. it is not reti-
cence at all. but our contemporary has the
advantage of us in the area of space it has to
waste on improbable matters But since it in
snuates that we are afraid to answer its ten
questions. we shall answer them in order as
briefly as possible:
A few days ago The Tribune said that in vir-
glnla IL cost candidate for primary nOnnina
tiOn $4,000 to advertise himself to $4,000 voters
adding: 1t might cost a candidate ten times as
much to do the same thing in this state. where
the Republican vote in 1908 S59533 and the
democratic vote 633,981, but such an eXpendi-
'ture would clearly be excessive, demoralizing
and against the public interest" We asked how
I that could be when the amount per capita was
no larger
Because, gentle but Opaque inquisitor, the
amount per capita" was too large in vir-
ginia.
The Tribune said there should be a law pro-
viding for a modest maximum OUTLAY" We
asked what that was.
We have no definite sum in mind We don't
pretend 70 say whether it would be S24999 SIS
or $4,000 as our contemporary assumes In its
next query. We advocate the principle of a
limitation expenditures, and this we conceive
10 be the whole duty of a newspaper in the
premises. Let the Legislature attend 10 the de
tails after inquiry and consideration.
Assuming that $4,000 would be modest
outlay much larger amount than our caudi-
der the representative and convention system
we asked The Tribune what an unknown man,
+ running for "a nomination for a state Office,
could accomplish with that amount OF money
T what could be done with that in a state so
large as Ihis?"
We don't care if a man couldn't buy a nom
inatiOn with $4,000. We don't want him 10.
A candidate ought to have such qualifications
for office TO make it a matter of Indifference
as regards his success whether he spends $4,000
/ or $4,000. The fourth fifth and sixth questions
appear to he summarized in the seventh Lack
/ of space forbids us 10 treat them separately
when they can all be answered together. The
| seventh:
! We asked The Tribune if it had not changed
its position on direct nominations eServ time the
/ Governor had changed his.
And this from the logical acrobat which had
/ just said we had become dubious Of the Gov
/ ernorS plan, Thus we are charged with follow
/ ing the Governor like a sheep and of having
/ doubts Of his leadership. Sheep do not have
! doubts. Both these accusations cannot be true.
/ We answer: No The Tribune's only change of
opinion has been 10 become steadily more i'm
pressed with the necessity for the adoption of
the direct nominations principle in some form to
insure to the people fuller participation party
affairs
We asked why The Tribune criticised an in
! veStgauon Of direct primaries elsev here after
! II had specifically urged such an Investigation
We neve- urged investigation by investigators
| who had made up their minds in advance.
| We asked how poor man desirous of a nom
ination for a state office could get IT under tbe
/ Governors plan against the candidate desie-
mated by the state committee.
/ We feel no concern about the man who is
( merely "desirous of a nomination" There are
| thousands of such who are disappointed under
the present system. Poor men having other
qualification for Office than a mere desire are
constantly nominated at direct primaries in
other states.
We said that many sturdy opponents Of hoss
ism were afraid that the Governors plan woujd
only make conditions woTse. and asked what
The Tribune really thought about IT,
We are not afraid that it will increase boss
ism. Neither are the bosses
There, We think that is all. We hone the
opacity of Rochester is adequately clarified
But this is no precedent. We must keep com
mand of the use of our own space We reserve
the right TO decline to answer questions in the
future, for we are mindful Of the trusm that
any fool can ask questions 10 which even the
wisest can find no reply
4 GREAT, CHINAMAN