New-York tribune., 1909-04-09


prtved of his advantage over his poor rival who
can offer only his character and his proved abil
lty as the grounds for party confidence II
faFors the poor man who can neither pay ms
way to office nor is willing to put himself under
obligation to boss. The qualifications for suc-
cessful candidacy are not TO be found in private
letters of credit. but in solid reputation.
Much has been said of the possible multiph-
cation Of candidates and Of the opportunities
AFFORDED TO the self seeking and the ambitious
But under the plan proposed. the contest Is
narrowed, and the chance Of many candidates.
is very slight Committees elected by the party
Tor the purpose meet openly and may propose
but not nominate the party candidate. Other
candidates may be proposed by petition ana
naturally the prospective success of such can
didaCies will be determined by the character of
the committee selection. The committee must
pick the man whom they favor, and II there
Is opposition t. their choice it will be focused
naturally upon the most available man. The
committees themselves must be chosen at the
primary. and they will be voted upon even as
their candidates are voted upon so there IS
the necessary check and Countercheck. while
the final decision lies with the party voters by
their direct vote at the primary.
FAIR BASIS OF REPRESENTATIONS
Much has been said of the vote Of city dis
tricts compared with country districts. but
the bill proposes fair and uniform basis of
representation, that throughout the state
each committeeman has vote for his district
and an additional vote propOrtoned to the num-
Der Of voters of his party within his district
1t is fair and equal basis Of representation.
1t is in striking contrast with the grotesque
inCOngruties existing. which in many dis
trctS make moClery Of representation. 1t mas
been said that of the present inequalities
have been designed for the purpose Of meeting
exigencies in particular communities. Rather X
appears they have been designed to meet the
necessities Of political control
1t is true that the bill provides that in count
ing the primary vote the candidates shall be
credited with the party strength of the districts
that they carry. but this is obviously an ad-
vantage 10 the rural community. where there
vote.
The discussion in regard TO the relative ad-
vantages of particular districts cities towns
is largely beside the mark. It assumes that
cities and towns in county elections VIII vote
as units and that counties in Senatorial or
congressional elections will vote as COUNTIES
But the citizens Of these divisions respectively
viii in this manner. In a county the
tCopie want d soON SNulSE IN -. Ia,.,Io,1oa ,f
has recommended himself to the commence OF
his fellow citizens the vote of a city within the
county will not be cast solidly against him be
cause he may live outside It's limits Inc suS
gested considerations are OF far greater I'M
portanCe under the present system. with IN
desire to secure the fortunes Of those Wlthln Ia
yored groups than they would he II the party
voters had opportunity TO make their choice
directly.
The essential point is to have fair basis OF
representation and for that the bill provides.
But il is said that the voters will not take
advantage of their opportunity Ihere IS no
basis for this statement Experience IN "ther
states shows that under direct primary very
fun vote is secured.
A friend sent me the other day a copy Of the
returns Of the Republican primary held last
year in Union County. Penn, and also of the r
suits of the general election in that counts II
is a rural community. II would seem that MI
Taft received even more than the full party vote,
running at the head of his ticket with one eA-
ception. His vote was 2.541- But If YOU com
pare that vote with the votes cast az ths pm
mary in the preceding April you Will see how
large a proportion of the Republican voters eX-
..rcised their right Thus the vote at the pri-
mary for the candidates for County Treasurer
was 2249 for the Assembly II was 224l; Tor
Senate il was 2,097. and for County Recorder 1t
fff~a1f T1il
vote at the primary.
TO another matter.
am informed that the party leader in that
county. holding important office, publicly eX-
pressed his desire that a certain candidate
should receive the nomination for a certain
county office That candidate received IN fact
952 votes at the primary His opponent receives
.346 votes. And that the candidate thus win
ming at the primary reflected the actual senti-
rneft Of the community appears from the fact
that at the general election he polled 2657 votes
running 10 votes ahead Of Mr. Taft himself.
GIVES EVERY VOTER CHANCE
II the party voter has chance to vote for
the candidates directly he will avail himself OF
his opportunity: he viii not waste his time ON
delegates His business prevents him from de
voting his time to politics. and he merely wants
a chance to do his part simply and effectVeIy-
That is provided by the system OF direct hoini-
ma ations.
obstacles TO impartial government in the in
tarest Of the people are created by interests
which know no party but work exclusively for
their own advantage. II is not loyalty to party
which occasions the trouble but loyalty to spe-
cial interests which seek to control the party
and utilize the party machinery.
When last year II was sought u make the
law Of the state correspond with the mandate
Of the constitution and 10 abohsh PerhlclouS
discrimination in aid Of public gambling. was
it party spirit that filed the lobbies OF the cap
itol and animated the opponents OF the meas
ure?
our desire is u give full opportunity for ef-
<.ctf-a nartv work in the flIrtheranca OF party
~ 70 YiA-G
unity to honorable political leadership. but at
the same time TO supply that needed safeguard
against the use Of these important organizations
to the detriment Of the people and in favor n
special interests We rely in the community as
a whole upon the free expression OF pubic
opinion and upon the right or the people 10
choose their officers. If we are II nave whole
some party government We must have the same
oprortunity within the party.
| know OF no better way of lnsuring the peo-
Dle against exploitation from corrupt political
methods than by, making political managers ac-
coupt directly to the voters of their party and
giving TO the voters the right Of final decision
by direct vote upon the candidates that are
presented.
of government and all legislative measures of
reform finally depend for their efficacy upon
The plblic officer And our aim should be 50
to irnnrove the method OF his selection to
secure the maximum weight of public opinion
in the choice and to fOrtify him In manly tnde-
pendence as representative Of the community
when chosen
The Governor na0e no Oh 'li' oiluie
of the direct primary bill in the Assembly. He
spent the night at the Hotel Seneca, and viii
return to Albany early tomorrow morning He
was the guest Of honor at a dinner given to-
night at No. "A Social Centre.
KILL ADVERSE PRIMARY BILL REPORT.
Bay State Legislators Substitute Original