New-York tribune., 1909-02-21

ID
Ger who is trying TO do his duty TO leel tio ~
can appeal directly 70 the FoleEs 'i ~ F
for an EXPRESSION of confidence - non
F7or1rti1-It is also objected that the po9I .S
VIII be alta disadvantage as conpareu 49, 80 r.
rich man. Under the present system uilie - -
,,oor nan is favored by the party leaders ne is a
a difficult task and cumbersome iile'ii yq-i.1
pursue in order to secure nomination -
D. -igs7t +. he placed upon the primary palot
f,z- retirior with the opportunity 10Y hiS L -
10 make a direct appeal TO the voters oi II IN
,srt.- 5r his ,chalf with an official ballot pro-
vided at public expense the poor man M1' us
greater advantages than he now enjoys @ f,, Will
nomination is be procured through iLs -
Engness 70 obey orders, il IS better thal ,, ne
should Tot be nominated If however ne, ne w.
upon the force Of public opinion 10 SC .ib ~
nomination he viii be aided by method WHICH
will give IL freer expression. -
Further there may be suitable pro oNlsloL nzat ~,
the limitation Of amounts that may be , -
and Of the purposes for which they may pe f eH
pended in support Of candidacles. II ne i emf
ble use Of money despite restrlctleIs, ls 9e-s
f7ient reason for denying 10 the par y -
the right TO choose their Candidates, .s,ion+
use Of money in general electiofs i d sun ~
season for DENYING TO the people at large the
right TO elect their officers We snou!q supi-S @
safeguards. but we should MAINTAIN uS pan
FIfth-It has been said that Il would be mad
-se9tl. % nominate Judges by such method
But if there is any officer whose noT:1lnaIloh %
denomination should not he determined by DOSES
ana ciques il is the Judge II Is not 20 pe @ Io s
should be in a position virtually to place ms
favorites upon the bench Nor should "a defeot II ef
the denomination of just judge
ELECTION OF JUDGES,
There has always been a question whether
Judges should be elected. appointed by re-
sponsible authority. We have decided tnat lney
should he elected And # they are 10 be elected elected
their nomination should be made in such a way
as TO safeguard their independence ana insure
the freest expression Of the public Will Wheh
Judges have been renOminated without psr@usalI @
division il has not been because OF an intense
desire of partisan leaders TO place members OF
the opposing party upon the bench Dut pecaus
Of concession to public opinion. There is no
danger that the honest and able Judge WouIu
suffer by direct vote for his TenoliillalIoi, %
mat inferior men would be placed upon 'he
bench :,
sixth-It has further been contended that di-
rect nominations might result in the choice OF
candidate by mere plurality vote, ana thus
force upon the party nominee not suppoItS.0
By a mai jority Of the party voters But cahuI-
dates At general elections are elected by plu-
raIity vots. If a Governor may be so elected
70 Once what is the objection 20 a cendldate
for Governor being so nominated for ONCE
This Is an odd objection to come from those
who support the present system ror al pres
anf candidates do not depend even upon
plurality vote and frequently IL may ne ques-
toned whether they could have secured the
support Of anything like plurality OF the party
voters
Tals the supposed case where the leading
cendidate on a direct primary vote has only
plurality He would have represented no more
had ne been the candidate Of a convention II
the party leaders and the convention mao PSheo
the winner. he would stin have represented. as
the direct vote shows. only plurality of the
party voters And If the leaders and conven-
1ion had picked some one else, he would nave
represented still less.
Manv Of the objections that ara made reveal
a distressed imagination with regard to pos
eihle consequences while those who suffer from
these fOreb0dings seem strangely unimpressed
loy actually existing evils. Their Hypothetical
noes aFiict them erfevouslv bat the spectacle
Of a scandalous perverson Of our representative
system seems 70 give them slight Qualms-
To listen 10 Of the objections that are
urged would think that plan was TO be
Trsposed which would be a composite Of all the
L. -F-4r ~ all yha
states ] believe that il is entirely possible in
applying the fundamental principle involved TO
frame reasonable and practicable measure
which viii he a decided Improvement upon our
present system and Vet take just account OF our
political conditions and history
Before suggesting some Of the leading features
Of such a measure ] desire 10 refer 10 certain
matters which not involved
II IS rot proposed in any way to affect the
right make independent nominations. This
right 10 make nominations by petition distinct
from party nominations is conferred by the
election Law. and il is not proposed TO destroy
impair IL We are dealing exclusively with
pzr+y nominations II they are unsatisfactory.
independents NAV make whatever nominations
they choose in the manner prescribed by law
Nor have I recommended the direct election
OF United States Senators. or the nomination at
the primary Of candidates for the United States
Senate
Under the federal Constitution. United States
Senators must ne elected by the legislatures in
the several states ] have stated that / favor
constitutional amendment for the purpose Of
having them elected directly by the people in
the several states But this question is not
before
I have not inclined TO the opinion that Iegis-
lators he bound legally under the present
constitutional provision with regard TO their
choice for United States Senators Whatever
may be the moral effect OF advisory vote OF
the people whatever may be urged for or
against the advisability Of securing such a vote
that question is not involved in the recommen-
daticns have made for direct nominations
Nor dealing with the so-caled initia-
tive and referendum. Such proposals have ref
erence 10 direct legislation by the people. an
entirety different matter TIE proposal as TO |
direct nominations relates 20 the party nomina-
ton Of candidates for Offices filed by popular |
vote at the general elections
MAIN FEATURES OUTLINED
we may now proceed TO the consideration OF !
the main features Of a method OF direct nomi- |
nations suitable for adoption in this state under
present conditions.
Ff-st-Enrolment-As the nominations are /
70 be made by party members there should he /
suitable provision for the sscertainnent of such
members. GrievoUs mistakes have been made in /
guards in this matter Fortunately in this 1
state have the best enrolment system in the |
country. and il is already mandatory in our |
large cities At tho time OF reEistra ton those |
who desire TO enroll may do so in order 10 es- |
tsblish their right TO act as party members dur
ing the succeeding year The enrolment is
made suitable time in advance of the pri-
TnaTies and is based upon a reasonable state
Tnent OF party afilt2tion. Our plan Of enrol
ment is a revelation TO many who have worked
under directive laws elsewhere. and reduces 10
q minimum the opportunities for introducing
into the primary the voters Of any other party
"a frequent source Of fraud and an invitation
20 the corrupt use OF money. Further, we have
worked SO long under the enrolment system
that II larger cities IL IS entirely familiar
70 cur voters; and thus have a distinct ad-
vantage in this state 1 understand that in
Kings County there enrolled at the last
registration over $4,000 Republicans and over
1I90o0 Democrats, and in other parties about
1900, making total Of about 22S0 600 enrolled
voters out Of total registration Of $4,000
-----------