New-York tribune., 1909-04-07
LOW ON PRIMARY BILL
IN F4TOR OF END SOUGHT.
4fraid, Hozcever, That Measure
UM Not Work as Vel as Hoped.

Ex-Mayor Seth Low. who will be one OF party
10 go from this city Albany to attend the IegiS-
lative hearing on the Hinnlen-Creen direct pri-
mary nominations bill gave out a statement Iast
night outlining his position on the question Inc
former Mayor says: Personally am hearulN III
favor OF the end sought by the bill The question
in my mind is whether the bill will work IN the
manner expected by the sponsors
Mr.. Low discusses what he considers two objec-
tons TO bill. one being the length OF time be
tween the fling OF nominations and the primary
and between the primary and election, ard the
other the expense involved in the plan TO candi-
dates for election 10 public Office. He also shares
the fears OF President Parsons of the Republican
County Committee that the bill would make an
anti-Tamamnv fusion in the city this fall impos-
sible if il should go into effect once. Such an
objection would not he permanent he says, but he
hopes II the bill is pass that il will not go into
operation until 1910.
The idea. Mr. Low says. is worthy OF trial. but
whatever amendments may be made he believes
the law would work less successfully than its ad-
vocates hope and not so badly as its enemies
assert.
Since Mr.. Low voted with the supporters OF
President Young Of the Republican Club some
time ago. TO seek further information on the sub
iect of direct primaries before indorsing them he
has been quoted opponent Of the idea. He
says he went to the meeting prepared 10 vote IN
favor Of the proposition. but was so impressed by
the argument OF President Young that he decided
studying the Hinman-Green bill in particular and
the entire subject in general
MI Low finds strong popular tendency IN FAVOR
or direct nominations. He finds also that in many
places such laws have not realized the hopes OF
their supporters entirely. He Commends the Hin
manreen bill for its attempts to correct faults in
other laws He believes # would make members or
the Legislature less amenabe to control and FOR
that reason would weaken the hold OF Tammany
Hall on the Democratic party in this city. For
E,-Fr.i he
plan trial
Mr Low suggests that possibly the provisions Of
the bill might he adapted TO the convention sys-
tenn. but adds that whether such system would
respond as well TO aroused public sentiment Is
a question TO be answered only by experience
Mr. LOWS STATEMENT.
After discussing some of the novel features OF the
Hinman-Green bill Mr.. Low goes on to say
The first and most vital question is WhetheF SdrH @
Iesentstive government which most on bib ~ nop1ar
be the only possible system upon "llitn ptry so
government successfully rest IN SoG1.
The Governors argument that the people, as as d
matter OF theory, are as vel ahle 10 mas t4ah an
pears TO me be conclusive. | cannot tG De.!tTe
that it is any more dangerous it 10 ,be rsr5sI-
dates for Office than to elect the of1iciais r,;n
Green riif bill Involves only the very practical cues
ton, whether the system for noInlna' 'ing Caiu'- i
provement on the convention system now existing
The thing to be said about II IS theI II s;
Teenati0n than now exists MY belief is that.
even If the onynon IL @ system nnG Is nteet fG re to sdop
what Is applicable Of the plan proposed in this bill
Tentions I believe. in other words. that. whether
.5 rTj,3ar- Is =, select delegates 10 a nominating
convention whether il is 10 nominate itself the
pTocess via possibly certain notifications Of de-
tail might wei be adopted in the public interest
There is one feature of the bill which has so far
escaped attention While the bill provides for the
nomination of candidates within the STATE OF
Ne York & it sSG pg9IdeS 59T the n o1ber wofs
in this aspect the bill recognizes the convention
lions II would be Interesting TO know why. with
the safeguards provided by this bill, the people
vention just they do elect directly delegates
,orTeption - svsfen7 so advanta geous thing in
itself that every convention which can ne p!aced
between the people and the nomination is itself
Pers9naIiv, am heartily in favor Of The end
sought by the Hinman-Green bill. The question in
my mind is whether the bill will work in the man
greatly fear the effect upon the result OF the time
table and OF the multiplication table. The ofhcal
fore rS election day That means early in september
Ina Ss means; an m IN ofSe iti 1gs he absenne Of large
membership Of the Republican party from the Re
large a percentage, from the Democrats primaries.
Again. the orncial nominations are TO ee made
by the party committee eight weeks before me
September primary: That means that the of1cial
absence Of a still larger number from the city
and The probability that many who do not learn
Il in season TO make an effective protest, even II
CRITICTSES OFFICIAL DATES.
Il Is noticeable thst committee nominations for
delegates and alternates 70 the national conven-
beid IN everv Presidential year are 10 be made
only thirty days before the primary and filed only
saTy 10 give SO much longer notice in
with the domination OF eandiaa6e$ I Who NO are TO
of delegates to the national convention? think
ponuIar interest viii more than Offset the gain in
any opportunity for deliberate action attaching
TO the lorg period between the publication OF the
Official G fn he and 9f 65e be 5s HRIn b u
tends the nomination of canddates-su bstantialy
~ 9e Th S nS% % as 10 b 5he
bend that the expense to be met by the state viii
as for the regular election Probably the unof-
fetal expense will be approximately as great TOR
primary election for the regular election. for
contest Doubtless. however, contest for the cleo
so far as Subdivisions OF the state concerned
have been reduced 10 the lowest practicable limit
the system proposed by the Hinnlan Green bin in
case Of contests viii be very costly one because
Of the qeeessty " Of & reaennE f SO large an electorate
ured ! speak particularly Of the city of New
! Share the fears of Mr.: Parsons that if this
nrobablv make Impossible a fusion Of the AMI
say that it would do permanently, after the
people have become accustomed to this method OF
renf ear "a the npproacbipr ayoSalt , .ne
tion. would be practically hand the city over
in advance 10 Tammany control.
Ex-Justice William H. Wadhams will lead the
forces from Manhattan which viii appear in favor
Of the bill to-day. Others in the party, in addition
10 Nj Low Will be: Rabbi Stephen s Wise
Norman Hapgood Horace f. Deming Lincoln
stefrens Ray Stannard Baker Walter II. Page
James b Reynolds, Homer Folks. Dr. John p.
Peters ex-Surrogate Charles II. Beckett Dr.
Nehemiah Boynton Colonel Henry W sackett.
L.