New-York tribune., 1909-03-28

Half a Century
direct vote. They and their work will be judged
OS SOpportuntv 1Ir will be afforded for investigating
the Genesis of candidates. the relationships OF the
men proposed as candidates ana al 9 toc+
"a their character and qualifications. Inc tacI
that this opportunity exists will be poWeII!IIii
deterrent from the suggestion or men "h0 WI, WIZ
not bear Investigation. Under these conolIons
the law will be largely self-eXecut1ng, 1of there
will be powerful incentive 10 the preSentdlot' VI
candidates of proper antecedenIs aIla iic1eS bnosA
Now for the most part. the Leaders cnoose
candidate the convention echoes It's approval
and the voter must accept OF vote Tor d cdtIai ~
date Of the opposite party selected IN tne Saiiio
Under the plan proposed the leaders may
suggest a candidate but the party voters hdte
q chance within the party on primary oay -
saw whether or not he shall be chosen 70 repre-
sent the party the party nominee. WhelSaS
at present public sentiment lna? a. +be SA
IN conspicuous cases be recognized IN s+le .Eox
lection Of some leading candidate, ana OthSt
candidates are put upon the ticket with shsLle
regard to the wishes of the voters upQer tlis
proposed ulan each candidate may be suoJected
TO scrutiny. and If the party voters are as
satisfied with any one on the llst tneE VIII
have opportunity TO express their opposltlon-
Giving the committees the privilege or oeSlg-
Mating candidates will largely prevent the mutt
plicity of candidates for nomination whlch the
opponents of direct nominations seem SO InucI
10 dread For instead Of having variety oI
sporadic candidacies-the result OF the Soou
nature Of friends or merely Of the sef-seeklngS
of anabition-there will be a responsive candl-
date in the field selected by responsible COM
ratteenaen with due regard to the exlgsney o. d
the primary. If the selection is appropriate u
will probably be generally approved ana the
futfIity Of opposition will appear. II IL IS op-
posed the natural tendency will be 10 conoS1-
trate the opposition upon the most aVaAsoie
man. ~,
mum Der Of petitioners required for the oesisna-
ton of those candidates whose names are pre-
sented bv petition. Critics have been insisting
that direct nominations place heavy burden
of expense upon candidates in procuring sig
natures to designating petitions. If we had no
plan for committee designations II would oe Irue
that TO prevent a multiplicity or candidates
large number of signatures would oe required.
But with this plan the number can oe greatiy
reduced In other words, you may sa1e!y rely
upon the futiity of opposition II II appears lIlaI
the party sentiment IS preponderantly IN taNor
of the one designated by the party committee,
and YOU need not require so many signatures 70
Onposine petftions In the Hinman- Green bill.
for example, It is provided that q candldate Tor
Governor may be designated by petition with
one thousand signers distributed through ten
counties so that there shall be at least nrty
from each county.
EFFECT ON FUSION MOVEMENTS
With regard to judicial positions the advan-
sentative committeeman elected TO the judicial
district committee for the express purpose OF
designating candidates who are TO be passedG
upon by the party voters at the primary, VIII.
Il is believed be arnenable 10 the best sentiment
with regard 10 judicial nominations; and II they
are not, the opportunity IS Afforded Tor opposing
The Importance Of having committee designa-
tions IS also clear in connection with fusion
movements, notably in our large cities. THESE
movements for their success require the CO.
operation Of responsible agencies representing
>the elements who propose to act IN concert
Where one OF the leading parties Is concerned
in this movement it should have responsible
representatives. TO act for II in all the prelin1-
mary consultations which are necessary TO de-
reFmine proper CnOiCe- But IL Is also
important that the decision should be ratlned
by the voters OF the party.
Fusion movements have no promise OF success
save as they reflect public sentiment There
is no general interest in such movements II they
ace They must be based upon general desire
to improve city administration by a combination
Of elements otherwise not necessarily IN accord
IF there is such generaa desire It Will be the
desire of the greater portion of the voters OF tho
party that is to join in the fusion. II the fusion
ticket is so weak, and the desire for fusion IS SO
faint, that the proposed candidates do not COM
mend themselves to the party voters at tho
primary, there is little in the movement. There
can be no question but that fusion movement
properly inspired, discussed In the press and
resulting in agreement on the part of re-
sponsble representatives, of the various elements
upon worthy candidates viii come to the party
voters with a strength greater than that which
would accompany the ordinary designation OF
party candidates. This is because it would
bring to it's aid the partisan sentiment with
regard TO municipal administration-and also
with regard to the judiciary--whieh so largely
exists among enrolled voters.
Further, the enrolled voters have the right to
say what shall be done by the party. Those
who say that fusion is impossible because the
party voters would not ratify 1t would seem to
mean that they desired to use their authority TO
force upon the party what II would not take II
1t could help IT, This is not representative party
government and IS no more desirable IN order
to effect fusion than anything else that Is op
posed to the wishes of the party members.
Objections TO details are always proper sub
tects of consideration. and, if they are sound.
easily be met The important question IS
with regard to the principle OF the proposed
plan. That principle is that the party voters
at the same time they shall have the beneht Of
the recommendations Of party representatives
fairly chosen, with the opportunity to accept or
reject
THE BALANCE OF POWER
Nor is there any ground for apprehension with
regard to the balance OF power as between city
and country. For the bill provides, in substance.
that at a party primary the respective candi-
dates shall be credited with the voting strength
of the party in the districts, towns or wards
which they carry.
1t is q system that, If at once put into opera
tion will work. There is nothing visionary or
Impractical about it. 1t is a plan which takes
account Of existing political conditions II is
long step forward. and il correction is needed
1t be supplied easily in the light of expert
ence. Party voters will become accustomed to
direct primaries for the purpose Of nominating
party candidates and It will be easy TO make
any changes in the method OF designation that
may be found desira BILE
Why should the plan be opposed7 One thing
energes clear and defined as tho real reason for
opposition.
That is, that there Is given TO tho voters the
right to pass upon candidates.. II has been said
that ticket stand being attacked within
the party for several weeks. Esperience shows
the ticket. Good candidates with uninpeach-
able records, strong in the confidence of their
under discussion. They have more to fear from
a short campaign than from a long one. Their !