New-York tribune., 1909-03-25
FIRST HEARING TO-DAY
ON DIRECT PRIMARIES.
Gorernor to Speak in Buffalo Sat
urday-Dr. JudsOn's TfeSos.
tnr r.,.rraph TO The tribune. ]

fzv T.,.Sraph 70 The Tribune
Albany March 24.-The first hearing on ''
Hinman-Green direct primary noT1ila'loi,s o.
ure favored by Governor Hughes mas oeeh &C.
fo- tomorrow before the Assembly JuolciarE
Committee Chairman Phillips hxeo thAt uao
this evening SO far as Is known tieie
been no requests for an immediate heaFlns' a"
6ea6 tho text Of the bill is practically unootatn-
t1a =. the limited first edition scarcely sufhced
so- the LEGISLATORS files But the lower house
desires 10 begin work promptly on the biggest
Of its problems. None Of the Leaders VIII say
whether or not this pressges sudden slaughter ol
the measure after a few hearings. ouch Ac'oi'
&c said to be the plan of, the ant-Hughes mex
The Senate Judiciary Committee has fixed April
Il as the for the first hearing on the plll III
the upper house. Tuesday IS the cofnnhttees
regular hearing day. but 1t has so much other
material 70 handle that Wednesdays nave DeeH
set apart for direct nominations
Announcement was made to-day that Governor
Hughes had accepted an invitation 10 speak AT
meeting Of the Hughes Workers at Bunalo Satur-
dsv night It will be his first public speech since
the direct primary bill was introduced. and the
Governor is expected TO discuss that measure IN
detail
The Hughes Workers is organization OF IN
dependent Republicans and Democrats wnlch was
formed last autumn to carry on campaign work
in Erie County independent OF the Erie County
Republican organization. Its inception was due
largely 10 the campaign against Governor HugleS
waged by the so-called Personal Liberty League
among horsemen. brewers and saloonkeepers Al
its head is Superintendent Fotchkiss of the State
Insurance Department Among its members are
Republicans of the type OF John Lord oBrian
recently appointed United States Attorney in that
district.
Hughes men here rather expect 10 see the Gov
ernor fire some hot shot. Anti-Hughes men are
expectant and just trife aPprehensiVe' because
they have not got their plans for resisting him in
the shape they want them, and they do not want
the Governor to get too big start in displaying
the advantages Of his measure 10 the voters There
fore they are making much they can OF the
stories here that Fred Grener, leader of the Re
publican organization in Erie County. had not been
consulted about the Governors visit 10 his terri
tory and are endeavoTing to infer that some frlc-
| ton may develop. Also they are endeavortng 10
| draw some comfort from a reported misunderstand-
| ing about the hiring Of the hall where the Gov
| ernor is 10 speak
DR. JUDsoN WRITES APPROVAL
| There was made public the Executive Chamber
to-day letter from President Judson OF the Uni
yersty Of Chicago TO Governor Hughes approving
| the Iatter's stand for direct primary nominations
and the preservation and regeneration OF party or
ganizations. II aroused much interest among leg
| islators.
When Speaker WadsVorth opposed the Gov
ernor's direct primary plans. we soon had an IN
| dorsement OF them from Speaker Dolley Of Kan
| sas" commented one legislator. Now that Presi-
dent Schurman Of Cornell has come out against his
friend Governor Hughes. We have President Judson
| OF Chicago favoring the plan. Well it's an inter
estng controversy Chicago University. at least
isn't concerned about getting appropriations from
the New York State Legislature"
President Judson's letter as follows:
Ny Dear Governor Hughes: I greatly inter
ested in what learn OF your recoHnn enaatlons r.
6nFq On bese g 9ateTs I for Years past and have
oerirnents in this CITY on these lines It TO
me entiTsly clear that in republic party govern
| avoidable and on the whole is desirable II that
is the case party organzation is neeesslty tns In
been that it has tended too much TO be irrespon-
words leadership has been seized by few adrot
indviduals and has been maiP6aIneq 6X SKIS E
necessary and a wisely managed party viii be un5
| il is desirable that the party membership should
| have distinct voice in the matter and that can
only be done through fsa system m Of Of 6set c pTay an6a
tory G5 PaTy n6 that prpose the Nomination Of
| candidates ohscures alf other matters Choice OF
| the direct primary 1t is entirely possible to have
this done IN IS such TaF % 4at t4s nsWg cnTSe9 b
| VIII put them in a much stronger position than
| In order that the direct primary. whether for
the purpose Of designating the party leaders or for
offce. be successful, 1t is OF the first Importance
| should be definitely fixed by law, and that such
| qualifications should be adequately enforceable al
| the polls No one should have the right 10 vote at
me parry piaLy mar VINO ogeS NOT be 5itione AZ ms
| should be very definite. For insta nee if one has
taiR speeifed candidates Of the party at given
election-he should thereby be qualified TO vote at
| Of course, should have no right. to determine the
| policies Of parties with which they avowedly are
/ not connected. 1t should be made practically I'M
| possible for Democrats TO vote In Republican
| IF ! am rightly informed It is your suggestion
that the regularly designated leaders of the party
| suggest candidates for the primary election. That
co1Tse, by no means settles the nomination, as
| room is made for the suggestion OF other csndi-
| dates also. and from the entire list the men,
choose. The results believe viii be much better
| attained thus than by the haphazard methods Of
! primary may be Of great value. or ii may be a
mere damage 10 public interests. If carefully
guarded so that only those vote who have
| a right TO vote. and Il further guarded so
deed strengthened. by being made public def
rite and den9erafe the res, results m will in ever a1s
rions national parties theoretically have little logi
the is the unit of the nation, and the county
ton. therefore. include certainly state Organi
l cation and county organization. When it comes to
freedom in the way of nominations It is difficult
to see, however. how any group of citizens whether
not should he forbidden to nominate
There is other very serious question. great
which. in my opinion, more than anything else
initiates against the success Of direct primary.
| of many by popular vote. while ostensiby a
democratic system in fact tends to defeat its very
ers. and by putting things in such shape that It
IpossP!e @ Tor i9e avefSse rag yGser TO kno" about ]
chosen to public Office is minimzed. If the people
eouia vote oirecsy only Tor Ieglsadye olneers ana
being held responsible for all the rest. the public
VIII would be far effective. Very truly yours.
HARRY PRATT JUDSON.
In a subsequent letter written by President Jud-
Governor Hughes with regard 20 the