The sun., 1909-02-21
MEAT OF new PRIMARY BILL
NOMINATIONS BI PARTY COM
MITTEES' CONE FIRST.

Parry Men VINO Don't like Them Can Ge
Other Names on the Nominating
Primary Ballot BY Collecting sigma
| lures objection Raised st Hearing
Tho substance OF the provisions OF the
direct nominations bill which will be
supported by the Republican county com.
mittee was made known at q public hearing
held yesterday at the Madison Square
Republican Club by the subcommittee
appointed by the county organization.
The bill has already been drafted by W. II
Wadhams. one OF the members OF the
subcommittee and arrangements have al
ready been made for its introduction in
the Senate and Assembly. II appears
to be much the same measure that Gov.
Hughes advocated last night in a speech
in Brooklyn and MIR, Wadhams says that
the outlines Of his bill have been submitted
TO the Governor and approved by him.
Although the full details of the new
system have not been worked out the idea
Of the Republican leaders Of this county
Ia that Assembly district committees
should be elected at primaries. that these
Assembly district committees should
elect Senate district committees and the
Senate district committees elect in turn
the State committee. Al the subsequent
primaries to nominate public officers
20 be voted for at the general election the
committees shall name the party tickets,
but on the official ballot for these primaries
shall be provided column for candidates
proposed in opposition. All that will be
needed TO put an opposing ticket for the
same party in the field for the Assembly
district for inst ance. will be ten signatures
from each Of the Election distri in the
Assembly district or 100 signatures from
the entire Assembly district In the case
Of nominations for places on the State
ticket the signatures OF per cent. OF the
total enrolled vote Of the State at the last
preceding Gubernatorial election will he
required and this percentage must he
spread over at least five counties. MIR
Wadhams explained that these provisions
would apply only TO the regular party
organizations and that independent tick
cts could still be nominated as now by
petition.
since the first inkling OF the basis
upon which nominations would be made
under the new system was learned at
the meeting on Thursday night Of
the Republican county committee inde-
pendent Republicans who discussed the
matter have not hesitated TO say that the
suggested bill will not bring about any
great Improvement over the convention
system. They assert that the committees
will be controlled by the political leader.
just as the conventions are, and that the
only development of the direct nomina-
tions method as suggested in the bill in
question will he To foster Assembly dis
trict primary fights
This view was taken by J. b. Alice OF the
Brooklyn Young Republican Club. who
for many years has been an advocate OF
direct nominations and who was one OF
the speakers at yesterdays hearing he
declared that the bill W ould make the party
bosses stronger than ever. They will
control the nominations. he said. 'be-
cause they will control the makeup Of the
committees. and because of the power
which will be given to them by this bill
the committees will become self perpetu-
ating bodies.
Asked what sort OF direct nominatio
bill he would favor Mr.. Alice said. ITO my
mind the Minnesota method. with perha ps
some notifications, is the best system that
could be introduced into this state. In
that State any man can become a csndi-
date on any ticket by merely filing an afh-
davit that he Is a candidate for some par
ticular Office and declaring that he liz an
enrolled member OF the party ON whose
ticket hs wishes his name to appear. One
Of the advantages Of this system is that 1t
gives opportunities 10 the men who are
unable to give their attention TO politics
on all Of the sos days Of the year. As
things now exist the party organizations
are controlled by men who are able TO give
their whole time To the work Of their
organizations"
Other public hea rings will be held by the
subcommittee before the formal report
70 the county organizati ton IL prepared.