New-York tribune., 1909-04-09
DEFENDS PRlMARYP PLAN
GOV. HUGHES SPEAKS IN
ROCHESTER,.
Says Hinmdn-Green Bill Would
.GiUe V0ters Chance to Run
Their O7cn affairs.
by Telegraph TO The Trlbune.

ny 4e4eEreph 10 ne ATlbOnef
Rochester, April S-Governor Hughes had a
warm reception here tonight and. as expected,
he threw down the gauntlet to the opponents
of the direct primaries bill in telling his hear
ers that he believes absolutely in the success
of a good proposition when placed on its
merits" He addressed an audience of four
thousand persons in Convention Hall His
speech was in part as follows:
The great mass of the people ask only for a
fair show, the protection OF individual liberty
and the conservation of the common right. They
want impartial officers and just laws. They
want measures considered on their merits. They
do not want government by pull or for the
advantage Of special interests
II is only 4 small fraction Of the community
that is engaged in the selfish struggle for - iti-
cal patronage and To make government serve
private ends The question Is whethe' these
few shall control
To secure the common right our principal Of
fcers are elected by the people And we are
realizing more keenly that TO attain the end
there must be unity Of administration. 50 that
by proper concentration OF power and respon-
slbility the people may easily hold their repre-
sentatives TO account
But it is not enough To have popular elections
Back Of the election is the nomination And II
We are TO nave Tree representative GOV trhlIleflI
party nominations must truly represent the free
ly expressed viii Of the party voters.
With exceptions almost negligible the people
are divided for political purposes into two great
parties Action outside these parties is prac-
ucally Ineffective save as il may voice a pro
come our officers of government 1t also hap
pens that in a great majority OF our districts
one or the other party is predominant 50 that
through the influence Of party loyalty nomina-
tion in such a district is equivalent To an cleo
ton The great menace that we have 10 repre-
sentative government and impartial adminlstra-
ton in the interest of the people is the control
b9 the few uf party nominating machinery. The
country is alive To this and is determined to
stop it,
To EMANCIPATE VOTERS.
We propose to emancipate the party voters
and give them fair chance to run their own
affairs. Nominating conventions are Conve-
nISnt device by which the few. exercise power
without responsibility They constitute com
plicated machinery. 10y which control is assured
to those who make d business of politics. and
the necessary correcting influences of the party
voters at large Is exercised under great disad-
Vantages- The struggle is struggle between
party chieftainS each with his retaincrs called
delegates Sometimes they fight for the right
TO name the candidates: sometimes they divide
the candidates by agreement. Leaders differ
and districts differ. Some able and astute lead
efs honestly endeaNor 10 use their power for the
best service Of the party and the people. But il
Is not well that any one should have such
power. II the sentiment Of the party should
control. lei ii be directly and conClusiVely
pressed. Why leave il 10 be interpreted by
Those whose interest il is 10 thwart IT, if pos
schemes2
We hear much Of the disintegratfon OF parties
and the decrease Of party spirit. This has been
due largely to the profound disgust which so
many have felt at the abuse Of the power
which our present system has made possible.
Independent action may have its negative value.
but for affirmative constructive work party
ganization is essential. If we TO meet the
demands Of the future we shouId seek to min
iraze the forces Of disntegration and secure
for effective work within the party all those
VINO are naturally affiliated with it, We can
accomplish this by giving proper opportunity
for the direct expression Of the wishes Of the
party voters in the selection Of candidates.
Some Of those who have secured control Of
party machinery have the effrOntery to charge
The party voters at large with being incompe-
tent TO manage their own concerns. II they
are competent TO choose officers on election day,
why are they not competent to choose candi-
dates primary day. Why should they he
ccnpelled 10 waste their strength in contests
over delegates? They are not Interested in the
choice Of delegates in the selfish ambitions Of
leaders. They desire good administration. They
want certain men who have impressed them
selves upon the community TO hold office and
q become the party nominees Why should
they be compelled TO effect an organization and
vork through the difficult and cumbrous ma
Cliuery of 4 convention 70 accomplish the re-
sulto Why should they not be entitled 10 go
directly to the point?
PURPOSE OF HINMAN-GREE BILL.
II is the purpose Of the Hinman- Green bill.
rov before the Legislature, to provide op-
portunity for party voters to select by direct
vote AZ the party primary the party candidates
for elective offices. I said the other day that
out Of al the rea sons alleged the real ground
Z opposition seemed TO be that the bill gives
the party voters the right to choose the candi-
dates This vas treated as a serious reflection
II particular opponents may be. i is apparent
that their object IS the same. and that is
pre-eut the party voters from selecting the can
didates AT the primary. For if they willing
to Concede that let them say So and then
may devote our sner2ies-the principle being
admitted-to the consideration Of the details Of
the plan with every prospect Of ultimate accord.
The object Of the proposed measure is 10 St
cure by direct vote at the primary what the
convention intended 10 secure and has
failed to secure The object is TO give the
voters the chance 10 exercise their rights. which
experience shows they cannot exercise through
delegates
The objections which have been urged to the
system n direct nominations. with the safe
guards now proposed, have been shown to he
without merit
II has been said that it would destroy party
organization But means have been provided
te maintain party organization. TO secure every
reasonable opportunity for party counsels. -
make leadership representative. and to
me direct election Of party committeeman and
hold them directly accountable TO the party for
their action. In short, no blow is aimed at party
Organization, but only at its abuses Party lead
ersilp remains. but il must account directly ami
II cannot dictate nominations.
II has been said that in some states Demo-
Gratis have voted at Republican primaries and
republicans At Democratic primaries: but argII-
nents drawn from the open" primary have no
pace here. for the plan provides for the state
"lde enrolment and closed" primary of the
party voters
based on the alleged advantage Of the rich man