New-York tribune., 1909-03-28
EXPLAINS PRIMARY BILL
TO ENTHUSIASTIC 5000.
First Speech Since Introduction OF
Hinman-Gre6H Measure Has
41ppr0caI of Large CrO5cd.


nominations measure An audience OF between
four thousand and five thousand which filed
every seat and every inch Of standing room III
Convention Hail. listened attentively and at
times appIauded enthusiastically his caustic
characterization OF existing conditions IN sonls
parts Of the political world 1t was the Gov
ernors first speech since the Hinman-Green bill
was introduced. and there was manifest on an
sides curiosity as what he would say and how
# would be received The meeting left small
doubt about the temper of the constituency rep
resented there To voters who think Governor
Hughes's speech was distinctly a thought pro-
voking address, explanatory, not denunclatory.
In exactly that spirit the audience received H.
and delighted in it.
Occasionally it became necessary for the CO..
ernor to show why such measure was neces-
sary and then the audience. supplying to its
satisfaction the specific instances he avoided.
turned itself loose to show its appreciation ot
his desire to change conditions
IF YOU want to strike ar the root of political
corruption destroy the power to dictate noInina-
tions" declared the Governor early in his
speech His audience cheered Justify. just as u
had cheered the mere mention of the words ID
rect nominations a moment before and his
declaration that he had no confidence in wire
pulling" Evidently though, there was in the
audience no more spirit Of hostility toward de-
cent party leaders than there was in the Gov
ernor's speech itself.
While We honor and seek TO dignity the sa-
gacious leader and honorable party worker,
said the Governor, Eve want to hobble the sell
fish boss"
No one could doubt it who witnessed that au-
diences manifestation Of approval
So it went all through the speech The Gov
ernor had the attention of his audience. and. II
there is anything in surface signs. its sympathy
and approval
The climax came when. at the end OF dis
cussion of the bills features the Governor asked
sharply.
Why should be bill be opposed2 one rea-
son ernerges clear and defined as the real rea-
son for oppositiOn that is that there is given To
the voters the right to pass upon candidates.
And the next moment 1T is this that viii put
/ the party voters in their proper place and make
/ party representatives their servants and not
+ their masters" cheer after cheer arose. and il
was with some difficulty that the Governor
could obtain silence to finish his speech.
THE GOVERNORS SPEECH
The Governors speech follows.
have no apologies to make for appearing be-
I fore you as he Governor Of the state. ! regard
I il not only a great privilege but the duty
of chief executive 10 appear before Tire people
and tell them what ne believes and why he be-
lives il.
In proposing plan of direct nominations we
are not seeking To confer a privilege. but 90
provide for the exercise Of right The party
voters have the right TO say who shall be the
marty candidates There are those who arr
most determined that this right should not b
easily exercised not because they want the
party to rule. but because they want 10 rule
. the party.
Under a pseudo-representative convention
/ Systeu, experience shows that in the main
parties delivered into the hands Of few
who make It their business to control delegates
/ and dictate nominations In this business.
under the present system, the bulk Of the party
voters who are necessarily engrossed IN the
work OF Iife-in providing by their own efforts
without aid from the state for the support OF
their families-cannOt hope to compete 80
that a few by the Of present machinery
conveniently adapted TO their purposes are able.
, TO large degree. virtually 10 appoint public
officers. and Oy exercising this power they for
tify themselves for it's further
This is hurtful 10 parties and injurious t.
the public welfare. The voters of party can
be better trusted than those who work it for
their own advantage
In saying this am not referring 10 partlcu-
lar men to particular places or 70 a par
ticular party I am referring TO a system under
whose operations will be found good men and
bad men in all parties IN some places leaders
are responsive 20 public sentiment and seek u
work in accord with the demands Of the public
spirit OF the community HI olHer pidceS tuey
are obtuse or corrupt and sometimes both.
Public sentiment, of course, has its way 10 a
. certain extent against all obstacles. and occa-
I SiOnallv wins conspicuous victories. But u fS
a bad thing to have system which erects sa
many hurdles of self-inteTest and natural de
sire for selfish domination in the way Of that
wholesome public sentiment which in the main
characterizes the party voters who generally
!
HonorabIe leadership has. and always will
. have. it's place I wish to say word which
could be construed a reflection upon the
astute sagaciOus leader. who is zealOusIy and
at the same time hOnOraby endeavOring t.
represent his party and further its interests
Such men need We want them strong and
efficient. and they will be tire stronger and
more efficient in honorable endeavOr TO the
I tent that they more directly representative
and work under conditions which VIII dignity
their Office. give them the honor that good work
deserves. and free them from unjust suspicion
But while we honor and seek to dignity the
agacious leader ard honorable party worker.
We want hObble the selfish boss We wauJ
to destroy far possible the facilities for
control of government by special interests The
great problem Of administration ls to get OH
GERS who realize their responsibility to the peo-
pie and can afford show II in their conduct
of office. We may be thankful that we have
had many Of this sort But should aim.
10 secure more. and IL Is in the interest of al
parties and OF all honorable leaders that
should devote ourselves to making our political
machinery serve this end II YOU want 20 strike
at the root of political corruption. destroy the
power To dictate nominations.
p The essence Of direct nominatiO Is that the
party voters shall themselves select the eandI-
dates for public Office by direct vote at the
party primaries believe in that believe
in it:
First-8eeause the party voters constitute tho
party and are entitled to select its candidates
+ Second-Because il makes much more difficult
the selfish control OF party machinery.
Thrd-Because IN this way the sentiment OF
the party is directly expressed and IS not left 70
be interpreted by those who viii ignore IT. so
far they dare, IN order to aehieNe their own
Eourth-Bscause the candidate will owe his
nomination directly to the party voters and will
feel a corresponding responsibility and enjoy
corresponding independence
Fifth-Because elected officers will have an
opportunity to a~7eal directly to their eonstit-
uents and will not De forced as IS too frequently
IL -.