New-York tribune., 1909-02-06
MAKES SANE ARGUMENT.
President Schurman Il grees scith
Speaker WGdSzCOrth.

Utica n. Y. Feb 6-President Jacob Gould
Schurnan Of Cornell University delivered an ad-
dress before the One Hundred Club OF Utica to-
night on Some Public Reforms in which he took
issue with Governor Hughes's advocacy Of direct
primary nominations and declared that the adop-
ton OF such a system in this state would be a
menace. rather than benefit, to the political in
terests of the people President 5churTnan SAID a
four weeks trip through the West far San
Francisco. IN which he talked with Governors,
legislators. judges. educators and other repre-
sentative In the various states where the sys-
tenn had been adopted. we'll as in states where
It was not In use, had made him skepticai OF the
wisdom and expediency Of adopting such a system
in tho State Of New York Instead OF affording
the people fuller share IN their own government
and producing better for the public service
the two principal ''reforms' which the champions
Of direct nominations declare it would accomplish
II would initiate against them. he declared
He was at all convinced that the plan would
quicken the interest Of the people in public affairs
or weaken the power OF the bosses.
IF the boss hourishes. it is because we. as cit-
zens. neglect political duties And We are
destined to disilusionment II we imagine that the
enactment OF some law concerning, nomina-
tions VIII cast the evil spirit of and effect
our political regenerat
Monetary corruption and corporate influence"
would prevail IN the direct primary system as
much il did in the present system, he declared
One tendency In this state would be that the city
of New York would practically control the nomi-
nations, and the voice of the rural districts would
not be heard. Various candidates WoRd be placed
in the field by direct nominations in the rural dis
tricts and the candidate agreed upon where the
population is Iargest-that Is in New York City
would be nominated This would be potent evil
OF the new system
He had a great regard for the present system
of nominations in the State OF New York. because
II had produced Charles z. Hughes
However the bosses ragged and whatsoever vain
things they imagined he said. "whsn the repre-
sentatives of party met in convention. con-
ferred with one another deliberated on the situa-
ton discussed the prospects of defeat or victory
weighed the sentiment in different parts of the
state and listened TO the advice of leaders and of
unbiased and intelligent pubc opinion. they recog-
nized that the situation demanded Charles E.
Hughes If we had been living under system of
direct nominations, the name the party would have
submitted the people as candidate for Governor
would have been the Of the candidate
ceiying the highest number OF votes at the pri-
maries even though that number was only very
small fraction of the entire vote OF the party.
"A convention gives opportunity for elaboration.
for conference, for comparing of opinions, for
Weighing OF the merits and availability of candi-
dates The direct system of nominations gives the
rejns TO the impulse of the moment and makes de-
liberation difficult. 1t puts a premium passing
popularity"