New-York tribune., 1909-02-24
AWAIT BILL ITSELF
STILL BEING DRAFTED.
Predicted That There Viii Be No
Direct Nominations Legislation.
IRr re1.r-aph 70 he Trisune.l


Albany, Feb Z3.-Appsrently the direct nonina-
tous situation will not clear up in any way until
the measure designed 70 meet the plan outlined by
Governor Hughes in his Brooklyn speech is intro
auced This may the latter part Of this
week. but there still IS difference Of opin-
ion among the upstate members over one or two
points and the physical work connected with the
drafting OF the is great IL is possible that
& viii not be ready before next week Before II
Is Introduced. # viii have been revised by Gov
ernor Eughes's legal adviser, Dean Alden
Meantime opposition 10 the plan scarcely less
tsaan out-aad-out direct primary is being
voiced here, and many predict there will be no
primary legislation this year William Barnes.
;r. says the scheme is a good one, but that II
might be distinctly unwlse TO enact it into law,
Speaker WadsworTh says II has defects which the
convention system is free from. and cannot claim
n7uch Of the merit OF direct primary Senator
Raines to-day issued a statement declaring that
any plan which would disfranchise % per cent of
the voters. either elections primaries, should
be condemned Said he:
Any provision Of so-caIsd law which inevitably
disfranchises in advance % per cent or OF the
mares unless it Is sbsueE SecSa eeea2 Ss AZ to 6ne DO
in order 10 prevent fraud. should be condemned
reglsra ton of voters do. in fact deprive large
and such provisions only be justified as they
come within the provisions of the Constitution
registration, they con0uce TO the preven-
.on OF fraud IN nominations. The platform of the
Republican party adopted at Saratoga recognizes
The so-called Independents. do not constitute
portion Of Political poReE The fights m OF voter
most remote OF the country districts are sacred and
gentlemen composing. The City Club Of New York,
and thed- power Is often exercised with - least
great degree Cf intelligence.
AsseulblyTnan B. r Robinson OF New York who
is good Parsons man. commenting the Gov
er1ors direct primary plan. said:
Tbs proposition Of Governor Hughes narrows
down 70 the substitution OF a state COMMITTEES with
membership OF thirty-seven for a convention of
ons tnousend a oelegates In other words, nineteen
out OF thiTty-seyen committeeman will nominate
the state ticket instead OF the majority Of con-
II the. present system is open 10 criticism. the
proposed scheme would be more So II the Gov
ernor is trying TO free from boss rule, cannot
see why he should advocate plan that will render
Another very important objection TO the Gov
ernors plan is that il makes Independent nomina-
norninations is borne by the party committee An
10 spend appToxiInatsTv s. 600 n 59s o s ti f
is the initial cost TO him-his entrance, it
q regular nomination.
With State Chairman woodrllr and the BROOKLYN
organization oficIaliy against him with Speaker
Wedsvorth IN opposition to his plan. with Barnes
opposing its enactment into law though conceding
II to be good In principle. apparently Governor
Hughes has gained support within the orEeniza-
ton BY his recognition of the propriet of organiza
ton functions and the desirHbility OF having the
organization legally responsible for its acts The
point is that behind all the arguments that this
plan would give the bosses and the organza ton
more power than they possess lies fact
that legally and morally this plan would saddle re-
sponEibity for their deeds the organization
leaders. and compel them 10 go TO the enrolled
voters for approval OF those deeds. For such
condition they not anxious. and Inevitable
thst there VIII be sprinkling Of leaders in all
sections OF the state who Will oppose this plan
bitterly they would e complete direct primary
system
On the other hand. there many leaders who
have not avoided responsibility in the past, and
have disposition do so now, who undoubtedly
will s1ing IN behind the Governor for this plan
where they would have adopted the straight
direct primary They believe in organization and
that the organizations should be held responsible.
Some Of them even go far to admit that it
might be good thing 10 have the voters on record
with their approval OF the organizations nomina-
tons But that belief. coupled with admira-
tion Of the Governor. would not have stood the
straia OF the out-ana-out direct primary