The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1909-08-27
NewYOrk Governor Fighting
For Direct Primaries.
GETS AN OVATION AT SYRACUSE
He Says No True Republican or True
Democrat Denies That Voters
Are Competent to Rule
Their Own Affairs.

Syracuse, n. Y. Aug. 2G.-Despite the
intense heat, l,5UO people assembled
here and listened to Governor Charles
Il. Hughes In speech m defense Of
direct primary nominations.
Great applause greeted the governor
M he rose, and he was frequently
checred during the course of his ad-
dress, which lasted an hour In part
he said:
Il thoroughly believe in the execu-
tive presenting to people the policies
In which he believes and the grounds
upon which he supports them.
The executive must stand or fall
with regard TO the recommendations
that he advances, according to the mer-
II which they are believed TO have by
the people, and while ne remains within
the circle to which he is limited in the
exercise of his constitutional authority
there Is no harm. bat rather benefit,
to the people in free discussion Of ex-
ecutive proposals and in free recon-
mendation of policies by the men who
have been chosen to represent an en-
tire people
What we are really seeking to ac-
cOmplish Is to deprive certain persons
not of power which properly belongs
TO them. but of usurped power. by red
son Of II ready control of political ma
chinery.
"By direct nominations l mean that
system by which party candidates for
public offices are chosen by the direct
vote of the enrolled party voters.
believe IN that system because it seems
to me that it ronServes best a funda-
mental principle.
'Tho party voters are entitled to say
who their representatives shall be-
/ Theythe party vOterS--cOnSttutp the
/ party. Occasionally we hear the sug-
/ gestion that the voter IS incompetent
/ to pass upon the question.
"Ry what right DO they who. in fact.
/ pass upon the question exercise their
part? Where do they get 1t?
"Thcrc has been in old days the sug-
/ gcstion that there was divine right
of itself and some men essaycd to rule
!
divine right. When it was called in
question the argument was made. have
not nations been well ruled in this
way? Have there not been good
kings; have kings not had good minis
tcrs: have not nations developed and
prosperrd and won distinction and
prosperity through royal aid?
ant Il in INV hnf
the power should I've exercised by the
citizens who under the law were given
the right Of suffrage, because no man
or set Of men had the right to rule
them without their consent.
Now, what is true of the people of
this state at large with regard to their
affairs is true of the parties in the
state and each of the parties in the
state with regard tU It's affairs.
NO man is II true American who
would assert that the people, given the
right of suffrage in this country, are
Incompetent to rule their affairs. No
man is il tru" Republican or a true
Democrat who asserts that the mem-
brrs of his party are incompetent to
rule their affairs.
"By what right do those who, in
fact, rule most of the time exercise
their power? DO they not claim to
place it upon the wish of the members
Of the party? If they are right in that
claim let the members of the party
speak, and they will not suffer from
the result. If they are wrong in that
claim then they are exercising pow
crs to which they are not entitled and
which til" voting strength of the party
would not civ" them" Cries of You
mrr right.'l