New-York tribune., 1909-01-26
REPUBLICAN CLUB
AGAINST GOVERNOR
OPPOSES DIRECT PRIMARY
NOMIN4TION PLAN.
Charles H. Young, the President,
S5Uings "4nti Sentiment at
Stormy Meeting.

The Republican Club last night at a special
meeting by q vote of 81 10 S. turned down a
resolution approving direct primary nomina-
tions the lines approved by Governor Hughes.
and adopted a substitute resolution, moved by
President Young OF the club. as follows:
Resolved. That the Republican Club ndorses
the plan suggested by the Republican state
platform by which all primaries may be regu-
lated that the election law may. In effect. be-
come the primary law and recommends that as
to direct primaries the subject may be made
matter of inquiry and report of commission
either appointed by the Governor or otherwise
The debate preceding the vote occupied three
and half hours. closing at midnight, and was
one of the most spirited in the history of the
club.
One week ago last night the friends of Gov
ernor Hughes in the majority and could
have passed a resolution calling for compulsory
direct primary nominations. Il was decided to
postpone action for one week, and drafts of both
permissive and mandatory resolutions. with
request for a full attendance at the meeting last
night, sent to all the members. This
brought out good attendance.
John A Dutton introduced the compulsory
resolution and spoke in favor Of 1t. calling
for support of the Governors policies Ex-
Senator Nusbaum opposed the resolution. citing
the experience of the Republican electors in
Oregon, which Taft carried, but which. through
the operations of direct primary law, has sent
to the United States Senate Democrat He
also cited the contest for the Senatorship in
Wisconsin, where the wealth of one Of the can
. didates enabled him to capture United States
Senatorship after alleged expenditure of
100000 he said that under a direct pri-
mary system the wealthy man had by far the
better chance of controlling the party ma
chinery.
william H. Wadhan1s spoke in favor of the
mandatory resolution. did also James s.
Lehrnaier and John G Agar
YOUNG TURNS VOTE AGAINST HUGHES.
Charles H Young whose speech is admitted
to have turned the fight against the Hughes
men. is the president of the club He is the
man who took leading part in the movement
to nominate the Governor for President and is
often referred TO as the man who brought OUT
the Governor. He said:
We have the authority of the Republican
leader of the nation William Howard Tart for
the proposition that the Republican natlona!
platform should be lived up to; and at the ONO
society dinner he declared it meant what II sald
and we should honestly cndeaNor 10 accomplish
The nurposes expressed in that platform, partlc-
f1larv on the subject of the tariff. That doctrine
is mere expression of honesty Ihe party ne
represents prides itself on that attribute
In this state the party platform urges re
tentian of the delegate system in all primaries.
with proper regulations around that system: NO
word is used in the platform relative to either
pernissive or mandatory direct primaries
No individual SnOul0, or can. OiitIOi 1iiS "~
lion Of this club Neither the personal views nor
opinions of the Governor or myself should pre-
vail here against the party platform. Inis clu9
is a Republican club and as such IL adopteo anu
approved the party pledge II the resoIuIioh i
offered prevails. it attempts TO Vitlate that III
Strument
CRITlCISES ANTI-GAMBLING FIGHT.
4 wear ago Governor Hughes departed from
the t,latforn in advocating the suppression OF
gambling but that moral question ana NOT
. notitical one and even then this club refrained
from taking action upon the question, although
n great 1aiority Of the club favored the Gov
ernors position. Now we are asked TO recon
slider the vote by which we approve the party
nlatform and to favor plan absolutely opposed
to that platform We are asked 10 repuuidte
Taft's principles and the expressed principles or
No man in this Club expended more time,
more money or more effcrt year since tnan
d;5 In advocating Governor Hugness advance
men; no man has had more respect TOT MS
Qualities and attainments than mysel' Dut si Nnen
he asles me to follow him. contrary TO the party
platform | hesitate.
And IL il be urged that fhe psoi'ie "iiueiS S'oou
Continued On nth