New-York tribune., 1909-06-25
DIRECT PRIMARY FIGHT
ST4TE-WIDE CAMPAIGN.
Var on Legislature Candidates Who
Oppose the Reform.

Organization Of the State Direct Primary Asso-
citation which was brought into being in the clos
ing davs Of the legislative session TO advocate the
enactment Of direct nominations law having the
generaI features OF t. defeated HinmanGreen bill
is practically completed. In a few days a state
wide campaign will be begun by the association
Fx-Justfce William H Wadhams. president OF
the association, announced yesterday that each
candidate for Assembly would be asked 10 state
his position on direct nomina tions- All the infu-
ence of the organization will be swung against
those candidates who refuse 10 pledge themselves
TO support a direct nominations bill
This will not be done by the association as a
state league. but by the county organizations which
are being formed a part Of the work OF the
state organization II auv of these county leagues
desires TO support an in dependent candidate against
machine Republican who has refused 70 bind
himself 10 the support Of Governor Hughes on the
direct nominations question. the state assocla1lon
will help that campaign as much as possible
This is not a partisan movement nor an anti
organization movement" said Mr. Wadhams yes
terdav II know the regulars Of the machine call
US soreheads and kickers We can stand that We
have already in this organization men OF both Dig
political parties. We believe in responsible party
government and in organization
But we believe in having primary laws which
will assure each citizen. Of whatever party that
he may vote his partys primaries with certainty
Of having his vote counted and without having hls
viii discounted by machine manipulation IN the
primaries or by manipulation Of delegates a1ter
u-v1a-tRS We want CnanCe 10 Sr-T-L 'i-L u
4cials without the intervention Of middlemen' VINO
NAV understand our desires or may not and who
nav carry out our directions or may not.
Ex-Justice Wadhams said the association expect
ed 20 have a county organization IN 2ach county
working in cooperation with the state association
which would have general supervision OF the cam
paign furnishing speakers where desired gettins
out literature, arranging meetings, and the IKE
The county organizations are to cooperate with
such bodies Of similar purpose as may be FORMED
.T---- -rT=r-l ri
ing the support Of the Governor: to work with the
local roticaI leaders in favor Of direct noH1ina-
lions. but. II necessary. 10 select and support
wherever advisable candidates against such ma
chine men" as will not promise to vote for direct
primaries.
We want impress. not only on our members
br1r on the public the fact that not, per Sc
anti-orsanization reiterated Nj vadhauns. after
outlining these plans. We desire 10 see all po-
Hucal organizations responsive 70 the WlSnes OF
the voters and hope that by 1he time election
comes around good many Of the county or
rsnizations in the state will see the expediency
Of being responsive 10 suggestions about direct
primaries.
Already there have been county organizations
formed in Kings. Westchester. Erie. Oneida. On
tario. Cayuga. Onondaga and Monroe. where there
are organizations in thrse Assembly districts The
advisory council. which when fully made Up Will
contain representatives from each county, already
numbers many men Of prominence
From New York County are oscar s Straus.
Allan Robinson, Benjamin Z Hall. DR.. John
HAYNES Holmes. Rabbi Stephen S. Wise. Henry W
SacLett J Adams Brown. F. NJ Crossett. William
C.hflvers Republican leader Of the 18th Assembly
District. Henry MoscOwitz. Marcus NJ Marks.
Hamilton Holt, editor of The Independent Nor
man Hapgood, of Golfers weekly; James x
REYNOLDS. William H Wadhams James Talcott.
Who is treasurer Of the organization. and John A
Sleicher.
From Kings the members are Frank L Babbott.
Nathaniel H. Levi Edward P. Lyon, Representa-
tive waldo the Rev. DR.. Nehemiah Boynton, Reg
ister Prendergast, Edmund D Fisher and Darwin
R James, president Of the Young Republican Club.
The Westchester members are William Cravath
White. Charles NJ Jessup V. Everit Macy and
Seabury C Mastick. From Oneida County come
George E Dunham. ex-Assenblyunan Hart, Presi-
dent NJ. Woolsey stryker Of Hamilton College and
Judge Frank S. Baker. of Rome Ontario County's
members are Mayor Rose of Geneva, J NJ Will
Jams and Fred D WhitwelL
From Erie County the members are John Lord
O'Brian United States Attorney for the Western
District. Roderic Potter George s. Buck, E B.
BarcaIo William H. Crosby and Knowlton Mixer.
Fx-Nayor Cutler Of Rochester represents Monroe
County Harry V. Clements. A ]. Parker and R.
c. 5 Drummond Cayuga's members F N
Godfrey master of the State Grange a body Of
great influence in the rural districts, is the mem
Der of the council from Cattaraugus County Os-
wego County's representative is Luther w Mott
who was Superintendent Of Banks for short time
Rensselaer, has Ransom H. Gilett, OF Troy;
Broome. Charles H. Dickinson; Wayne. Charles T
Ennis William G. David and Plny T. Sexton ST.
Lawrence George Sisson, jr.; Cortland, William
n Clark and E. F. Stilson: Albany, Charles H
Gibson: Chautauqua. Ernest Crawcroft Edward L
Allen. Fred P. Hall, Louis McKinstry; Queens. H.
a Bogart; Onondaga, Joseph Bondy, Frederick R
Hazard one OF the important manufacturers in
Syracuse; Robert Dey and Edward c. Miller; OF
sego. Stephen c. Clark of CoOperstown; Jefferson.
" W. Kelley: Orange ". Johnston Mckay.
Rochester. June Ex-senator George L Meade, Of
Rochester, chairman OF the joint legislative com
ittee on the subject Of direct primaries announced
this morning that the first public hearing would be
held at Boston, probably at the State House. on
Monday, July Y. Judge Walter H Knapp Of Can
Sndaigua counsel Of the joint committee. will go
10 Massachusetts on July l and devote his entire
time until the hearing to procuring witnesses and
gathering material
Senator Meade says he also will call upon ex-
Justice William H Wadhams. OF New York. TO
furnish TO the committee such information he
possesses regarding the operation Of the Massachu
setts statute To ill the committee vacancy caused
by the resignation Of Senator Davenport. Lieuten-
ant Governor White has appointed Senator George
B. Agnew, OF New York Two other vacancies,
caused by the designations OF New York Assembly
a. rxuO hr E1aa aLxA-