New-York tribune., 1909-03-12
FRICTION IN COMMITTEE
PRTM4RY BILL DRAFTERS
DISAGREE.
Some Features of Measures Desired
by BrookIynites Left Out-GOod
Feeling PreUdils.
rRr rslerrann 70 The Tribune ]

CtLtHS 'bCUt'"'
rRy Telegraph to The Tribune
Albany. March 11.-Despite efforts TO prevent
IT, much friction has developed between repre-
sentatives of the Brooklyn Young Republican
Club and upstate legislators engaged in draft
ing a direct primary bill designed to meet
Governor Hughess suggestions. Conferences TO-
day between the two elements failed to smooth
out the wrinkles entirely. although when the
Brooklyn people went home this evening both
sides said the best of feeling prevailed. The
fact remains though that the bill in its pres
ent state-practical completion. say the Hughes
legislators-does not contain several provisions
on which the Brooklynites were particularly
keen.
Moreover. It has not been decided yet by
this steering committee" whether Senator
Travis and Assemblyman Green, both OF whon
hail from Brooklyn and introduced direct nomi-
nations bills last year shall handle this meas
ure this year or not There is considerable
demand among the upstaters that man Hoi"
their section take charge of the measure IN the
Senate. preferably Senator Hinman or Senator
Davenport This proposition has contributed
to the state Of dissatisfaction within the steer
ing committee so that for time to-day II
looked as IL a genuine split would occur some
what frantic efforts made TO patch up
the differences, and they succeeded after
fashion.
The representatives of the Brooklyn Young
Republican Club who have been drafting the
Governors bill" finished that work so far as
It relates to Kings County several days ago
and sent the measure here 20 have upstate
men add to it provisions governing primaries
in the rural districts. Mr.. James and his asso-
ciates possess unquestioned zeal but appar-
entity little practical knowledge Of the pTi-
mary law and bin drafting, for when the coun-
try LAWYERS here. who also pretty practical
politicians got at it they found what one man
described as "a mass of unrelated paragraphs
as big as family Bible" Examination showed
also many provisions in that bill which had
particularly and exclusive application TO Brook
lyn Some persons here 60 even further ana
say some of these provisions applied only TO
certain well known conditions in Brooklyn Re-
publican potics-in other words, that 1t looked
as if attempts were made to play politics IN
the bill
BROOKLYN MEN DISPLEASED.
Most Of that bill went by the board. and Sen
ators Hinman and Davenport and AssemolFnah
Hamn and a few others set TO WORK. as Inc
Tribune has told to redraft the measure on gen
eral lines. Now Il seems that the Brooklyn me"
got exceedingly sore To-day Darwin X 'aiiieS'
conrad { Keves and Mortimer Byers. OF the
lust how matters stood. how much Of their Dill
was left and how much credit they were going 10
oct ont Of the whole affair. Attempts were mace
70 organize conferences. which for time proved
absolute failures. Ex-senator Alfred h rage
who was impressed TO aid In the drafting OF
practical bill left town after about five minutes
at one Of these conferences
This afternoon. though, the Brooklyn men got
together with Senators Hnman Davenport
Rose Hamilton and Travis, and Assemblymeh
Hafnn. Allen and Green and the various points
at issue were thrashed out. lively discussion
resulted on one point especially demand
which originated somewhere in the Brooklyn
ranks 10 have the nominating committees sug-
gested by Governor Hughes authorized 10 SUD
NIT names for members OF the committees TO
be chosen the following year which names
should occupy preferred positions on the pri-
mary ballot. That would make those commit
tees practically self -perpetuating, and a storm
Of objections arose.
STATEMENT FROM HINMAN.
After the conference broke up the Brooklyn
men sought the first train home. while Senator
Hinman speaking for the conference. made this
statement:
The interchange of views was full and frank
and the best of feeling was manifested The
conferrees had only a few matters to discuss
The bill will have the finishing touches put upon
il over Sunday and will be introduced next
week II is a composite work and represents
the labor Of the Young Republican Club of
Brooklyn. and the upstate Senators and Assem-
bIymen and of various expert advisers. 1t is
thoroughly practical bill, and actual conditions
in different parts of the state have been fully
taken into account. The attempt has been made
to make il clear and uniform measure, the
general principles OF which everybody un-
derstand. and it is believed that the attempt has
heen successful. The question Of who shall in
troduce IL in the Senate and Assembly has not
viii probably be reached within a day two"
The feeling Of the Brooklyn men apparently
is that they are being deprived of some amount
of credit which should come TO them and their
measure is being slaughtered unnecessarily As
a matter Of fact the upstaters who at work
the measure had in general no desire to take
that great labor themselves and undertook
il only when they II unavoidable. Il Is
not thought here that the differences ara
serious 10 ALLEVIATE the Brooklyn men from
support of the measure when IL is presented. as
IL will contain the essential features Of the
measure they drafted and will represent the
reform for which they have conducted an aRi-
tation for several years.
STIRRING COlMISSION.