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

Organization Of the State Direct Primary Asso-
citation which was brought into being in the clos
Ing days of legislative session 10 advocate the
enactment Of a direct nominations law having the
general features Of the defeated Hnman-Creen bill.
is practically completed. In a few DAYS a state
wide carapaig gn will be begun by the association.
Fy-Justice William II. Wadhams. president Of
the association. announced yesterday that each
candidate for Assembly would be asked 10 state
his position direct nominations. All the iniu-
ence of the organization will be swung against
those candidates who refuse 20 pledge themselves
TO support direct nominations bill.
This viii be done by the association as a
state league. but by the county organizations which
are being formed part Of the work of the
state organization. II any of these county leagues
desires support in dependent candidate against
a machine" Republican who has refused 10 bind
himself 10 the support Of Governor Hughes on the
direct nominations question. the state association
will help that campaign as much as possible
This is not partisan movement. nor an anti
organization movement" said Mr. Wadhams yes
terday. 7 know the regulars Of the machine call
US soreheads and kckers. We can stand that. We
have already in this organization men OF both big
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 his partys primaries with certainty
Of having his vote counted and without having his
will discounted by machine manipulation in the
primaries or by manipulation Of delegates a1ter
primaries. We want chance 70 select our Of
fciaIs without the intervention Of middlemen. who
may understand our desires or may not and who
may carry out our directions or may not
F-x-Justice Wadhans said the association expect
ed 70 have a county organization in each county
working in cooperation with the state association.
which would have general supervision OF the cam
paign furnishing speakers where desired, getting
out literature arranging meetings, and the ike
The county organfza tons are to cooperate with
such bodies Of similar purpose as may be formed:
to impress on the candidates their wishes regard
ing the support Of the Governor; TO work with the
local political leaders in favor Of direct nOnina-
lions: but y necessary. 10 select and support
wherever advisable candidates against such ma
chine men will not promise TO vote for direct
primaries.
We want to impress, not only on cur members
but on the public the fact that are not, per Sc.
anti-organization," reiterated Mr. Wadhans, after
outlining these plans We desire 10 see all pO-
Hucal organizations responsive 70 the wishes Of
the voters. and we hope that by ,he time election
comes around q good many Of the county or
ganizations in the state will see the expediency
Of being responsive to suggestions about direct
primaries
Already there have been county organizations
formed in Kings Westchester. Erie Oneida On
tario Cayuga. Onondaga and Monroe. where there
ara organizations in thrse Assembly districts The
advisory council. which when fully made Up VIII
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 ".
Sackett ] Adams Brown, F. NJ Crossett William
ChfIvers 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 B
Reynolds. William H. Wadhams James Talcott
" no is treasurer Of the organization. and John A
Sleicher.
From Kings the members are Frank I. 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. Evertt Macy and
seabury c. Mastick. From Oneida County come
George E Dunharn ex-Assemblyrnan Hart, Presf-
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. VIII
Jams and Fred D Whitwell
From Erie County the members are John Lord
O'Brian. United States Attorney for the Western
District; Rodertc Potter, George s Buck, E b
BarcaIo. William H. Crosby and Knowlton Mixer.
Cutler OF Rochester represents Monroe
County. Harry Y. Clements. A. ]. Parker and r.
c. s Drummond are Cayugas members. F. N
Godfrey master of the State Grange, a body Of
great influence in the rural districts is the
Der of the council from Cattaraugus County. Os-
vego Countys representative is Luther W. Mott.
who was Superintendent Of Banks for a short time
Rensselaer, has Ransom H. GiIlett, OF Troy;
Broone Charles H Dickinson; Wayne. Charles T.
Ennis William G. David and Pliny T. Sexton. St
Lawrence. George Ssson, jr.; Corrland William
H. Clark and E F Stson; Albany, Charles H
Gibson: Chautauqua, Ernest Crawcroft, Edward L
Allen, Fred P. Hall, Louis McBinstry; 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 24-Senator George L Meade, of
Rochester, chairman OF the joint legislative com
nittee 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 u. Judge Walter H. Knapp, of Can !
zndaigua counsel Of the joint committee. will go |
TO Massachusetts July and devote his entire /
time until the hearing procuring witnesses and |
gathering material
Senator Meade says he also Will call upon ex-
Justice William H Wadhams. OF New York 10
furnish the committee such information he
possesses regarding the operation Of the Massachu
setts statute To ill the committee vacancy
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
men. will be filled within a day two by Speaker
Wadswortb