New-York tribune., 1909-07-22
FOR DIRECT PRIMARIES
COUNTY LEAGUE FORMED.
U'M Try to Elect Assem6lymen
Pledged to Hughes Reform.

The New York County Direct Nominations
League, which is member of the Direct Primaries
Association of the State Of New York, was organ
lied last night at the Bar Association. Its purpose
is TO obtain in cooperation with the state asso-
alton the nomination and election OF members Of
Assembly pledged for direct nominations
bill along general lines advocated by Governor
Hughes. The league plans to work within the lines
the regular organizations wherever possible
Where ii does not succeed In that way in causing
the selection Of candidates favoring this system
efforts will be made TO obtain the nomination and
election OF independent candidates who would sup
port the Governor.
Augustus y. Hand, lawyer, OF No. ~ Wall
street. was elected president. Mr. Hand Is son
OF Judge Hand of Elizabethtown, who was ap-
pointed a commissioner in the Jerome case He IS
in politics independent Democrat Henry
Hotchner. OF No. % Maiden Lane was elected
secretary. Mr.. Hotchner is president of the COM
monwealth Club. of Harlem. Euwo5d Hendrick. q
banker No. % Pine street, elected treasurer
Mr. Hendrick has had some political experience
since he ran against Senator Thomas Grady laSt
year as Republican candidate in hopelessiH Dem
ccratic district
Ex-Iudge William II. Wadhams. president OF
the State Direct Primaries Association explained
al the meeting the purpose Of the state organiza-
ton Of which the county league will form part
He said that in about thirty counties upstate there
were leagues formed now in process OF forna-
ton. and soon there would be a league IN each
lection of legislative candidates pledged TO support
direct nominations In three counties already there
had been decisive victories. he said-in OsweGo'
where Thaddeus c. Sweet a primary contest de-
feated the present AssembIyman. Frank 6 ShlIh'
in Otsego, where stephen {. Clark won on TINS
issue Assemblyman Charles Smith strong
man, and in Franklin. where County Judge Fad-
dock became the couaty's candidate for Senator
To succeed the late Senator ONeil. although FRED
erick II. Kilburn, the recognized county ieadeI'
wanted the place. All the state the situation
was mcst encouraging Mr.. Wadhams said lie
continued:
l from personal experience as election DIS
tric captain and chairman of the noUlhaii INK cum
mittee in my district how little chance the voter
has under the present system. The enIoied l lotti
only in "A contest for control % the parry,
Otherwise he is supposed To z" 10 the polls ana
for a set Of delegates in vnom he haSil tlt
slightest interest. The result is tha; he doesh 40.
In other states where the direct primary system IS
in use figures show that the voters with a chaACe
q nominate their candidates attend the pri-
maries i'm great numbers. There's no mistake
about this The people want this system, ana we 70
going get II.
attended the Lake Chauplain celebration me
other day. There hadn't been a word OF pohicS
mentioned until James Shea, the AssemblFrnsh
Essex County. called on to speak tie
spoke for about minute. then the crowd peEaI 10
for him explain his vote against the FtuGhes
direct primaries bill He lost his voice, ana hau 10
retire the back Of the platform Ihe people
this system.
The State Direct Primaries Association mas
opened Offices at No. 81 Nassau street. from which
ture and organizing meetings to advocate direct
nominations