New-York tribune., 1909-03-20
PRAISES PRIMARY BILL
BOUND TO PASS, HE SAYS.
Er-Judge Wodhams Says Neither
He Nor A1u One Else Can Stop 1t.

In view Of the extremely antagonistic position
adopted toward the direct primary nominations Dill
by State Chairman Woodruff on Thursday ana oy
Senator Raines Speaker wadsworth and others
Yesterday most Of the Republican district lead
ers in this CITY hesitated about commenting
ar length on the measure There were persons
however who came out boldly with the assertion
that neither the state chairman nor any one else
could stem the tide toward such leS1slauch'
'It IS unfortunate that leader in the position
that Chairman Woodruff occupies" said ex-Judge
William H. wadhams. should not see What a
splendid opportunity ne has to lead rather tnan 70
obstruct. But do not believe tnft ne OF any oAe
else stop the bill
Darwin r James. 1r.. president OF the BROOKLYN
Young Republican Club which for years has neen
in the forefront of the 6ght for direct nominations
vas rather amused with the remarks Of the state
chairman Mr. Woodruff has heretofore SAID.
declared Nr James, that the people could not be
trusted TO make nominations; that 1t should DC
done by experts. such as are to De found IN
political convention Now he says II IS appalHns
to him 10 think OF placing the welfare of the people
in the hands OF two committees. Such will not De
the working OF the bill but II is peculiar that he
should try 10 make argument of that kind
Those who are active IN support Of the bill be
lfeve they can count the moral support OF SEN
ator Root They call attention to several utter
ances which lead them TO take this view. IL Is
understood that he has shown an interest IN the
framing OF the bill
The main features Of the bill introduced hy
Senator Hinman yesterday remain exactly as they
we're first made public in The Tribune some weeks
ago The subsequent work the bill has been 70
perfect details and to whip the whole into eooo
legal form. The difference between the representa-
tives of the Brooklyn Young Republican CIuo ana
the upstate members Of the Legislature. "hich
were made 10 appear serious as TO imPerh the
Of the measure. merely concerned oetalls'
Ex-Iudge Wadhams. Of this county. who collaoo-
rated with the Young Republican Club IN the nrst
draft of the bill and since has been aiding in the
work of getting # into perfect shape, said last
night:
I think the bill as introduced to-day Is a mag
nihcent measure 1t retains all the sood 1SatuIes
Of the laws states and provides corrective
measures where defects have been shown II
preserves the good features Of party organization
and makes the organization directly responslnie 10
the enrolled
Tt is a masterfuI piece Of work from the point
OF view of construction. and is just such a doch-
nlent as you would expect a skilled lawyer IKE
the Governor 10 be behind It shows on the face
~ il that II has been drawn along the lines OF
party organization with which ws are familiar In
this state making it representative in every IN
stance.
a fundamental difference is that the state com
nitteernen are be chosen directly. and not rs a.
present. by set of men who have been seIec'eu
after process Of htering in several conventions
As soon as the enrolled voters Of the state appre-
ciate that their votes will actually count on primary
dav in the selection OF candidates for once tney
will take much greater interest In the pflHls'e'
and party leaders VIII be more uuiE Iepl "
of their constituencies in that their leadership VIII
denend on the choice of the enrolled voters each
year.
Governor Hughes IS IN position of peculiar
mower with reference TO this measure he mas pe-
coma Covarnor with no ties which bind him 70
an. ,er,ic,ar set Of men and taking advantage OF
the awakening Of the people in political aualTs he
can IN my opinion depend upon the support OF the
people at large in his effort to bring 10 thern 4
fuller measure OF participation in party activity.
vr.gn of
~ either class either the extreme radical ana
theorist demanding some ultra form OF lesislauon'
or 10 the extreme machine man who oeiieVes IN re-
moving party government as faF as poSs'o'e i'O'i
the enrolled voter. 80
..7berA has really been no change in the n'li
from the position taken by the Governor IN his
Brooklyn speech and by the Brooklyn Young ne
p,,bIican club. There has been framing ot
clauses so as properly 10 amend the present la"
i has been the work OF skilled lawyers. in
which work the Governor himself might he de-
scrIbed as the chief counsel. There hes been no
doparrure from the fundamentals as originally
worked out"
Joseph T. Hackett, leader OF tiH ON D's'r'cl'
when asked for his views said:
81 don't think the new system would be as good
as the present one Down in my district Tanmany
almost alvays has things its own way II is hard
10 get a Republican TO run for anything Inc last
time We elected an Alderman hired the candidate
for Alderman to run, giving him $ico IN cash 10
cover mis- expenses. and after he was elected ne
nopped to Tammany. Nobody bankers after the
Reprblican nomination in my district II the ma
chiaery is multiplied there won't be any nomination
for anything by people"
Thomas W Whittle secretary OF the county COM
noIttee and leader OF the 18th District. said:
There Is no sense n letting the issue drift along
without taking a stand for against II direct
nominations Is a good thing and the Legislature
wants IT, let the law pass. The people who don't
ike # ought 10 oppose Il. The present system,
with certain amendments TO prevent fraudulent
registration al the primaries is all that require
CASTRO TELLS OF GOING HOME.