New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1909-12-08
FAVOR HUGHES IDEA
DEMOCRATS DISCUSS
PRIMARY PLAN.
Some at League Dinner Also
Approve of the Republican
p. S. Commission.

So much Of the Democratic League as
John K. Sague. Mayor Of Poughkeepsie.
can account for stands scuarely in favor
of direct primaries and the Public Ser
vice Commission. even II they are prof.
ects OF q Republican Governor.
That was the way Mr.. Sague put it
last night at the dinner given by two
hundred members OF the Manhattan
Club for the executive committee OF the
league that was born az the Saratoga
conference OF Democrats last summer.
IT think II is a mistake TO oppose the
Public Service Commission" said Mr..
Sague. and again. there is no use in
opposing direct nominations simply be-
cause q Republican Governor wants
them"
Governor Hughes. Mr. sague said.
though he didn't use his name. has made
people think they've got TO have direct
primaries, and he told OF talk he had
recently with Assemblyman-elect Lewis
5. Chanler.
Il told him TO vote for the direct pri-
maries. and 10 get as many as he could
10 vote for them" said Mr.. Sague. "and
II the Republicans throw them down. so
much the better; we can go before the
people then as the champions Of that
reform"
Ex-JUsTICE O'BRIEN. TOO.
Ex-Justice Morgan 7. O'Brien. as
toastmaster. referred 10 the same topic
in his opening remarks. In some states"
he said, direct nominations, the refer
endum and the initiative have made
headway, and we are face 70 face with
them in our own state. That ballot re-
form is necessary all must concede'
Thomas NJ Osborne. chairman OF the
league executive committee, in the same
strain declared that he wanted no dick
ering with machine politicians.
Most OF the speakers took liberal raps
at "Fingey' Corners. though the name
Of the Democratic State chairman was
not mentioned during the evening
Toastmaster O'Brien tried 10 set the
pace with a remark that the leagues
aims could not be attained by casting
blame or reproach on others for past
defeats or poor leadership.
Nor should we seek 10 make invidious
distinctions between those whom we
think bore the banner OF the party aloft
in honor. or suffered It 70 trail disnouor-
ably in defeat" he said
LEST WE FORGET"
But Mr.. Osborne was not minded 20
follow such paclac lines. He didn't want
20 rake up things OF the past. he said.
but when there were still elements OF
power in the saddle now. as a result Of
s,me OF those things OF the past, he had
q protest
Upstate we haven't forgotten the
scandal in Buffalo three years ago. he
said, 'and we cannot forget II so long
as some OF those results are in power
And we cannot forget the outrages in
Carnegie Hall year ago"
A decent" and efficient" Democratic
organization throughout the state would.
Mr.. Osborne thought. turn the tide OF
victory TO the Democrats in 1910, and
that would be only the forerunner OF a
Democratic victory in the nation in 1912
The influence Of the Saratoga confer
ence had been great. said Mr.. Osborne,
and as q shining example he cited the
cratic Mayor was elected entirely on the
Endorsement OF the men just returned
from Saratoga
Everybody in Buffalo admits that
he said with a laugh. except possibly
one man" whereat a brother in the rear
Of the hall groaned mocldngly. Poor
old Fingeyl"
WANTS AFFIRMATIVE PARTY.
I'VE want an affirmative party" said
Mr. Osborne, I'VE want an organization
headed by men 7 can support. and not
men OF whom I am heartily ashamed"
He thought II would be a mistake.
however, for the league to have candi-
dates, its function. he said. ;hould be
more 70 influence and supervise, and
though he asserted he knew what was
what in the Democratic party up the
state, he said it would be a wise man
who could tell much about the Demo-
cratic party in the city OF New York
William Jennings Bryan was also
treated 20 some healthy blows. which al
most rivalled those given so freely 10
Conners. Mr.. Sague was the medium,
and he said that men such as he found
in the new Democratic League and in
the Manhattan Club should do more
talking and exert their party influence
more
Edward NJ. Shepard spoke about. the
principles of the jefferson Democracy
and the need that the present party
should return 70 them. He attacked the
Republican party as creating class feel
ing and denounced the corporation tax
and commerce regulations as measures
which take away from the states the
power 10 regulate their own affairs.
D. Cady Herrick said that men in
New York City didn't know what it
meant 10 be a Democrat upstate. There
are no rewards 10 be gained" he said,
mo business 70 be promoted. no honor
gained: the man who votes the Demo-
cratic ticket does 1t from principle
pure and simple.
This executive committee purposes
10 submit 10 the league some measures
which will offer the sought for issues"
he continued. We want a reform OF
the primary election laws 10 be direct
primaries without limitation. and with
an enrolment in every district OF the
state We also want a reform, ~ the