New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1909-04-08

2
- r. sve-e,, The time has come 10 change
that system, Conventions now are mercy
-oersnhones through which the leaders an
ncunce their Will"
MR LOW SPEAKS FOR BILL
W. 1o,. who followed. declared that if the
Hinrnan-G Green bill were an attack on repre-
sentative government he would not favor H. out
he WAS unable 20 see that representative gov
eminent was in peril because people at Prl-
mary were to nominate their candidates Wheh
these same people at elections elected them
Neither could he see that it was blow at polt-
zeal parties
INV tongue would cieave to the roof Of my
mouth before I would work for anything TO the
oetriment Of party organization he SAID but
this is a carefully prepared endeavor To pre-
serve party welfare and efficiency and Yet give
the voters power actually TO make nominations
II il succeeds it Will do more for the party than
anything else
II would be a great thing for the state il the
independent voters not now affiliated with any
party were to be brought within party ranks,
he continued. and he favored this measure be-
cause he hoped it would have that effect. In
about nine-tenths Of the constituencies nom
ination was equivalent election. Hardly
six states were in doubt in the Presidential
election last fall; hardly more than ten on
question of the GoyernorShip. Inc same lHIIS
held good ali along the line.
That's precisely the point where the people
should come in." said he. In those one-sided
elections the people must exercise their choice
at the primaries, or not at all"
The convention system had proved efficient
but there might and should be a better way 70
give the people a deciding vote where the de-
cision really is made at the nomination The
nominating committees should exert PRACTICAL"
the powers now exerted by the party leaders.
But they would consist of the natural leaders OF
the party. l can't agree with ex-senator Brown
that officials would feel a greater sense Of OBJ
legation to the committeeman than they DO now
10 the party leaders There. would not be
strong a sense of obligation nor Of dependence
on the good will there is where an in
dividl.aI Is concerned for the committee mus.
sUbmit its choice to the voters Of the district
Strong men get on fairly st present, but others
ere under a OF fear which makes them
Yield TO the party leaders. one consequence of
this measure would be that officials once elected
would be more responsive TO the membership or
the party than the leader"
Mr. Low held that under direct primaries YOt-
ers would become more active in the primaries
and since party leaders badly hurt when
ever they were turned down he expected under
this system 10 them name tickets which
H-ould meet the approval OF their districts. Tbs
bill not fatal because 81 radical de-
parture from existing systems. II drawn 70
cure the evils Of the convention system and re-
tain the strength Of the party system
PRAISE FOR THE GOVERNOR
He thought the bill whenever passed. should
take effect the following year end that the tina
allowed before primary nominations was too
long But these defects could be easilv cor
rected- Then he plunged into praise Of the
Governor taking issue With Elon P Brown.
-ho had denounced the Governor for overstep-
ping the power OF the executive branch Of the
government
'1 don't think the Governor needs any defence
az my hands" said Mr.. Low. "but things have
been said here which I. as q citizen. desire TO
notice have known many Governors. some Of
whom al least were thought 10 influence legis-
istion by their attitude toward bills which
members were introducing Mr.. Hughes never
does that. He does not misuse his executive
powers. but appeals TO the sentiment OF the
state. That is the better course, I think There
never would be a Governor OF whom the state
could be proud who would not have ideas on
legislation OF the two plans like the Hughes
plan better. I think Governor Hughes Is
great party asset / followed him in the Middle
West last fall The interest in his campaign
was scarcely second 70 that in Taft's. We who
want to serve the party should seek some meet
ing ground with him on this question"
Mr.. Low told Of the constructive talent the
Governor had displayed in the insurance inves-
LEGATION and subsequent legislation and In the
building of the Public Service Commission law.
The Governor, in both cases. devised RENE
dies that are working, and working we'll said
he.
Rabbi Wise read letter from DR.. Lyman Abb
oott heartily favoring the general principle in
VOWED in direct nominations and the way
that principle has been worked out IN the bill"
The remedy for the evils Of democracy is more
consistent democracy wrote DR.. Abbott.
Rabbi Wise handled party bosses without
gloves I'd much rather go 10 the voters Of
the state than to crawl on my knees to politi-
ca boss for whom I have no respect" said he
while ths room roared with applause The
cure for consumption is the open air treatment
Direct primaries are the open-air political
treatment Direct nominations are had, not for
the party but for the party boss-those sinister
malign influences who mask under the guise Of
leadership"
PRESENT GOVERNMENT OLIGARCHY."
If two hundred thousand voters in New York
should unite 20 demand certain man. he con-
tinued, that would not be representative gov
eminent. as the adversaries OF this bill define it.
II two or three men chose an official, that
would be, of course. We have not representa-
tive or party government now. We have an
olfgarchv. a government by bosses with the DIFF
fculty that We cannot put our hands on the
ones really in power. II you defeat this bill II
means that yeu don't believe in the people and
what VIII your electors say 10 that impeachment
of their intelligence and political courage?
There are sinister influences az work against
this bill because they fear 10 come out into the
open air. I hear it is marked for slaughter and
that the orders have been given I don't believe
the members OF the Legislature dare accept
such orders We urge you TO emancipate your