New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1909-08-21
BEGINNING HIS CAMPAIGN.

Tho renewal by Governor Hughes of his cam
paicn i'm favor of direct nominations cannot fail
To ill his opponents with anxiety. The public
mind is now prepared for the reception of what
he has TO say. anu he will be certain TO make a
strong impression. lie will contribute his force
10 a movement which has by itself increased
enormously in volume. If the Governor were To
keep his hands off. the demand for direct pri-
maries at its present rate of progress would in
all probability he great by the time or the
Legislatures next session that il would have TO
be reckoned with. To this rapidly growing SEN
timent the Governor will add the impetus of his
personal prestige and of his ability as cam
paigner 1t is no wonder, then. that the oppo-
nents of reform view the situation with alarm
They have against them two powerful factors
leader who inspires remarkable degree or
public confidence and widespread dissatisfaction
with the results OF the present nominating sys-
tenn 1t is too much TO say, as some do. that the
direct primaries movement is "all Hughes, That
but for the Governor ii would never have begun
and without the Governor it would now perish.
and that the people have such confidence In the
Governor that they take up with enthusiasm and
without inquiry anything he recommends. This
is 10 ignore the fact that the direct primaries
system has already spread over a large part Of
the country. 1t has spread because there
a general recognition of political evils. and it
commended itself TO the public as likely 10 afford
relief from them. Various names are associated
with the movement In other states that of
Mr.. Hughes is in this state, hut the association
was accidental If the people had been satisfied
with the convention system these leaders could
not have got them TO abandon 1t. If the people
of New York were satisfied with the convention
system the Governor could make no progress
with his attacks upon it. The fundamental cause
Of faor Sc 10 ha mill ha fbn
feeling OF dissatisfaction with the present order
OF things political. the general belief that po
litical control has fallen into a few hands. and
those not best; that the public has not sufficient
voice in making nominations nor sufficiently the
ear OF officials thus nominated and elected.
Without this feeling Governor Hughes would be
powerless 10 effect reform. With IL in existence
the confidence he inspires and the belief in the
soundness of his judgment and the honesty of
his purposes will contribute powerfully 10 the
acceptance of his plan.
The opposition appreciates fully now the
strength of the forces against IT, 1t was prob
ably not prepared last winter for what has hap
pened already in several counties, such as the
disruption OF a strong machine in the usually
tractable county Of Oswego. II was taken by
surprise, but IT can entertain no further Illusions
Still, we do not see any evidence that II has
succeeded in strengthening its defences. II
shows disposition 10 retreat in places TO the
position that the Hughes plan is not true direct
primaries, thus virtually confesSing judgment
against the present system. For the rest, IL is
raising the cry that the campaign for primary
reform is splitting the party" Senator Raines
raised II a short time ago. The newspapers OF
the organization have been echoing H. II IS
heard again in the correspondence OF 1.-The New
York Sun" from Buffalo, which impartially rec
ognizes the strength of the direct primaries SEN
timent but predicts danger TO the party from II.
This cry is a confession Of weakness We al
ways hear il when progressive element in the
party is making inroads upon the position OF
those comfortably intrenched in power We were
told last year, for example. that the Governors
denomination would split the party and result IN
sure defeat. Other Republican states have gone
through the throes Of adopting direct primaries
without disaster TO the Republican party. Why
not New York?