New-York tribune., 1909-01-25
MANY WITH GOVERNOR
LINEUP ON PRIMARIES.
Hughes Men Confident Of Smooth
Sailing an Legislature.
TBy Telegraph TO The Tribune.

Albany Jan 24-With the beginning of Gov
ernor Hughes's campaign for direct primary nom
nations through his speech IN New York before
the Hughes Alliance, the situation here has crys-
tallized sufficiently that advocates OF that p1ah
can estimate pretty clearly its opponents and
friends among the Republican political leaders
And In spite of the fact that those leaders VINO
from genuine disbelief IN the practicabtity OF any
such scheme. or some here charge, from rear
that It would destroy their control have used
every effort TO line I'D all the important politicians
against it. they have not succeeded by any means.
Upstate there are several important geographical
centres where there has been for considerable
time and is in much greater activity sgta-
ton ror the adoption of the direct primary. Buff
falo and Utica perhaps. head this list. In Chau-
tauqua and Cattaraugus counties there is a strong
sentiment for this method of nomination in spite
of the fact that these counties largely rural
Watertown also scents to want the proposed plan
tried out as the Governor has recommended. In
Rochester where George w. Aidridge the political
leader is strongly opposed TO the Governors plan,
there has been shown to be considerable sentiment
in favor Of the method Troy is the latest
addition TO the list. Then. IN New York City Is
the demand from the militant direct nominations
advocates in Kings County and the insistent sup
porters of this plan In New York County.
Thus the demand for revision Of the primary laws
along these new lines Is coming from all parts Of
the state First OF all In the line of political lead
ers who will support direct nominations legislation
record ts,is year. and many times In the past, for
mandatory direct primaries. He has not commit
ted himself on any details Of the legislation Cor
neus V Collins OF Troy, stands with the Gov
ernor on this question. Perhaps Fred Greiner Of
Buffalo and Herbert Parsons. OF New York are
not absolutely IN accord with Governor Hughes
now in their ideas on primary nominations. but
they certainly are members Of the group of
leaders openly against him. Advocates Of the
direct primaries say that the sentiment in the
counties of these leaders alone would cause them
eventually 10 support the Governor. even il their
peculiar political ambitions and Affiliations were
not such that they could find comfort in the
camp Of his enemies.
Openly against the Governor this question
are William Barnes. jr.. Of Albany; George
W Aldridge. OF Rochester; J. Sloat Fassett.
of Eluira: John F. O'Brien, Of PlattsburE, and
William Ward OF westchester County. In the
Legislature the representatives and spokesmen Of
that group are John Raines majority leader OF the
Senate and Speaker Wadsworth- But this rough
alignment of the important party leaders does not
indicate even approximately the general drift Of
sentiment WITHIN the Legislature, since even II
Nessrs Woodruff. Parsons and Greiner should
eventually align themselves against direct nOmi-
nations bill meeting the Governors suggestions.
certain legislators commonly subserEtent 70 them
would stand with the Governor. would others
who ordinarily vote along the lines followed by
the group of old guard leaders
Conditions within the Legislature cannot he
Judged accurately until few Of the many ex-
But the Hughes followers this question are
that regard