New-York tribune., 1909-02-15
HUGHES SPEECH
rYPECT DECIDED STAND.
svnporters Think GOOernor VIII
@Get Dozen to Cases an Brooklyn.
TBy Telegraph to The Tribune. !

TBy Telegraph 10 The Tribune.
,,ssrv Feb. I4-SUpporters Of Governor Hughes's
- urinary nominations proposal expect that in
q s55ress 10 the Young Republican Club. in
1orI1-n y Saturday night he will discuss his ideas
= mat subject with particular reference TO the
V,osed Brooklyn bil-'' The Governor has had
= consideration for several days propositions
.lirsd by representatives of that organization
- 70 the proposed legislation His friends be-
- that al that time his ideas viii be fully
-.--1Blsted and he Will get down to cases.
I. viii excite rather general surprise here If he
Is moi take decided stand against any proposal
= substitute nominating committees for conven-
,,s IN each political unit and TO give the
rization candidate for each Office the top Of the
~ NJ names Up to date he has steadfastly de-
,es 10 discuss those and many other propositions
h.oh have arisen IN the general talk about the
s,rr4 primary system But his reasons for urging
=. sbolisfrnent OF the existing primary laws and
- constitution Of q method which would give the
.o,,a directly a hand in choosing their candidates
- all pointed 10 one thing: e determination 10
,tsnd for the principle Of making the people
s,onsible and giving them the machinery, with
,,t oubbes or halfway measures.
The Brooklyn people who are drafting the direct
--irary bill which is intended to embody the
e,-4s-nor's ideas. hope to have IL introduced in
.se n afford him an opportunity to take that for
tis text on this occasion. Indications though.
,bst 50 great task is involved in the drawing Of
,bis MEASURE 10 make it apply city and country
conditions alike that il Will not be ready in time,
h,+ will be held pending the Governors speech.
To some Of the Governors friends here the pro-
rossl 10 have nominating committees named at
tbs rrraaries to select the party candidates 10
he voted for at the succeeding years primaries
ssar7s so pa1cnt an evasion OF the direct primary
--incirIe that they cannot believe the Young Re
nubucan Cubs committee actually decided TO
,raaodv that system n the bill They consider it
,s an embodiment Of the worst features of the
,ristjrE convention system, with some bad spots
peeularly its own notably the fact that this nomi-
Mating committee would be in existence for nearly
an entire year before II could perform official
t,nctions During all that time il would be pos
rble for any party boss group OF bosses or
REPRESENTATIVES, OF any interest TO bring influence
or n-essl1re 70 bear this nominating committee
70 accomplish their purposes Even under the con-
renron system the plain citizens would have more
nasnce Ct getting representative candidate than
under such conditions. And while the nominating
comrittee representing the vested control Of the
psrfy had nearly the year TO labor in, the pro
testing citizens would have under that scheme,
oaly ten days in which 10 make selection of their
candidates set M their nominating petitions and
so through all the other forms necessary 10 get
thsse independent candidates a place the pri-
mary tsIct- Then. once these men got on the
ballot they would find themselves at disadvan-
1sge, since the preferred position would by Law go
70 the regular candidate"
You might just as well have printed notice to
70 with each primary ballot. reading Vote for the
first candidate in each group: he's in right with the
organization. the others are kickers,' " was the
tis proposal
All this is 80 foreign to the ideas the Governor
has expressed many occasions that his support
ers believe he VIII have little hesitancy in con
osnning any intent TO enact such a scheme into
law They believe. too. that after the Governor
has made this plain and has told somewhat in de-
tail his views the proper fashion in which TO
provide for free participation by the voters in the
choice q candidates for Office. the Brooklyn mah
Sin revise their bill make il 1T those views.
E-lr in ffe nlrE
vii answer some Of the many arguments brought
forward against the direct primary systems eff
eency This campaign Of argument and alleged
argument is being continued merrily. Sometimes
gzuslly. in fact, the method Of argument against
re primary reform is combination of attack on
he Governor for raking up a "discredited' or
hsskish'' notion, and assertion that in various
Esses The direct primary has proved lamentabe
slUre in several respects In every case the as
Sumption seems to he that any legislation in this
must enbodv the worst features Of the laws
q al the other states. and by possibility could
have any merits either copied original II has
occurred recently that one violently anti-Hughes
psper in its desire 10 magnify this showing of op-
position TO the direct primaries, has printed two or
three editorials entire one day. then day or
two later scattered sections OF those same edi-
torials through its edition These Republicans. too
being driven. in their search for anti-Hughes
material. take the expressions OF some Of the
smaller Democratic papers and comment and en-
large them Where il happens that Demo-
Gauc paper or q Democratic PotlJlclah StoeS Will
ne Governor as is the case with Norman b Mack
considerable care is taken throw discredit on his
motives.
But out Of all this is growing education Tor the
mass Of voters to what the direct primary is ana
a least what il purports to do In fact II Is al
sst for the Governors mill, since general an in
tsTest in the subject has been awakened that oy
ue tine S.ecific biz create this system is be
tre the legislature practically everybody Will have
-ssd teard enough about direct primaries. their
Merit zarz ha ay1le fO
opinion whether the bill under consideration would
sprk bensft or harm Thus, with the introduction
q BIZ definitely meeting Governor Hughes's Ideas
tie issue will be Joined, and the people-the final
EGgeS-Win be in position 70 play tlelr I'M
porsrt part they did in the public service com
Missions fight and the fight 10 abolish raeetrack