New-York tribune., 1909-01-04
FOR DIRECT PRIMARIES
c. L. ISSUES SETTLEMENT.
Quotes Comments by R0ines and
Barnes against Present Lac.
IBy Telegraph TO The Tribune J

ADanE Jan In e statement maze puDHC "
day by J. o. Hamnitt, legislative agent Of the Ctt-
zens Union. that organization ranges itself on the
side Of those forces which will support the direct
primary nomina ton system the coming leg1s-
lative session The statement declares that oppo-
sition TO the change seems TO be coming from pre-
cisely the same elements opposed the existing
primary law. which. when passed, was regarded as
a great reform measure even more radical than
The direct nominations idea is now.
Mr Hammitt quotes comments made al that time
by Senator Raines and William Barnes, 81. both
Of whom are open In their opposition TO the pro-
posed primary changes. Says AIr. Hammltts state
ment:
The opposition to direct nominations appears se to
!efoTIa since the days Of King Caucus half cen
quite as strenuousIv to aTv legal regulation OF
these party functions they object TO the
substitution Of the enrolled voters for the conVen-
dSs This @ same tG5I 6PPoson Tas 9t PT and oVe
come by the popular demand for pure primaries IN
10y Governor Black. enacted. Among those
passage when pubic Sc sentiment forced unani-
nous vote in its favor was Senator John Raines,
vote on the bill. which represented the largest
amount Of primary reform obtanable at that time.
1t goes against my grain to accept this bill, but
pendent voters OF t9!s State te TO get little bTim
sGne ali Of ana e 70 of in at and e rase % te he
VIII run independent candidates This bill may
N'At'E' bS-i4 Ful hodut IL bS!IeNe III foNe'li-
ment by party The modern idea seems to be gov
ernnent BY committee OF fifty. These inde-
pendents desire to pose Democrats or Repub-
leans 364 days in the year and then on the S65th
DAY, DAY; on municipal issues. TO strike down their
Vii william IN. Barnes tT WHO then nov. con
posed 70 tie regulation Of political committees and
expressed in an editorial in his newspaper, The
Albany Journal on March 81, 1886 the day after
headed "A Radical Law" 4 part OF it as
When early in the session Of the Legislature re-
form in primary methods under Considera ton
it was not expected that the Legislature would take
cognzanco Of the organiza political commit
teSS and conventions as well and would take from
ros@tiyes such however ts the fact and by
oeStToyed probably forever tie meaning of politi-
,tI ,i, orsdhaa'l0msc go PLscbcsy al the @ @fGnG-
A foreigner reading the provisions of this law
lived in the state Of New york that It had become
ing their political meetings. and the simple answer
ought to be mat because certain men were unable
TO muster strength at he present time 10 control
the organ zaon Of their party. and had threatened
controlled the party machinery and OF In
fuence in the Legislature had turned over TO the
selves had exercse I'd neretofore through organiza-
ton and had acceded 20 the demand made for the
purpose OF hedging about the primary all the dig
II was only because Of the growth OF the reform
element IN the Repu6ltcan party to such proper
Ilois As 10 'lIeaten me GoHlIele oNerIoW I III "
mary reform as We now have in this state was Sc
voting the bill. lie said:
What is the this bill is to be passed by
machine Republican Legislature? That reason was
revealed by Lieutenant Governor Woodruff at the
hearing the hill. He said II to be passed 10
harmonic the Republican party
The LEGISLATURE viii convene on Wednesday TO
receive the Governors message then adjourn 10
next Monday night BY that time committee ep-
pointments probably will be completed aud
nounced and both houses ready for work. Senator
Raines and Lieutenant Governor White will urge
all members having bills in prospect to get them
prepared and introduced very early in the session,
that the customary dawdling at the fore part OF
the year may be avoided.
On Tuesday night there Will be party caucuses
in each house In preparation for the organization
of the business forces There will be slight changes
in either branch Of the Legislature Senator Ranes
will be reelected orty leader and the clerical
staff viii be unchanged with the possible eKcep-
tion of the Senate stenographer. Senator Grady,
OF course. will be minority leader In the Assem-
bly, Speaker Wadsworth again win be chosen as
presiding officer, and Z a Merritt, jr., will be the
ma Iority leader. Assemblyman Daniel Frisbie Of
Schoharie County. IS slated for minority leader.