New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-04-25
NOT THE FATRFST TEST.

The critics Of the Hinman-Green bill
who have Just memorialized the Legis-
lature desire 4 trial on a limited scale
of the nomination system provided for
i'm that bill This attitude of doubt is
reasonable enough. The system will be
complete experiment, and even its
most ardent advocates cannot do more
than ask for trial OF IL. But in any
such test the new plan should have a
fair chance. The signers Of the memo
rial 20 the Legislature believe that the
the Legislature will afford a fair test.
They say:
We respectfully submit that the Hin
man-Green bill, so amended, would pro-
vide for an experimental trial OF the
system under conditions entirely fair 10
Il. and under conditions entirely favor
able 10 the extension OF the system, #
the people desire the system extended.
1t seems to us doubtful. however, If
the application Of the direct system only
20 members Of the Assembly and Senate
or 10 any Of the other lesser Offices,
while leaving candidates 10 the I'm
portant Offices upon which public atten-
ton is concentrated TO be nominated at
conventions, would provide for an ex-
'perimental trial of the system under
conditions entirely fair to it." 1t GER
tainly would not be a test under the
conditions most favorable to success of
the new plan that could be devised.
The whole system Of the Human
Green bill hangs together. fits parts are
mutually dependent upon each other,
and the success Of the whole depends
upon the extent to which the people
can be interested in making their own
nominations and controlling their own
party affairs. Unless enough interest
develops in the primaries TO induce an
other class Of party men than that
which now participates In primaries 10
vote at them, the party committees, di-
rectly elected. will not differ much from
the present party committees. This is
a fact which the critics Of the Human
Green bill seem 10 have overlooked. If
the primaries for state or county nom
nations are not 10 he any more vital or
interesting than they are now. we fail
10 see how party committees are going
10 be greatly improved by the plan
which these critics accept. Of having
them directly chosen. And if state and
county committees are likely to be
dominated by machine influences. very
much as they now are, II is impossible
10 conceive OF the lesser committees
which. under their plan. will propose
candidates for the Assembly and the
Senate, keeping free from these in
fuences.
Moreover. as we have said, the sue
cess Of the Hinman-Green system. or
Of any direct primary system. depends
upon the extent 20 which it interests
the public i'm making nominations and
in the management Of parties Now. 10
induce a considerab'. vote at the prl-
maries nominations must be at stake in
which the people feel a lively interest.
! Generally speaking. they do not usually
feel such interest in nominations for the
Assembly and Senate. They ought to-
it may be conceded. but they do not. If
the modification Of the Hinman-Green
bill suggested by Mr.. Low, Mr. Choate.
President Butler and their fellow Re
publicans were adopted. we can conceive
that sometimes "A lively contest and a
real direct primary bringing out the
voters would result, but IN general such
elections would be a mere formality.
just as much as the present primaries
are. For the reasons already given. il
seems likely that the party committees
making nominations for Senate and As
sembly under the plan suggested by Mr.
Low and the others would not be i'm
proved. Tho referendum Of their nomi-
nations 10 the voters at primary cleo
tions would be- lacking in interest, and
We should probably get nowhere
II seems 10 MS that even 10 see what
the Hinman-Green plan would do for
the Improvement of candidates for the
Legislature IL is necessary 10 try it as
a whole. We must have the interest in
the primaries that comes from making
nominations for the highest Offices in
order 10 obtain an expression Of HE best
sentiment Of the people upon the lesser
Offices. The whole plan. as we have re
marked. hangs together. To try a part
81 II separately would be no more hope
ful than 10 try an automobile two
wheels az a time.