New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-04-02
PRIMARY CHANGES
MACHINE SEES LIGHT.
Organization for Big State
Committee Directly Elected.
TBy telegraph TO The Tr;buns.I


Albany ApriI Important amendments
to the Meade-Phillips so-called primary re-
form bill. put forward by the Republican
organization in opposition to Governor
Hughes's direct primary bill. We're intro
duced to-day by Assemblyman Phillips
The principal one provides for enlargement
of the state committee to $50 members, one
man from each Assembly District in the
state. These members are TO be elected
directly ar the primaries. The corrupt
practices provisions are eliminated from
the bill. as they have been incorporated IN
separate bills now before the Assembly.
This COMMITTEES provision virtually Is
taken bodily from the Hinnan-Green direct
primary bill favored By Governor Hughes
1t represents q great concession OF the part
Of the anti-direct primary people. Under
the amended Meade Phillips bill all party
committeeman would be elected directly at
the primaries Though the machinery for
this would be somewhat different from that
outlined I'm the Hinman-tireep bill. the re-
suit aimed at would be the same. This con-
cession that party government shouid ne
made directly responsible to the party
voters is considered by the supporters OF
the IIjnman-Green measure to be an In
uiC6lipH VI tue SASdI PcPN'NAA
their measure
The le9ven is beginning TO work com
nlented Senator Hinman when he learned
Of this amendment.
AS the organization mems bill stands now
the principle of direct primaries as set
forth in the Hinman-Green bill has been
adopted TO this extent:
Direct election OF all party committee
ra-,,,,,itsppu1h0- at the
primaries.
Direct election of delegates TO conVen-
tions at the primaries. thus abolishing the
intermediate conventions for delegates 10
certain important conventions
For the convention itself. with all the
customs political practices and traditions
surrounding that institution. the organiza-
ton men, led by Speaker Wadsworth, IN
tend TO do battle. 1t is an open secret that
their stand is being made on that ground
now because of the coming state conven-
ton, when they hope. If luck turns their
way and too many organization leaders are
not smirched by further Investigations, 70
nominate a ticket of their own kind. WITH
tina. ticket they would take the chances OF
Democratic defeat They feel. according to
some Of the progressive Republicans. tna-
they would rather be beaten by Democrats
while fishting for their patronage than
commit political hara-kirt by permitting the
passage of the Governors genuine direct
primary bill.
Much work is being done these days by
direct primary Assemblymen with their
colleagues who arc somewhat doubtful on
that question. II was said by one OF the
Republican direct primary men to-day that
their canvass showed very small majority
against the Hinman-Green bill now. That
majority he expected to see overcome De-
fore final action on the bill was taken
Many Democrats Will vote for the Human
Green bill In preference to the Grady
Frisbie measure proposed by the Demo
cratic League under the name Of direct
primary bill.
The first hearing on the Governors bill
will be given before the judiciary commit
tees of the two houses next Tuesday.
There will be large delegations from direct
primary associations all over the state. Ii
Is not believed that the committees VIII
take immediate action on any of the bills
before them following that hearing. Event
uslIv the Phillips bill viii oe report
cd favorably. If the plan Of last year Is
followed, the Human Green bill will be re-
-ported adversely. What Willlbe done with
the Grady Frisbie measure is uncertain 1t
nrobs bly, will not be reported.