Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-06-30
ROOSEVELT IN FIGHT
Enters Contest for Direct
Nominations in New York.
COMES TO AID OF HUGHES
Praises Attitude of Governor of EN-
pire State.
SENDS MESSAGE TO GRISCOM
Advocates the Latter's Amendment
to the Cobb Bill-Sensa-
ton at Albany.

NEW YORK. June 3O.-Theodore
Roosevelt has made his first public ut
terance on a political subject since his
return from Europe June Is In tele
gram from Cambridge. Mass, whittier
he had gone to attend the Harvard COM
mencement. he advocates the enactment.
with certain amendments. of the social
ed Cobb direct nomination bill now be-
fore the extraordinary session of the
legislature in this state. The telegram.
which is addressed to Lloyd G. Griscom,
chairman of the republican county COM
mittee of New York county and sponsor
for the amendments in question. follows:
During the last week great numbers
Of publications and OF independent voters
from ali over the state have written me
urging the passage of the direct primary
legislation. 1 have seen Gov. Hughes
and have learned your views from your
representative. 1t seems to me that the
Cobb bill with the amendments proposed
by YOU meets the needs of the situation.
l believe the people demand 1t. l most
earnestly hope that it will be enacted
into law.
THEODORE ROOSEVELT
Col. Roosevelt statement Il have
seen Gov. Hughes must refer to their
brief meeting at Cambridge Yesterday.
Both met in the college yard for short
time. their first meeting since Col. Roose
velt's return. Mr.. Griscom received the
telegram late yesterday afternoon. and
almost Immediately made it public. to-
gether with an appended statement ex-
planning the proposed amendments to the
Cobb bill. The bill is now before the jul
dietary committee of the assembly.
Amendments Explained.
The amendments" says Mr.. Griscom's
statement, while affecting the law
throughout the state in some particu-
lars are chiefly important to New York
city
OF these he says: The second amend
ment provides that voter in New York
city changing his residence after enroll
ment shall lose his right to vote at the
primary election. The alleged removal of
within an electoral district has been
a fruitful source Of fraud a primary cleo
tons. The proposed amendment will
therefore make for greater honest at
a comparatively small number of people
who might otherwise be legitimately enti-
tied to vote.
Under the present law. as it has exist
ed for some years, voter may lose his
vote al primary elections by moving from
one side Of the street to another. where
the street forms the dividing line of an
election district. The change, therefore.
tant"
Application to New York.
Concerning an amendment which ap-
plies to the city of New York exclusively,
Mr.. Griscom says:
This exempts the nominations for
county offices from the provisions of the
bill in every year, -hereas the Cobb bill
exempted those Offices only in years in
which a mayor was to be CHOSEN AS il
is believed that under the unamended
Cobb bill fusion would be exceedingly
difficult, If not impossible, it was deemed
wise to leave the door open for fusion i'm
other years than those in which a mayor
was to be elected.
gates to conventions and presidential cleo
tors need not necessarily reside in the
district from which they are elected
I'm the selection Of delegates to ma
tiOnal and state conventions, particularly.
it is often found desirable TO send dele
gates of party prominence. such as Mich
olas Murray Butter, Senator Root, Seth
nard, Henry l.. Stimson, ETC., from dis
tricts other than those in which they re-
side, and tie amendment is intended to
allow the continuance of a well establish
ed practice"
Roosevelt's Announcement.
CAMBRIDGE, Mass. June 3O.-Agree-
ing to aid Gov. Charles E. Hughes to
have passed by the New York legislature
the legislation affecting our political
structure which the governor feels to be
essential to our wholesome political life"