New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-04-24
HIIGHES PLEASED BY
PRIMARY MEMORIAL
eratified That Real Republican
Leaders Approve the
Principle.
FAIR VOTE FOR BILL NOW
pirect Nominations Advocates
Welcome Views of Low, But
Ter, Taft, Stimson
and Others.
rBy Telegraph 10 The Tribune. 7

and OJ0erS.
rBy Telegraph 70 me Tribune
lIhany. April Ex-Governor Hughes is
ssurhted az the tenor of the memorial
or direct primaries sent TO the Legislat-
IRE by Seth Low. Nicholas Murray But
ler. otto T. Barnard. Henry w. Taft
and dozen other eminent Republicans
Of the conservative element. The Gov
e-nor declined to-day TO discuss this
document for publication. but he read 4
carefully. and did not hesitate to tell
friends who asked him about il how
much gratihed he was at the position
taken by these men.
This qualification arises from two
csgses The first is that these men. real
lssders in Republican thought. have
agreed that the direct primary principle
f. rirht and should be tried out. Here
tcfore most ~ them have been strongly
opposed 10 the direct primary in anv po-
,t.csl unit The second point the Gov
ernor made to his friends was that a
fair and square vote on the Hinman-
Green biz now seems assured. because
os the memorial Of the New Workers.
on the Importance Of tNis vote on the
N.u itself So that il can be voted up or
voted down on its merits without the
s-5terfuee 0f parliamentary red tape.
che Governors friends say he laws great
stress He stands for the Hinman-
Green bill as it is to-day. He believes.
according 90 his friends. that that bin in
- adjustment of the convention sys-
tCn represents the sentiment Of ma
ja-ty ~ the voters Of this state SO he
considers il essential that each member
q TIE legislature have the opportunity
20 60 on record for or against the meas
ure. II is immaterial TO the Governor
personally how they vote-that is for
them and the people Of their districts to
decide While he stands now. as al
WAYS for the adjustment ot conventions
ffom the state convention down. he isn't
going 10 try TO cram that doctrine down
the throats Of the Legislature or the
people of the state by main strength or
exercise Of executive power. But, his
friends say. he thinks the fair and free
spirit of American government demands
that the bin itself be voted on and al
lowed TO stand or fall on its merits. not
be killed by indirection in vote on the
question OF 8 staining the action of some
toHnittee.
Huehes's Position Well Known.
The Governor told his friends to-day.
and viii tell any legislators who ask
HIM. that he is on record before the peo-
pie - the state on this matter Of direct
Primaries He believes and stands for
now exactly what he stood for in his an
nual message to the Legislature and his
recent speeches on the Hinman-Creen
bil. This proposition, they say, he feels
is understood pretty clearly by the peo-
pie u has been talked over in the po-
Utica. clubs and in mass meetings; news
papers have debated il pro and con. for
months. men have been elected TO Office
on The issue OF support for that bin.
Now it appears to be up to the Legis-
lsture. and any lodging Of the issue or
interpos.ug of some other proposition to
obscure the issue would work great
harm t8 the Republican party, which is
Responsible for the majority Of the legis-
lators
Indeed. the Governors friends say he
ieels strongly that at this critical tine
the party would be placed in false
position if any halfway measure were
submitted 20 the vote. That would in a
certain sense De- unjust, both 10 the Gov
om0r .a his position Of believing in the
ccaih of the convention system and To
those. Ike Speaker Wadsworth, who be-
Aeye just as strongly in its preservation.
Tho direct issue should be made. he
thinks. legislators not believing in the
Einmal-CIeeu bin then could show the
state whore they stood. legislators be-
hevlrs .n it could work for il directly On
te floor legislators who considered
the Hiuman-Groen bin imperfect could
submit their amendments and the mat
ter be- thrashed out in an effort 10 por-
iect the bin And through il all every
hove would be in the open. plain Tor the
people ~ the state 20 see. after the
fashion of honest Americans differing
o. matter ~ government.
Support More Than Welcome.
Al this those who talked with Gov
ernor Hughes to-day say he feels is as
srcd by the memorial Of the Repub-
Acans from New York And even more
important results mas follow il. in the
estimation Of himself and the direct pri-
mary advocates here. They consider il
great step in advance FOR these con-
sentative Republicans 10 consent 20 'he
Greet primary, even for Senators and
Assemblymen. That Is taken for ac-
knoHledgment Of the correctness Of the
Greet primary principle. Therefore. d.
iect primary men following the Gov
e'nor are willing TO give the glad hand
q Fellowship 70 Messrs. Low. Butler.
-efJ stims0n and the others and 70 in
vie them 10 come along further. Their
support in this cause viii be more than
welcome t0 the Governor.
His friends declare that he considers IL
essential. lacking the support 81 the
'aiu sheiled machine element on the
1'rect primary question. 10 have with
MIN men like these Republicans. who
study ana think and lead thought within
me party. This memorial Of theirs. in
NAT light. is regarded by the Governor
Is @ne of the most striking testimonials
% the great interest - the people in