The Caucasian., 1910-09-06

Europe, was drawn into the fight,
sending bis famous message from
Harvard only to have the steam roller
joyfuliy run over it. That was the be-
ginning of the row, followed by the
turning down of Roosevelt's nephew,
Theodore Douglas Robinson, in Sher-
mans congressional district and reach
ing a climax by the knockout of the
mighty hunter himself in the meeting
of the state committee. In the ensu-
ing unpleasantness both sides have in
sisted that the issue of direct primaries
is the bone of contention.
In order to find out about direct
nominations at first hand j went to
the source and sought an interview
with Judge William a. Wadhams, who
If he did not evolve the issue out of
bis own consciousness, at least knows
rs much about it as the man who
did. Wadhams Is president of the Di-
rect Primaries association Of the state
of New York. He admitted that he is
the man who helped Governor Hughes
and others to lick the Hinman- Green
bill into shape. Wadsworth, Barnes
and Woodruff also took a turn at lick
ing that bill, but in this second lick
ing the only part that Judge Wad-
hams played was that of victim.
] found the judge rather boyish
looking chap who does not show the
scars Of legislative battles or the
marks of the steam roller. | asked
him If he had read the editorial in a
New York morning paper charging
that the Hinman- Green and Cobb bills
We're not for genuine direct primaries
and that was one reason why they
were defeated
Calls Hughes Plan Superior.
''No." he replied, abut such state
ment Is mistake The Hughes plan
of direct primaries. embodied in those
bills, is superior to the simon pure
brand for the reason that it makes the
political committee responsible. In
some states the committee can put up
names for the primaries without show
ing its hand; can make the voter be-
lleve it is for one candidate and then
switch to another. Under the Hughes
plan the committee suggests candi-
dates in the open The insisted on that
word 'suggestsD and If the voters
do not approve they can put up other
names and nominate them"
Would not the fact that party
committee suggests a name influence
the voters of the party in favor of
such name?" was asked.
Just as liable TO influence them the
other way" he countered. "The states
manship of the Hughes plan is also
shown by the fact that not only the
candidates for Office suggested by the
committee are submitted TO the voters,
but in parallel column the members
of the committee themselves must sub
nit their names for approval or dis
approval. Thus If the voters of a Civ
en- election district do not ike the sug.
gestions of their committeeman. they
can not only reject these suggestions,
but retire the committeeman for max
ing them.,'
Then you do not believe the fact
that the Hinman- Green and Cobb bills
empowering political committees TO
suggest candidates had anything TO do
with the defeat of these measuresY
absolutely not The Wadsworth.
Barnes woodruff combination was de-
termined to defeat any sort of direct
primaries bill that meant anything"
Wadhams Expects Victory.
What do you think of the outcome
Of the fight?p
I'VE will vim he said emphatically
In the state convention?''
In the state convention. The pri.
maries in Orleans county are point