New-York tribune., 1910-06-03
BOSSES TAKE NO CHANCE
"Snowstorm" Convention Called
in Merritt's District.
ASSURES HIS NOMINATION
Cobb Primary Bill, if Passed
Later, Would Not Affect Him
Speaker at Albany.
IBy Telegraph 10 The Tribune ]

fIBy Telegraph TO The Tribune
Albany. June while the Republican
machine leaders around the state are wag-
ing their fight against Governor Hughes's
direct nominations reform. they are taking
good care to preserve their hold on the ex-
listing order of things political. Politicians
heres fortnight were somewhat amused at
the news that the Assembly district con-
ventions IN St. Lawrence County, the home
of Edwin A. Merritt, majority leader OF
the lower house, had been called for June
2s and the county convention for June q.
All the caucuses will be on June o.
This astute move serves two purposes.
In the first place, II assures Mr.. Merritt,
one OF the most incorporating adverse
ries OF the direct nominations reform, of
denomination practically without contest,
owing to the early date. There is direct
nominations organization In his district
headed by George w. sisson, who once
beat the present leader of the Assembly
as candidate for supervisor in his own
town. Some Of the direct primary people
there and here have been saying that Mr..
Merritt might not come back here another
term, although that talk never has worried
him much. Still the early convention fore
stalls any attempt to choose somebody else
IL he desires another year of service here
II has a far more important purpose
however. Under the provisions of the Cobb
direct primary bill delegates to conven-
tions already chosen when that bill went
into effect, would not be disturbed. Thus
il that bill should be passed at the extra
session and become a law. Mr.. Merritt
would not have to be a candidate for nomi
nation directly by the voters in his district.
He would have the delegates already chosen
who should nominate him in the good old
fashioned convention.
Coats's Place Not SO Secure.
On Senator Coats. representing the ST.
Lawrence-Frankin district, the effects are
vastly more important. 1t may mean
continuance of his political life. Senator
Coats voted that lothian p Aids was not
guilty of bribery: he voted against direct
nominations legislation embodied in the
Hinman-Green bill. On both scores there
has been manifest considerable opposi-
tion to him in both counties In his district.
The Franklin County convention already
has been held and Coats has been indorsed
for denomination. 1t is expected that in the
st. Lawrence County caucuses June 25
and the convention on June 90 Representa-
tive George r.. Malby will deliver his po-
ltlchi 'slItHSlu lc SeiidlOi SOdlS > tduSc'
Thus the game will be completed. his dele
gates elected and Senator Coats assured
OF denomination without any possibility of
having to face direct primary.
Though the machine leaders in the "pri-
mary reform legislation they favored. the
Meade Phillips bill, provided for a uniform
primary day in September to wipe out the
early caucuses and conventions, the So
called ''snoWstorm caucuses apparently
have their uses. Already one member of
Assembly who voted against direct nomina-
tons legislation has been renominated.
That is Mr. Whitney, of Saratoga County.
Also that county has chosen its delegates
to the Senate district convention. placing
them, as Senator Cobb remarked recently,
lin the hollow OF Senator Brackets hand.
Senator Bracket also voted against direct
nominations. and declared he would vote
against any so-called primary reform meas
ures which prevented each county from
setting its own primary day. Senator Cobb
at that time challenged him sharply for
hanging SO tightly to this much esteemed
privilege of bossism.
Speaker Wadsworth stopped off here for
A short time to-day to confer with Mr.
Merritt regarding legislative matters The
Speaker was on his way TO New York,
where he will hold conferences with vari-
Gus persons on legislation and politics. He
assumed, without processing any knowl-
edge that one of the subjects the Governor
would lay before the extra session would
be direct nominations. He said he hadn't
been anywhere save at his home since the
adjournment of the Legislature, and so
knew nothing first hand regarding the SEN
timent of the. state on that issue. He
wouldn't predict what the Assembly would
90 il the Governor again urged the passage
of the Hinman-Green bill or the Cobb direct
nomine tions bill. He felt certain that the
lower house would do its duty to the people
of the state
The Speaker denied report widely circu-
lated here that he intended TO go abroad
soon to remain several months-possibly a
year This has been interpreted as virtual
ly an announcement of his retirement tenn
porarily from politics owing TO pronounced
opposition to his political views and course
as Speaker He said that he didn't intend
to go abroad having work enough under
way to keep him at home for ten months.