New-York tribune., 1910-06-11

party voters OF the members of the I'M
portant party committees.
''The Cobb bill passed the Senate. In my
judgment IL merited the support OF All tne
sincere friends of direct nominations. III
would have carried us not so far as We
wish, but q long distance in advance OF our
present methods.
"The bill. however, was defeated In the
Assembly. But it IS fair 20 add that the
conditions which necessarily existed at lie
close of the session did not favor an under
standing and appreciation or the content
and Importance OF the measure.
Cause Has Not Failed. -
THE result Of the session then vas
this: The Legislature passed a bill Which
L could not approve. In order that my
reason for this attitude should be under
stood before the session closed / informed
the Legislature of these reasons. Ot
their adequacy. submitted to the criticism
of public opinion I believe that the people
of the state are satisfied. Personally
have no doubt in the matter
'On the other hand, the Cobb DILL 10
which 1 have referred, received the IN
dorsement of the Senate, but failed In the
House. and no suitable measure has been
passed
Shall we then conclude that the cause
Of primary reform has failed? / think not
The man i'm the street, the average citizen
who is trying. TO protect his family ana
honestly to make his way, knows what
the conditions are He knows that as
party member he counts but little unless
he can give his life to politics. He under
stands how the cards are stacked against
T. rat.-- ~. 30
gathering the force of an Irresistible sem
timent. It does not seek the imposslole'
II is not visionary 1t will increase and
not lose its strength. Those whose busi-
ness 1t is to pay attention TO such mat
ters should read the signs Of the times.
The great body of our people are not in
terested In political intrigue and are not
looking for something at the expense OF
the state They want their government
faithfully administered; they desire repre-
sentatives who are responsive to their con-
stituency; they want men in Office emanci-
pated from selfish control and placing
their reliance upon the intelligent opinion
of the community They know that their
force is largely wasted in the choice OF
delegates and that the present system Is
contrivance for control by a feW-not
absolute. to be sure. and very largely miu-
gated IN exceptional cases by public Opin-
ion, but exerted to the utmost so far as
those who have the power dare to exert IL.
Our people are essentially conservative.
Bad methods and patent abuses, with their
constant irritation of the public mind, are
more dangerous than the free course Of its
opinion.
"The Issue Will Remain"
The movement TO secure party methods
which will permit true representation and
safeguard the wishes Of the party voters Is
as certain to progress and to succeed as
democracy was certain TO supplant despo-
tism. 1t is for those who recognize the
strength of this movement to aid in Civ
ing it wise direction. There is now an
opportunity to deal with this question in
this state, and in my judgment it is wise
and necessary to deal with 1T fairly and
reasonably now and not to postpone action
upon Il.
IF action is postponed the issue will
remain. You cannot get rid of it. try as
you may. II is not my issue! 1t is the
issue of the people of the State OF New
York against those who have abused party
government for their own purposes.
II sincerely trust and expect that this
matter will soon be decided; that instead
of disagreement between the two houses Of
the Legislature there will be accord. and
such accord as will give to the people OF
this state genuine measure of relief from
conditions which I believe every thought
full and patriotic citizen has deplored. And
it has been, and is. my desire to make
such contribution as am able to make to
the freedom of the political life of the
state and to the security OF the funda-
mental bases OF faithful administration
upon which all the governmental activities
of this great commonwealth must rest"