The sun., 1910-05-09

whole represents tho conviction widely
hsld that delegation Of nominating
power IL wholly unsafe and must 10
abandoned. In attempting 10 support
this indirect phase Of the Hinman-Groen
bill its supporters break utterly with tho
moving impulse and controlling princi-
pie Of direct primaries themselves. that
is, thedamandfordirectnas
Under the present sysesEn ths control
Of tho nomination by the bosses is not
inConsiderAble. it may even be absO-
luto at times. But always IL is limited
In ono respect. Ths voters Of a party
recognize that their leaders can select,
and hold thass leaders responsible for
their selection Again and again In this
State corrupt and contemplate bosses
have named good men for public ONCE
because there was always over their
heads the shadow Of popular wrath.
Their reluctance was real, but their
necessity obvious
At the very outset Of the debate over
this measure The Sun endeavOTed 20
point out that the gravest menace 10 the
Hinman-Green bill lay in the fact that
by providing a State committee nomi-
nation Of candidates and a subsequent
referendum Il gave the bosses the OPP
pOrtunity 20 select their own candidates,
who might be undesirable, and then, by
manipulating the subsequent primary
through their control of party machin-
cry. saddle the people with the actual
responsibility for the nomination. For
once the bosses candidates have been
accepted at a primary Of course the
responsibility Of the bOases would end.
To sum up, whatever il sound in the.
underlying principles Of direct primary
rests frankly upon the belief that tho
evils Of party machinery are 20 much
greater than their advantages. ~ far
a. party nominations are concerned
a, least. that all machinery must be
eliminated and the voters given direct,
equal and complete power. The Hin
man-Green bill, on the other hand,
merely substitutes a new for an old sys-
tenn Of indirection, and a system which
The Sun solemnly believes 20 be more
easily open 20 manipulation and hence
more certain 60 prove dangerous TO the
cause Of decent government than that
now in USE.
IN the brief spare that can now no
devoted to the alternative propositions
pending, il is perhaps sufficient 20 say
that their merit, 50 far a. they can
bs held 10 possess merit, lies in their
omissions. THE SUN does not believe
any Of thOm should bs passed. Il be-
lioves The fundamental conception EN-
bodied in the Hinman-Gresn bill. and
echoed more Or less family in all the
others, is vicious II does not believe
thst a little Of bad thing Is good. At
best II is only leas had than more would
be. The defeat Of all measufes cmbody-
ing primary election reform now before
the Legislature. 20 far a. they concern
the nominating machinery Of parties,
would in our estimation, be advanta-
geOus 70 the people Of thia State.
Il n unfortunate that this govern
msntal question has been obsCured by
tho injection Of an utterly irrelevant
ethical debate. The sOle question that
can obtain here Ia not concerned with the
goodness of one man nor with the bad
meas Of MANY. lfGovernor HUGHEs were
twice a. valuable and honorable a pub
lie servant as he il, this would not in
the least aife't the merits VI any discus-
sion among reasonable men over any
PENDING protest Of reform In the per
manent machinery of party or State
government
Yet for three years THIS whole great
State has been shaken by . debate in
which the main lsslie has had no place
From Lake Erie 10 Montauk Point the
attempt 70 obtain any fair hearing for
protest based upon reason Or expert
ence has been overwhelmed by noise
precisely as the adherrnts of one college
football team submerge the cheers Of
the champions Of the rival team. Nor
has there been noise alone. To oppose
tho Hinman-Green bill has been 70 ex-
pose oneself to a stream Of abuse,
torrent Of denunciation. a fow Of invec-
tive not often rivallsd in a street block
ade Of truck drivers.
To-day the situation il this: A major
fly Uf the members n the State Iegis-
latIrs believe the Hinnan-Green bill
should BE- beaten Its only chance Of
Blccesa rests Upon tho ability Of Gov.
ernor HU0aFs 10 drive il through the
Legislature under the lash Will II not
be a fitting climax 20 all that has hap
pened in this controversy II the primary
bill, which will, Il IL promised, abolish
bosses, h driven through a reluctant
Legislature by the most conspicuous act
Of bossism Of our own time?
The Governments Dash In Cotton.
Quito a. we had expected, Congress