New-York tribune., 1910-06-30

favor of the general principle OF direct
primaries, although he did not beileve
the party convention should be done
away with altogether.
| Considerable argument was being
used on the Kings County Republican
members of the Legislature, most Of
whom voted against the Hinman-Green
bill. While this was going on State
Chairman Woodruff. who Is credited
with being responsible for the hostile
attttude of most of the Brooklyn men to
tho Governor and his policies, was sail
,r On a Yacht. It was said that he
went ont Yesterday on his way to New
J.ondon to see the Yale-Harvard boat
race. and would not be back before
Friday
President Griscom believes that the re-
ported opposition Of some OF the up
state men to the amendments TO the
Cobb bill on the ground that they would
exclude this city from the provisions OF
the bill Is not we'll founded, and is based
ON a rnisconception of the purpose of his
amendments. Going into some detail IN
regard to his amendments. and taking
them up one by one, President Griscom
said:
The present law provides that in Presi,
dental years the primaries sha Iant,o De IT I'M
der the Cobb bill all primaries are 20 De
held on the seventh Tuesday before eiec-
As Il is difficult to get campaign under
way until after the nomination ror GOV
ernor has been mace. and as that holiina ...
ton must follow the primary election, tne
time left for conducting Such an lmpOLtdit
election as that for President would DC
too short under the Cobb bill, ana one o.
fore, that n Presidential years the prlnaa.y
election shall be held on the eighth IuesGay
before the general election.
The second amendment provides tnat
voter in New York City changing ms res.
dence after enrolment shall lose ms Sha eis az
to vote at the primary election Inc ,ana az
legged removal of an elector from one place
to another within an election district mas
been a fruitful source OF fraud al primary
The most careful canvass of district
will frequently show a number o. Ie,lloS eIec' ac
tors have moved. Yet on primary DAY
many of the men who could not pe Iotta ~
will vote from other places WltnIn tle
election district and it is generally -, IN, AZ
POSSIBLE to prove at the time that they 90
not live at the address given.
The proposed amendment viii; thereloIe' e
make For greater honesty at primary elee-
tIons, and will disfranchise comparatISey
small number of people who mlgnt QUIET
WfSe be leg1tlInaLeiy SnliliSu "
Under the present law, as 1t mas eHlsoee I,oIa
for some years, voter may loSe Ms Note
at primary elections by moving horn tro1n the fhe
street forms the dividing line or an eleS
ton district The change, tnereIore,. -
comparatively slight, although lInp"r' r'ah'-
In regard to the fourth amendment
which permits the executive members
Of the county to attend and nave one
vote at their respective Senate ana Coh-
gress committee meetings for party
destinations President Griscom said 1t
would make slight difference in the re-
suit, but it was thought proper that the
committees should have the advice OF
the district leader in such important
matters.
1t was thought wise, he said, to ex-
enpt county offices from the provision
of the Cobb bill in every year, instead
of only in mayoralty years, as the
chances for fusion, it was thought
would be less under direct primaries
President Griscom explained his bel1ef
in the necessity of having the party en-
bIems printed on the ballot, as 1oiio"S'
The eighth and ninth amendments aILecs
the form of the primary ballot me elsnon I1,l.
amendment provides that the party name
and emblem shall be printed on the prl-
mary ballot. so that the illlsefate ho'eg ~
MAJ; msE at ia psnnsT glance t,cket Ie saiSe ~ ~
This is particularly necessary IN poIine
places In which more than one party Votes,
as otherwise it is quite possible tnat MAJ. q
voter of one of the minority parties might
receive ballot of a party otner IMAM his
own .,,+ III.
narnes of party committees shall be so
arranged that all the nominees or one group
Of Sote2 maS ss eppsaa by putting
cross within circle. to vote Tor all tne
nominees of one group ..,,.,,.
While recognizing the advisap1Lity or
having a voter exercise to the fullest MS
discrimination in selecting party candl-
dates. it is believed that in voting for party
group of men representing one faction OF
the party or another, rather than 10 split
their TSts and as tnHy tbese eToups by the
names of the leaders. it viii enable them
to vote In accordance with their intentions.
without being compelled to sci ict from Z
large number of names which they would
find II difficult to remember.
AS committeeman are all nominated by
petition those in control of the party or
ganiza ton will receive no advantage over
their opponents through this change
Speaking of the proposed changes in
the judicial convention as constituted
under the present Cobb bill. Mr.. Girls
com said:
The Cobb bill provides that judicial con-
ventions shall be composed of three dele
gates from each Assembly District Within
the judicial district, and after provldIng
for the method of voting IN the judicial
district convention allows the convention
itself to change the method of voting pro
1Ided by the law by majority of the dele
gates present, each delegate having one
vote. .
This provision seemed nanifestly unfair.
for II would allow the control of a judicial
district convention by majority of dele