New-York tribune., 1910-05-10

| Iitical lives. They will make their des-
! ignations. knowing that they must run
/, the gantlet of the vote on primary day,
and that, their action being no longer
| final. they cannot trust simply to party
| loyalty upon Election Day. There viii
be full opportunity to examine the
genesis of candidates.. to ascertain the
influences which have brought about
their designation. to know who is behind
them and for what they stand.
Sees Triumph of True Leadership.
With this check ] believe friction and
party strife will be largely reduced and
true leadership, seeking through the
party agency to promote the public in
| terest and TO suggest candidates who
can be counted upon for this purpose.
will triumph over the leadership whose
selfishness will have smaller opportunity
| to succeed.
If the party committee suggests can
didate generally desired and approved
there will be no reason for g contest st
! the primary. and probably there will b.
none. If however. the party committee
suggests doubtful candidate or one op-
posed to the sentiment of the voters.
| there will be full opportunity to present
an opposing candidate and every induce
ment to concentrate the opposition SO
! that it may be effective.
The party voter will have chance on
primary day to vote directly for some
! thing he understands. He viii not have
| TO vote for delegates in punches. about
whom he may know little or whose final
action he cannot control. nor will he be
| compelled TO vote in effect simply for a
party leader. He will vote directly for
| members of party committees and he
will vote directly for those whom he de-
| sires to he candidates.
This will give the busy man. who. full
of burdens and duties. is doing his best
to support his family and to make his
way in the world and Yet desires to be a
good citizen. chance to count as a
member of his party according to his full
strength.
This is q plan applicable to all par
ties II is q non-partisan measure, al
though 1t is q measure for parties. It is
important to the people as whole that
each partv should be organized in such
q way that it may not be selfshly donl1-
mated
Public Opinion Not underestirated.
The Governor said that he did not
underestimate the force of public opin-
ion under existing conditions. He said
that it undoubtedly played upon those
who controlled conventions, and they
frequently yielded to it in nominating
candida tes whom they did not desire. but
was too great. He added:
We can by improved methods greatly
promote conductivity. If we destroy the
hnality of their action we shall not dt-
minish their power of enlightened sug-
gestion What they do well will be
ratified; and there will at least be a
chance in the interests of the party to
condemn what they do III before it IS too
late.
There are distinguished members of
my own party for whom | entertain the
highest esteem and whose sympathy and
support / cordially appreciate, who be
lieve that it would be best to limit the
plan in the first instance to the election
Of members of the Legislature. The ar
sunent upon this point does not strike
me as forcible one. The trial OF the
plsn in small constituencies. would OBJ
viously not be an experiment with re-
spect to the nomination of state o1ncers
There is only one way to try the eIiect-
iveness of the plan as to state omcers'
and that is to adopt it. And. the sooner
il is adopted and faithfully trled the pet-
ter. in my judgment.
Rut in addition it has been suggested
bv others. I believe. that the plan snouio
be applied 10 members of Assembly IN
1911 and to the election of Senators III
1912.
Rut then we should have had only one
trial at a Senatorial primary and pro-
ceeding along the suggested line or oela!
il would seem logical to await at least
another in 1914 and then possibly to try
the state wide experiment In 1910
Now. such programme can hardi! De
rea-a rded seriously If We take into &C
count the sentiment of the state.
With respect for those who have been
considering the advisability of adopting
a policy of postponement | must sd! Ill
all seriousness that I consider such
policv u serious mistake ! belleVe thal
II would be a mistake from a party stand
noirt and from a public standpoint
Even if the plan did not extend to state
officers there would seem to be no gooo
reason for not making II immediate!
onerative with respect to all the ofnces
which it embraces
postponement Would Settle Nothing
policy of postponement such as ma
heen proposed would inevitably intensity
controversy and create issues which oth-
erwise could be avoided 1t would settle
nothing II is idle to think that 1t would
end discussion or dispose even tefhpV5
"a ariIv of the existing demand. Ii Woulo
have in my judgment, preclselS 'le op-
posite effect.
Now there is a more fundamental con-
eidaration We are rapidly expanding
our state work. The just demands upol,
o,1r great departments of regulation aiio
}
in the interests of agriculture, lapor ana
the public health, increase apace. Our
institutions for charity and CORRECTION
and for the care of the insane are con
stantly growing. Despite the enlarged
outlaws for these purposes. sWelllns our
budget so rapidly. we are continually
forced TO refuse the entreateS CT our
citizens who are anxious to see even
greater expansion of our state work.
These considerations should make us
soIicitous to provide checks upon I'M
nroner control OF government through
doroination of nominating machinery,
in connection With our state olIiCts. .I
Tbere we should desire to secure the
ma oyi,o,,m effect of enlightened opinion
uithin our parties and keep well unoer
oartrol the schemes of party managers
20 maize the Offices of state government
tr;h,ts1v TO their own purposes we
sbo,Ild aim to secure the largest meas
&c of independence in appointing off,
cars h1. resting their nomination upon a
broader base than the favor or party
leaders ..f 49,, .t,,-,
ballot But we cannot nave a SLOT
hsiiot without fewer elective ofhces-
Wei1;ie ne have SO many elective officer.
- ie of the greatest importance that
,,e should be furnished by Whlch
a+.en+ion SO far as possible cou!o ne
dt.ec+ad 10 the selection of each. Under
tI,a nroposed plan there would oe no
80 &C have said. of contest Where
/ ~ ,,ronossI Of the party committee was
at;lfac+orv Public opinion could WIN
m +ta Victories il may win now but
Lo,,Id the selection be unsaus1actory
.,.ora would be simple and inexpensive
n1atbod readily availa bic. to- test tne
Z ,,,ir7