New-York tribune., 1910-01-09
DIRECT PRIMARIES
TALKS At CITY CLUB.
Woodruf, Wadhams and
Conk'Lin Discuss Pending Issue.

Out Of the ranks of the Republican party
came democrat and would oligarch to
discuss yesterday at luncheon of the City
Club the direct primaries question. The
issue was squarely defined. ex-Judge VIII
lam II. Wadhams. president of the New
York State Direct Primaries Association.
defending the ability OF the electorate to
choose its own candidates. and Assembly
man Robert s Conklin, member OF the
legislative commission which has been
investigating the question. seriously doubt
ing that ability. State Chairman Woodruff
whom Mr.. Wadhams came near defining
as the organization with a capital T and
= capital o." SO far as this discussion of
fundamentals was concerned, sat on the
fence, as Mr.. Conklin intimated all bosses
did until the eve of a convention.
Mr. Woodruff happily for him perhaps,
was the first speaker and noe the last.
There was a good deal more food for
thought than for stomach provided, and
that is not casting any aspersions on the
bill of fare. For ii was dinner time before
Mr.. Conklin. who had the last word, fin
ished lambasting the direct nominations
proposition.
Governor Fort of New Jersey was on the
LIST 10 speak, but did not appear, and It was
said that Governor Hughes also had been
expected when the luncheon was planned,
but was unable TO attend So it was two
TO one against abolishing the convention
system.
WOODRUFF GIVES REASONS.
Mr.. Woodruff said the great majority of
voters in the state understood the direct
primaries proposition to mean primary re-
form. and favored It for that reason. but
when il was explained to them that direct
primaries meant the abolition of conven-
tions they almost invariably opposed it,
He said he was for primary reform as
much as the next man. but in answer to A
question from one of the audience following
his address he modified this stand by re-
marking that he cid not consider primary
reform necessary. and was ir favor of it
only 10 give the electorate less excuse to
complain
Every once in so often there is wave
of unrest" said he; at goes in cycles. If
II would do the party or the public any
good 10 amend the primary law / am in
favor Of il. I do not believe there is any
necessity for il. We will not do any better
in this country by having mandatory party
enrolment, but it Will give the voters less
modification of the law up TO the point OF
eliminating the convention"
Mr.. Woodruff said he was in favor of d.
rect primaries in theory and that he rad
advocated them four years ago. but
changed his stand on hearing the views Of
Western politicians from those states IN
which direct primaries were in force.
Nr- Nadhams said that when the United
States government was formed European
critics regarded il as an absurd experiment.
n give to the rank and file the power of
choosing their rulers This same attitude,
he declared. was responsible for the op-
position 70 The direct primaries system. In
this assertion he and his audience We're
surprised later TO get the full corroboration
of Assemblyman Conklin. Mr.. Wadhams
vent on 10 describe the working of the di-
rect primaries system under the programme
proposed by his association, and he asked:
OLD SYSTEM RIDICULED.
Have sou ever attended state conven-
ton? II not. I advise you TO go. especially
Il YOU have sense OF humor. You can
lean against one refreshment counter and
then against another, and you can join in
singing the chorus. We're Here Because
were Here You can watch, too. the little
door behind which The Organization. with
capital T and capital o. has retired
10 deliberate and receive a long distance
p telephone message. Soon The Organiza tion
eHerges. and the nominations have been
made before the convention has met.
we want to do away with the one-man
nominations, and bring hack 10 the many
What has been taken by the few
Ny Conklin IS slow of speech, but the
amusement Of the audience. which audibly
punctuated his remarks, did not fuster
him lie considered Mr.. Wadhams's pro-
posal an 'irdescent dream" and said he
differed with him almost in toto.
I don't believe said he, that Ameri-
can citizens can be divided into hostile
camps. The ordinary citizen is too much
engrossed with his private affairs 10 con
Germ himself with this or that party organi-