New-York tribune., 1910-11-21
FOR NEW ELECTIONS LAW
Correspondent Thinks This Requisite
for Proper Direct Primary.

To the Editor of The Tribune
Sir: Any attempt to pass a genuine and
workable direct nominations law at the
next session of the Legislature must deal
broadly with the entire subject Of regis
tratior. nomination and elections.
A fundamental mistake of all the so
called direct nomination bills considered al
the last regular and special sessions was
the attempt to rear the new structure upon
the old foundations. An acceptable direct
nomination law cannot De drawn in har-
mony with the present statutes, or even
with the constitution, because both consti-
tuition and statutes are drawn 70 meet
other conditions. which would be changed
In many particulars by a direct nouina-
tiors law.
1t is apparent that a satisfactory and
workable direct nominations law, applicable
to every political division in the state, must
first have as foundation a uniform regis
tratIon law, which does not now exist and
which seems TO be prohibited in terms by
the constitution The prohibition IS here
stated from Article ?. Section 8:
In cities or villages having 5000 inhao1-
tants or more, according to the last pre-
ceding state enumeration Of inhabitants
voters shall be registered upon personal ap-
p1ication only; but voters not residing IN
such cities or villages shall not De required
to apply in person for registration at the
first meeting Of the officers having cnarge
Of the registry of voters"
II will therefore be observed that per
sonaI registration is required IN some
places and prohibited in others by the con-
s1itutfon. and within the provisions OF us
meaning and intent there is apparently no
authority for a uniform and state-wlde
registration law. such as must be the basis
Of a proper direct nomination law
The opening words Of the section are as
follows:
Laws shall be made for ascertainlng by
proper proofs the citizens who shall be en-
titled 70 the right of suffrage hereby estap-
Ifshad and for the registration OF Voters'
which registration shall be completed al
least ten days before each election Sucn
registration shall not be required for town
and village elections, except Dy express
provisions of law"
Leaving the constitutional provision as
above would give the Legislature 1ree
hand in the enactment of statutes designed
10 carry II into effect. No one IS pleased
with the present registration law. except
the officials who hold sinecure positions
under II.
1t is fair TO ask whether personal regis
tration preceding each election IS longer
expedient. The Legislature should be freed
from the constitutional inhibition 70 Try
some other method. The present method
is not an absolute preventive OF repeating
or other forms of fraudulent voting. and IN
practice it works TO the great injury, N
convenience and annoyance OF all the non
est voters Of the state, disrrancnlsIns so
many thousands as TO constitute a danger
GUS and embarrassing problem in our pub
lie life.
To consider a proper direct primary law
it appears advisable to ignore the existing
bodv of elections law, making no attempt
10 adhere to worn out and unworkacle sys-
TENS or methods. These should be thrown
into the Junk heap. where they belong, ana
2 new body of up-to-date law constructed
simple compact, free from unnecessary
and questionable verbiage, free from Arnl-
1arions. with reduced cost TO the taxpayer
"a law that will protect the interests OF
every voter in every community IN the
state. ROBE4f1 = NJ IA L
The Bronx. Nov. IS. 1910.