New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-05-12

/ Governors direct primary Scieihe'
1t. advocates declared their belief that
the people of the state. regardless of
party, wanted 10 try il and that 1t would
make party government truly representa-
tive. Its opponents argued that II was
bo,,ud to be a miserable failure, that 1T
was wrong in theory and was bound to
be worse in practice. Coupled with this
was considerable denunciatIon OF the
| Governor. T. L. Young, of WESTMINSTER
criticised him bitterly for "exertlns press
| ure'' on the Legislature in support OF
the direct primary bill, and several
others took filings at him.
Mr.. Green Explains His Bill.
| Mr. Green began the debate by eX-
planning the provisions of his bilis Mr..
Lupton. OF Suffolk, chairman OF the BIZ
partisan steering committee, which has
handled the direct primary fight IN the
/ lower house, followed. He said that the
question was very simple one-whether
! the nartv leaders should be dictators or
advisers. Mr. weimert. of Erie, declared
that the nublic had made perfectly plain
IT'S supoort Of the measure. He believed
il was right in theory, and would be a
splendid reform in its operations
Mr.. Abbey. of Ontario, one Of the direct
primary Democrats. drew lesson from
the political situation which sent him to
the Assembly from a strong Republican
county because he favored the Gov
ernor's bill and his opponent refused to
support it.
4 can't believe the men here have SO
far forgotten themselves as to ignore the
voice which spoke Enthusiastically in the
last election said he.
Mr. Roberts, of Onondaga, Repub-
lican elected independently on the direct
primary issue against Assemblynan
Hammond, a machine man, took the
same line of argument.
THE Governors bill was the one issue
| in Onondaga County in the last cam
paign" said he, THE Republican or
ganization is stronger than Tammany
Hall in New York City. We who be-
lieved in the direct primary system had
to. fight state and city patronage, and
the very important state fair patronage.
We had no public funds or jobs. We
made our fight on the issue of decency
in politics. The majority of the present
Assemblyman from the list District was
only 800 where it was 1000 in that dis
trict the previous year. The majority
OF Mr.. Walters was cut from 1000 to
LOO. My opponents normal majority
was $500. He had the strongest sup
port of all the powers that be. Yet
came here with 2,1o0 majority. We
stand as a county for the Governors
bill. and everybody ought to know it,
Hot Retort from Mr.. Walters.
This speech brought a hot retort from
Mr.. Walters. a machine Republican and
opposed to the Governors bill. He said
that Mr. Roberts and the other direct
primary candidates in his county were
nominated by a few men and obtained
the Democratic Endorsement through a
deal with the Democratic boss.
IF that's direct primaries want none
of it, said he.
Mr.. Harwood. CT Kings, and Mr.. Jack
son, Of Erie, Democrats, spoke for the
bill Mr.. McGrath, of New York, DEM
{
nitted to the direct primary. and ought
to differ only on the form of bill.
They tell US there is no sentiment for
it in New York City" said he. Il tell
! you there is a great necessity for it.
there We need this law of progress, so
that if party leaders make an offensive
nomination the party voters will have
the opportunity to resent II effectively"
Assemblynan Alien, Of Ghautauqua,
said the form Of ballot outlined in the
Governors bill had been in use in
Jamestown for ten years. and every
body favored il.
Mr. Bates, of New York. declared that
the insurance scandals, the racetrack
and the fight of the public service cor
porations against regulation all were of
a piece with the fight against the Gov
errors bill All were fights to retain
special privileges which had been
abused, and in each a certain set of men
was found, to be lined up against the
! Governor. The people wanted this re-
form just as they had wanted the others.
and they were bound to have it some
time.
You will find if the people want
something they will make it mighty un-
comfortable for the individuals and the
organization which refuses to give it to
them" said he. 4 don't believe this Leg
islature has been entirely satisfactory on
various matters. If on top of that you
defeat this bill, lots of our fellows will
suffer for it
Callan Likes Present System.
Mr.. Callan, of Columbia. enunciated
the doctrine that there was nothing the
matter with the present system. The
trouble was that the people had civic
laziness" Besides all this. certain re-
strictions must be placed on the people"
he decla red
Messrs. Toombs, of New York: Ward,
of New York. and Parker of Washing
ton. opposed the bill. Ar Fowler. of
Ulster, said there was no great good in
either the Governors or the organiza-
tons bill, and no harm would be done if
/