New-York tribune., 1910-05-26
BOLTERS
IN A DILEMMA
Help Pass Machine Primary Bill
and Then Enter Repub-
Iican Caucus.
MEADE ASSISTED BY GRADY
Governor Expected to Urge Pas
sage of Cobb Compromise
Measure Approved
by Caucus.
fBy Telegraph to The Trisuns.1 J

GBy Telegraph TO The Tribunal
Albany. May 25-Led by Senatot
Thomas f Grady. Of Tammany Hall,
fourteen Democrats and fourteen Re-
publicans to-day jamned through the
Senate the Meade-Phillips primary bill
favored by the Republican machine
bosses 1t was the boldest and crudest
exhibition of the workings OF the BIZ
partisan combination OF Tammany DEM
ocrats and insurgent Republicans seen
here in five years. II was the last stand
of the bosses of both parties. fighting in
perfect harmony through their creatures
in the Legislature against the direct pri-
mary system advocated by Governor
Hughes and supported by majority Of
the Republicans in both houses, which
they feared would put them out of busi-
ness But the end is not yet
Deserted and fOuted by fourteen Of
his Republican colleagues. Senator Cobb
bided his time. When the bipartisan
combination had accomplished it's pur-
pose he called the Republican caucus
The insurgent Republicans were in some
doubt about going into it at all. but
finally did so. AT that caucus by vote
of % TO 10 the Cobb compromise direct
primary bill was made a Republican
party measure All the Republicans
save Brackett and Coats stayed in that
caucus, so according TO all the mandates
and precedents of caucus rule and or
ganization precept they are bound to
vote for the Cobb bill 1t will be brought
up for vote tomorrow if Governor
Hughes gives an emergency message
on il.
And at that precise point appears the
first sign of cloud on the bipartisan
combination's horizon All the organiza-
ton men of both parties think now for
the fourth or fifth time that they have
killed that loathsOme direct primary doc
trine. but direct primary men declare the
"bosslings" overreached themselves in
their clever scheme. No doubt exists
that Governor Hughes will send in an
emergency message for the immediate
passage of the Cobb bill. Then, if the
Senate passes it, the bosses fat will be
in the fire. Just what they have been
striving TO prevent will have been ac-
compIished with spectacular accompani-
ments which will spread the affair broad
cast and attract keen attention TO their
calm and dispassionate methods Of ar
guing against the abolishmenr OF the
convention system of making nominal
tions.
Many Look for Extraordinary Session
If the Assembly does not pass the bill
or the Rules Committee refuses to put
it out for vote. a deadlock on that bill
will result Thereupon. if most people
here read the situation Alright, the Gov
ernOr will call an extraordinary session
and request the legislators TO think again
on the direct primary issue; for. much
against the will of some of them. the Re-
publican Senators in party caucus off,
ciaIIy have stamped the direct primary
principle with the seal Of party approval
For the first time in this state direct
have become party doctrine.
even though by a divided vote. That
fact. in the minds Of most direct primary
men. is a strong Indication that within
a few weeks there will be a good and
direct primary law on the stat
ute books of this state
Flat charges were made on the floor OF
the Senate that the fourteen Republicans
who voted for the Meade-Phillips bill
we're guilty of a gross breach of faith
with their party colIea CUES and Senator
Cobb. their party leader. They were
bound by the vote III the conference last
night to go into a caucus at noon on the
Cobb direct primary bill and the ma
chimes primary bill. Instead having
struck a bargain with Grady's Demo-
Gratis meantime. they refused 70 go into
any caucus until they had passed the
bosses primary bill
Charges whispered yesterday are
being banded about openly tonight that
This latest phase OF the bipartisan boss
combination was hard and fast bar
gain on legislation almost identical with
hat called TO public notice by Represen-
-ative Herbert Parsons last year The
TENS in this bargain are said 10 be al
most the same as in the one which he
.harged was engineered between Speaker
Cannon. Tammany Hall and the Repub-
ican leaders of the two houses at the
state CdRltdl O1AcGE GtAtC~AotS 81
aid TO have been delivered for the
Meade Phillips bill and against any di-
-ect primary legislation in consideration
,f the killing. by Republican votes. OF
he New York County Republican Com
nittee's election reform legislation and
he anti-oral bOokmaking bills.
No Documentary Proofs.
Whether or not these charges are true,
" course, cannot be proved by docu-
uentarv evidence. But circumstantiaI
evidence is pointed out by the men who
make them as their warrant for the
statements. That evidence. briefly. is
his:
After midnight last night certain Re-
publican machine legislators and others
began TO get busy TO prevent the eau
.assing OF Republicans In favor of the
Cobb compromise direct primary bill
This morning Democrats who had ex-
pected to vote against the Meade-Phtl-
ips bin were told they woald be eau
:ussed and compelled 10 vote for IL.
While the Senate was in session Grady
halted it's business. called a Democrats
caucus and made the Republican ma
chimes bill Democratic party measure.
The very moment Grady and his Dem
ocrats came back into the Senate cham