New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-02-12
GOV. HUGHES'S BILL
FOR DIRECT PRIMARY.
Hinman and Green ieain
Sponsors at albany.
LBv Telegraph o The Tribune.

Albany. Feb 1.-THE Hughes direct
primary bin was introduced to-day by
Senator Hinman. OF Binghamton, and As
sembiyuan Green of Brooklyn. Compan-
ion bills were introduced also by those
legislators amending the penal law by in
sorting specific limitations OF expenses for
party nomination 10 office. as well as
changing somewhat the present schedule
of sums permitted 10 be spent for election
10 office Candidates for election to party
committees arc brought within the laws
provisions as to expenditures by this bill.
IL principle this direct primary bill diff
fers i'll no way from the Hfnman-Green
bill of last year. 1t is a mandatory state
wide bill, providing for the direct nomina-
lion ct primaries of all party candidates
for office below the state ticket. except
town, village and school district officers.
The provision for the designation by party
committees OF candidates is retained, with
the further provision for desi gnatton by
petition of other candidates for the same
office. The party voters then will make
their choice from among the men thus
designated, and the candidate receiving
the most votes Will become the party's
candidate for the Office IN question.
The one important change in the scheme
Of the bill has been the nlanda tory provi-
sion fixing the state committee at 80. one
member from each Assembly district. The
period for filing names has been shortened
one week. making the primary campaign,
so-caIled, one of five weeks only. instead OF
six Also, the campaign after nomination
has been shortened two weeks, by moving
primary and other dates two weeks nearer
70 election than vas provided IN last years
bill. This was done TO meet criticism Of
The length OF time a candidate would nave
to spend in campaigning, first for nouina-
ton. then for election.
The amendments to the penal law provide
that the candidates for party nomination
for Governor may spend $500 TO obtain
the nomination and the party candidates
for Governor may spend $500 10 bring
about election. All other candidates may
spend TO obtain nomination Just half OF
what they are now permitted under tie
corrupt practices act 10 spend for nomina-
ton and election. Candidates for election
to the state committee may spend not more
than $500. candidates for election to any
other party committee not more than $50
in the primary campaign.
Nh GREEN'S STATEMENT.
Assemblyman Green made the following
statement:
All OF the principal features of the Hin
changed. The bill provides for the direcI
election in the official primary of members
of party committees, ana for the dlrect
nomination in the primary OF all party
candidates for Office, from the state ticket
down, including county and city candl-
dates.
II provides that primary day shall be the
fifth Tuesday before Election Day, instead
OF the seventh Tuesday as last year anu
the pTeiiminaries OF the primary nave
been brought one week nearer to primary
day, so that the machinery of the primary
is set in motion on August Is OF TINS year
BY the meeting OF the party committees ~
propose candidates for party nomination.
There viii then he three weeks for ming
petitions proposing candidates, and All the
proposals must be in by September ID Inc
primary day will fall on October 1 This
will leave five weeks after the nominations
have been made in the primary lor the
campaign. which will end on Election Day
November 3.
The state committee OF each party con
sIstg of one member from each Assembly
district, thus constituting state commit
tees OF $50 members, nominated only oy
petition. and elected by the direct vote
sembIy district The Republican State
Committee is now elected by congress
districts and the DenocratiG t. sfa az, 6ol4 n
Assembly districts Will bring the nleInpeFS
OF the state committees, respectively, INTO
direct accountability 10 the party voters
and viii give each county direct representa-
ton in the committee The comInlItec o.
$50 members. chosen directly by the part!
oughiy representative OF the sentiment 70
which II will be responsive. IL VIII not
be so large as to be unWleldy, anu G eiA
member when the committee meets, VIII
actuallv and personally represent the party
in his district. s. -,
primary election in gubernatoriaI years TO
frame the party platform, has oeen IN
creased by the addition OF the cahuiut, IeS
nominated for the senate anu Assem- is lI ~
so that this body will consist OF the can
didates nominated for state ofhces, the
members OF the state committee, the can
dIdafeS for the Legislature, amt. II the
T1arty rules shall so provide. the chairman
~ The county committees. This constitutes
q party council OF approximateIy four nun
dved members. directly representative o.
The enrolled party strength throughout the
state. Al its meetings the CdndiuateS
who have been named may denver thelE
speeches OF acceptance. ana an oppoI tCHHtS
will be afforded for addresses by ulstIn-
guished party leaders. thus forInaiiy open
ing the campaign. The presence in the
meetings OF the council of the members OF
the state committee, and, IL desired, ths
chairman of each county committee, az
fords an opportunity for consultation and
the formulation OF campaign plans
The plan of Cauvassing the vote cast IN
vote cast in the last preceding state e!ee-
ton is retained, but the bill proyldes that
this may be changed as to any party by
lis adoption of 81 uniform rule as 10 any
district or the state al large In this way
each party can fix the method OF can
vass, so as to have il either with or WIKI
ton.
Senator Davenport, Of oneida County. de-
clarcd TODAY that there was very strong
sentiment upstate at least favorable 10
Ciovernor H1ghes's policy in the direct
nominations matter. The prospects az
passing the TIinman-G Green bill" said ne.
seem 10 me tar more favorable than last
year.
There are very few representatives from
the upper section Of the state who are like
~ 10 tly in the face OF that sentiment. he
continued. THE changes which have been
made in the DILL meet the objections urged
against last years measure. Those who
have been clamoring for the retention o.
the state convention VIII find that With the
enlarged state committee of hundred and
fifty members the good features of the con
ventiou are retained and the bad features
eliminated
FINED FOR SHORT MEASURES.