New-York tribune., 1910-09-23
DEMOCRATS OUTLINE VIEWS
Osborne, Glynn, Sulzer, Havens
and Herrick for Direct Primaries

Albany. Sept 22.-Prominent Democrats
who have been mentioned as possible Gov
erno~ship candidates tonight went on rec
ord as favorlng direct nominations. They
included Thomas NJ. Osborne, Martin H.
Glynn, Representatives William SuIzer and
James S. Havens and ex-Justice D. Cady
Herrick. Their views were made known
at mass meeting under the auspices of
the Progressive Democrats of New York
State.
Mayor Gaynor failed TO reply to an in
vitaton asking for an expression of his
views or the question. Mayor Fuhrmsnn
Of Buffalo and Justice Gerard. OF New
York, did not respond TO invitations ask
ing them 10 address the meeting.
Nj Osborne and Mr.. Glyr,p spoke at the
meeting, but the others were unable to
attend and sent letters of regret, explain
Ing their attitude.
Mr.. Osborne made an attack on the
tariff and criticised Theodore Roosevelt.
cit is difficult he said, ''to know just
what he IS politically at the present mo-
rnent- I. for one, refuse to be dazzled by
his political transformation scenes or ex-
cited over his sudden moral discoveries -
Mr.. Osborne next took up the question Of
bossism. NO less destructive than the
protective tariff to the Democratic princi-
pie ne said. ''is the corrupt and corrupt
ing influence in state and nation Of the So
called bosses Intrenched in power By
means OF tribute levied upon tariff bene-
fciaries and public service corporations,
these arrogant dispensers Of patronage and
directors Of legislation have swelled the
public expenditures by enormous sums for
extravaganza and waste, while legitimate
and necessary expenses of government are
often unduly curtailed."
Nj Osborne outlined his platform OF
political principles as follows: Opposition to
subsidies to special interests and the con-
sequent high cost Of living; the conservation
OF natural resources; opposition TO the fed
eral corporation tax: the election Of United
States Senators by the direct vote Of the
people: a federal income tax which pre-
serves the rights Of the states: municipal
home rule: economy il government ex-
direct nominations: personal
registration and enrolment in the rural dis
tricts: the Massa chusetts ballot, and per-
fecting the policy Of state regulation OF
public utilities.
The principle Of direct nominations. 20
said Mr. Glynn. is in line with true De-
mocracy. Distrust Of the people is the ar
gument Of all opponents of this principle.
tt is the CRY from the high peak OF educa-
tioual attainment, on which stands Jacob
Gould Schurman, to the lowest levels of
political life, habitated by the ward heeler
phonographing the ideas Of his boss
Thomas Jefferson said. 7 am not among
those who fear the people And so say all
the advocates OF the principle of direct
nominations.
The people want not alone the power to
elect their public officials. They also want
the right to name those from whom their
selections may be made. The bosses raise
the cry that direct nominations viii destroy
representative government That is false.
It viii destroy our present hodge-podge
system OF misrepresentation government,
and that is why the bosses oppose It.
IF the people cannot be trusted in direct
primaries they are unfit for trust under our
present election system, and the bosses
should be allowed to DO all Of the voting
alone. by themselves. To listen to the op-
ponents OF direct nominations one would
think that the people were fools and had
no brains
Edward N Shepard sent letter in which
he said that as he was a member OF the
committee appointed by the Democratic
State Committee to get material for the
Democratic state platform he did not de-
FIRE at this time to express himself further
than he had in the past
Edward NJ. Grout Of Brooklyn, replied
expect TO be nominated.