The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-06-30
he TAKES A HAND
in PLAYING OF !.
STATE POLITICS
Roosevelt Declares in
Favor of Direct
Primary.
HOPES COBB BILL
WILL BE PASSED
Makes His First Public Utter
ance on Political Subject Since
Return From Europe in Tele-
gram to Lloyd Griscom,
Chairman of Republican
County Committee.

New York, June 90. Theodore
utterance on a political subject since
his return from Europe on June IS
In telegram from Cambridge Mass,
whittier he had gone to attend the
Harvard commencement, he advocates
the enactment. with certain amend
ments, of. the so-called Cobb direct
nomination bill now before the extra
ordinary session of the Legislature in
this state The telegram, which Is
addressed to Lloyd C. Griscom, chair
man of the Republican County Com
mittee of New York county. and spon-
sor for the amendments in question,
follows:
During the last week great num-
bers of Republicans and of independ- :
ent voters from all over the State
have written me urging the passage OF
the direct primary legislation. I have
seen Governor Hughes and have learn
ed your views from your representa-
tive. 1t seems to me that the col,b
bill. with the amendments proposed
| by you. meets the needs of the situa-
tion; / believe the people demand it.
| i most earnestly hope that 1t will be
| enacted into law.
| (Sisned)
| fNt1CScS Ell
| Meet at Cambridge.
| Colonel Roosevelts statement: az
have seen Governor Hughes" must
refer to their brief meeting at Cam
| bridge to-day. Both met for a short
| time, their first meeting since Colonel
Rooseyelt's return Mr.. Griscom re-
ceived the telegram late this afternoon
and made 1t public, together with an
appended statement explaining the pro-
posed amendment 10 the Cobb bill. The
| bill. Is now before the judiciary COM
msttee of the assenlhly. Tine amend
ments will likely be introduced In tine
Senate tomorrow. ~.
The amendments" says SIR. Girls
CONS statement. while affecting the
law throughout the State in some
particulars, are chiefly important u
! New York City
| OF these he says: SThe second
amendment provides that a voter in
New York City changing his residence
after enrolment shall lose his right
to vote at the primary election. The
| alleged removal OF an elector from one
place to another within an Electoral
district has been a fruitful source OF
fraud at primary elections.
The proposed amendment will. there
| fore. make for greater honesty at pri-
mary elections. and will disfranchise
a comparatively small number OF peo-
| pie. who might otherwise be legiti-
mately entitled to vote.
Under the present law, as 1t has
existed for some years. voter may
! lose his vote at primary elections by
| moving from one side OF the street to
another, where the street forms the
I,dviding line of an election district
| The change. therefore. is compa ra-
lively slight, though important"
1 Applies to New York.
| Concerning an amendment which ap.
| plies to the city OF New York eAclu-
sively, Mr.. Grisconl says:
This exempts the nominations for
| county offices from the provisions OF
| the bill in every year, whereas the
Cobb bill exempted those offices only
| In years in which mayor was to be
| chosen. AS 1t Is believed that under
the unamended Cobb bill fusion would
be exceedingly difficult. If not impos-
| door open for fusion in other years
than those In which a mayor was tc
be elected.
Other amendments provide tina,
/ delegates to conventions and presiden.
| tial electors need not necessarily re.
side in the district from which they
| are elected.
tional an and State conventions partieu
| larly, it is often found desirable tc
send delegates of party prominence
/ such as Nicholas Murray Butler Sena-
tor Root, Seth Low, Steward L. Wood
! ford, Otto T. Barnard Henry l.. Slim
son, ETC., from districts other than
those in which they reside, and the
amendment is intended to allow the
continuance Of a well-established prac-