New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-05-30
REAL PRIMARY REFORM
New Corrupt Practices leglsla-
ton PIeaSes Association.

Albany, May E.-The Association TO Pre-
vent Corrupt Practices at Elections makes
the following statement with reference TO
/ the measures passed by the Legislature at
the session just ended. extending the pro-
visions OF the corrupt practices act 20 pri-
rnaries and candidates for nomination and
removing the s. limitation. so far as pay
ruents to poll workers are concerned. thus
obligfng the party committees and others
TO account for all sums expended in this
| manner:
| Every citizen in the State of New York
has reason 70 feel gratifed over the action
| OF the Legislature in passing two OF the
| three so-called corrupt practices bills,
which. with vigorous enforcement, will in
sure a real primary reform, and Will also
compel every political committee. agent and
expense account required 70 be filed after
election detailed statement of every dollar
expended for poll workers. watchers and
messengers, whether the sum paid is great
or or less than s.. II IS possible under the
law now for a political committee or can
didate 10 expend any amount for poll work
erS and make no accounting for IL so long
the sums expended were under 80 one
of the bills passed by the Legislature re-
! moves this $ limitation. which: there is no
doubt, concealed election frauds In many
expense statements filed this year and last
| items of thousands of dollars were reported
in lump sums as having been expended for
than So
It was entirely possible. therefore. for a
corrupt committee or agent to disburse
/ large sums for the purchase OF votes under
| guiSe OF hiring men to act as watchers or
messengers, so long as the sums paid were
! less than 81. According to statistics gath
] cred by the association IN the last COVER
norShip election In 2.3u election districts
out of 1858 Il was found that from One-third
| to one-half of the total amounts expended
/ by political committees had been accounted
/ for as having been expended in sums OF =
| or less In New York. Buffalo and Kings
/ the Republican party expended S3l,5oz u
| in this manner and the Democratic party
! 500. 4S0 Is.
| In Albany. Syracuse. Utica and Yonkers
I the Republican party expended SSOS2 % IN
! this manner and the Democratic party $1,-
/ 176- In rural districts the Republicans and
/ Democrats so expended about 5000 each
1 This loophole in the corrupt practices ac'
/ has been closed and the principle OF pup
| licity extended. 1t is believed that this
amendment will put a.stop TO the pracuce
| of hiring Republican workers by Demo
/ Gratis and Democratic workers by Repubil-
cans. for no party man will be willing 20
have it published that he is working for a
candidate of the opposite party FOR nlre
although he may be willing 70 do so ror
| personal reasons.
| The bills as passed also extend the pro-
lection of the corrupt practices acts to pr1-
! mary elections. With the general evidence
! of desire on the part of the people ol
! the state for more careful conduct and
| greater safety of primaries IL was mani
fest that one of the first points on which
to assure the public is that the primary
elections shall not be purchased The Leg
| islature has passed measures against the
| corrupt use of money at primaries, and
| with vigorous enforcement of the laws al
! moneys expended will have to be accounted
! for and it will be possible to have homes
| primary elections.
| The association feels that the Legislature
4 I'm passing these election and primary meas
! Ures, has given impetus to the most 1mpor
| tant reform movement inaugurated IN TN
state for honest elections and honest prf
n1arfes Governor Hughes recommended tn
measures which received the able and Wig
orous support of Senator Wainwright. Wh'
fathered the corrupt practices act Wnen l
was enacted several years ago. and OF AS
semblyman Jesse S. Phillips, Of Alleganl