New-York tribune., 1910-05-10

party voters. and their necessity will
! sharpen their interest.
/ Another objection has been made that
the proposed plan throws the selection or
candidates too far back This does not
! seem to me a substantial objection. Th9
/ important point is that the voters of the
! party should have a chance to pass
upon the candidates. The party candi
dates are nominated on primary day,
which takes place five weeks before cleo
! tion a fair allowance for the campaign
Candidates for nomination may be pre-
sented by petition until three weeks be-
| fore primary day, or eight weeks before
election Two years ago the state con-
vention was held about seven weeks be-
| fore election Party opinion will crystal
lie when the time arrives for 1t to
| crvstallize according to the date fixed.
Under the proposed plan, while the COM
mittee designations are made six weeks
/ before primary day. three weeks of this
! tition and the presentation of other can
! didstes if the committee designations
are not satisfactory.
/ Th. Situation in New York.
/ Now I desire to say word about the
situation in the city of New York Ihat
/ is UNIQUE It represents the transition
period between the activity of national
party organizations and the principle Of
! -partisanship in municipal affairs
| which the constitutional amendment
providing for municipal elections in odd
| numbered wears was intended to ad-
vance. While public sentiment justifies
party nominations for municipal Offices
! they will continue. But in New York
City. under the conditions existing there,
| efforts have been made through fusion
| movements to bring the citizens together
| in support of something IKE non-PdE-
| tisan administration.
A fusion movement, involving the CO.
| operation of a political party as Such,
| is distinct from an independent move
ment No interference is proposed with
/ independent nominations The question
really is not whether there should be
fusion movement. but whether, under
the cloak of convention which really
does nothing. we should allow two or
three men to nominate the party candl-
dates for public offices. They may pro-
ceed with the highest of motives: they
may select unimpeachable candidates;
but it is a travesty of party action Un-
der the committee plan there Will be
ample opportunity for consultation and
recommendation to the party of suitable
fusion candidates. If there IS a real
sentiment for fusion in the party it will
be expressed at the primary. and this.
indeed, will give an opportunity for an
actual expression with regard to the
candidates believed to have the greatest
strength for purposes of fusion. If the
that they are repudiated at the primary.
they will form a very slight reliance for
the success of the fusion cause.
Whatever force there may be in the
objection. howeter, it is to be noted
that there will not be another municipal
election in New York City for three
years There is much discussion and
experimentation with respect to the
nomination of candidates in our large
cities. Whether or not we shall continue
to have party candidates remains to be
seen But If ue are to have party can
didates. then they should be the choice
of the party voters
Plea for Wise Action.
I have spoken to YOU of this matter
at length because of my deep interest
and my desire to speak frankly. My
sole. solicitude is that whatever is done
should be done wisely and should COM
mend itself to the sound judgment of
the people of the state.
I have no idea that any plan of prf
mary reform will prove Cure-an, nor
do doubt that under any system there
will be constant need for vigilance and
the unceasing play of self-interest for
which democratic government neceSsa-
rily affords large opportunities. [ nave
no interest in the question of direct nom
nations save as believe they mark an
important step in the development OF
our institutions. The sentiment which
has produced the various plans which
have been tried elsewhere with varying
degrees of success is a wholesome Sentl-
nnent akin to that which established our
liberty as people. The question is be
fore the people of the State of New
York. You cannot destroy the issue by
shutting your eyes to it. 1t is for us to
seek to give this widespread sentiment
intelligent direction and thus secure an
adequate and workable plan
| love the State of New York. NO
where within a similar extent of terri
tory or of population can be found so
much that is representative of the best
of human character and effort or more
intelligent and Industrious people. Here
should be the Wisest government, the
largest measure of progress and the
finest illustration of the success of de-
mocracy in solving its problems with
Justice to all interests. And to confirm
ute to this happy result by honora bic
conduct in private life, by the faithful
discharge of public trust, by pauent
study and by candid utterance should
he the aim of every citizen according to