New-York tribune., 1910-02-03
DELAY FOR REPORT
PRTN1RT DISCUSSED.
LEGISLATIVE Committee UHt
Opposc Direct Nominations.
[Ev TELEGRAPH TO The Tribune. J

Afbanv. Feb. members of the special
legislative committee which investigated
direct primary conditions in other states
held meeting this evening with eX-Juoge
Knapp counsel. to prepare their report 10
the Legislature. After a three hours sss
sion Senator Meade, tie chairman saio
the work was uncompleted and wouio oe
cortsnued at another session
This report when completed. viii declare
against direct primaries, though II is oe'
Heved that the. language of that oecial ~ 'ioi
viii not be so vigorous as II nlsht nav
been before the Democrats In the Lesisialale
.ook up this issue. With the report "he'
presented will come a bill providing iof
patching Up the present primary fs"s >
That bin will provide for uniform pfll'iai5
day an official primary ballot, the holo'iis
of primaries at state expense ana tas Sa.e
guarding of them as Election Day voting Is
safesusrded It probably viii not pro'los
for statewide personal enrolment
Ex-Judge Knapp brought WIN hihi "
Albany to-day some three hunoIee pases
of summary of the testimony taken pefoie
the committee This was arrahseo ~
states, the testimony for and against 'iie
direct primary III each state peihs SUN
married. with notes regarding the salient
features OF the laws. ihT
committee took UP for analysis. and then
began to weld II into report l ms "oro-
ing OF that document proved so difficult
taeE that what had been expected to be
short session heightened greatly, ana nliah9
made necessary other sessions
Brought on by q resolution offered by
senator Grady to have one thousand extra
copies Of the Democratic Leagues dfrect
primary bill printed, a brisk debate over
,be direct urinary issue enliyened to-day
session of TIE Senate. Incidentally SEN
s+ar Grady committed the pemocTarc
lesisla tors to the support Of his measure
and admitted that the time had come
when the general public was demanding
reforms along that line:
The syist of 1t all was expressed oy SEN
ator Davenport In these words:
THE discussion this morning Is siEnih-
cant in its open revelation of the changed
attitude OF mind all over the state "ltlli
a year with respect TO this great move
n1ent In public life. Senator Grady has haa
the breadth of mind to change his posi'ioh
because he realized the public demand for
direet primary reforms.
In presenting his resolution Senator
Grady said he had read that his inuoouc-
tion of this bill had occasioned much nlirfh'
although he hadn't observed it.
Il hope l may be taken seriously wnen-
even fhts question comes up, he contln-
ned. .'This nnea sure, which comes from the
Democratic League, represents the posi-
ton of the minority party and IT'S repre-
ssntatiyes in the Legislature Oh the dues-
ton Of direct primaries. We recognize that
there times Ehsn the fullest and i fa5 a
Sisaf,Ie ard believe it has been provided
for in this system of direct primaries ! I
might add that the organization with when
- ~, ~ he connected
ing 10 fear or dread or lose by direct prl-
marieS.'' x:, L. -
rs that the reason Why the bill IS SO
,7rau-n as to except New York city from
the direct primary provisions?' broke In
Senator Hnnan. ... 80 ~.
r-oner ;Itos = reforted Grady. 'If the Sen
ator wants me to take rim into my cont
dence I will say ii is because there was
M great enthusiasm either among Demo
Gratis Of Republicans in greater New 1ork
for the direct primary