New-York tribune., 1910-04-26
CONFER ON PRIMARIES
Cobb, Wadsworth, Meade and
Phillips Talk Thing Over.
GRATIFIED BY MEMORIAL
Hinman- Green Bill May Be
Amended So as Not to Apply
to State Convention.
rRr Telegraph 20 The Tribune.l ]

Albany, April 25.-Copies or the memorial
TO tie Legislature on direct primaries
signed by Seth Low. Henry w. Taft Mich
clas Murray Butler Joseph III. Choate, Otto
T. Barnard and other conservative Repub-
licans. were received by Speaker wads-
worth and Senator Cobb to-day. Both
were pleased at the tenor Of the document.
Senator Cobb held a conference late to-
night with the Speaker, Senator Meade and
Assemblyman Phillips on the primary ques-
ton. 1t is probable that somewhat as a rc-
suit OF this memorial the Hinman-Grecn bill
will be amended 20 apply only 10 legisla-
tors. Congressman and municipal and coun-
~ officers. That bill and the original Hin
man-Green bill. abolishing all conventions.
will be reported. probably next week, for
the consideration of the Senate. The Gov
ernor's bill. IL this programme is followed,
Will be voted on first Just what the Sen
ate Will do under those conditions is some
what OF a problem at this time. Advocates
Of the Governors bill say there are enough
votes 10 pass IL in the upper house.
In that case the issue would be distinctly
up 20 the Assembly under Speaker Wads
worth. It has been determined to put the
Hinman-Green bill out for a vote in that
house also. The Speakers close friends be-
lieve that there are enough votes there TO
defeat the Governors bill, and to pass
either the eade-Phillips bill or some adap-
tation of the half way bill which they ex-
pect the Senate 20 adopt
81 have received the memorial from
Mayor Low" said Senator Cobb. II don't
care TO comment on IT, except TO say that
IL is somewhat gratifying to have the peo-
pie OF the state see that all the opposition
to he x4-fr6 I'm na - fS
not due 20 personal antagonism to him and
that II all does not come from the petty
bosses"
Speaker Wadsworth's views ran along the
same line. Il am glad 10 know" said he,
that prominent men Of the party not al
lied with the so-called party bosses have
advanced the same arguments against the
Hinman-Green bill that have been argued
for the last two years by it's opponents in
the Legislature. II is true that II will
make fusion practically impossible. Had
the Hinman-Creen bill passed last year the
defeat Of Tammany Hall in the fall election
would have been impossible.
Another criticism which the petitioners
make is that the Hinman-Green bill would
give too great power 10 the party commit
teemen who are to make the nominations.
The legislative opponents OF the direct
nominations bill have repeatedly called at
tention 20 this defect in the scheme.
1T would be a simpler matter to amend
the Meade Phillips bill to conform to the
ideas OF the petitioners than TO use the
IIinman-Green bill as the basis for pro-
posed legislation. II is a fact generally lost
sight of that the Meade-Phillips bill provides
for discretionary direct nominations in po-
litical divisions and also provides the
methods for carrying out the plan II the
local committees adopt II. Under this plan
il the people of any locality desired direct
nominations they could see to it that party
committeeman pledged TO that scheme were
elected