The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1910-05-17
The LAT Phase.


Has not the time been reached in the
business Of this State when common
sense and common decency alike de-
mand that there shall he an end Of the
direct primary debate for the pres
ent year, The Hinman-Green bill is
dad. After a fair debate and a free
vote ssventy-seven Assemblymen voted
against Il and eighty-tWo against per
hitting il TO come up again during the
present session. II il not. then. an APP
propriate time to return to actual busi-
Eleaa Of State government?
Az the present moment day is made
lntolerahle and night hideous by the
dnnunciations. lameptatiOns. objurga-
tions Of the supporters Of the Governors
bin. In defeat they have become
even more violent than in earlier
stack At the head Of every legislator
who opposed them they are now level
ling = torrent Of abuse. accusation and
denunciation which might easily earn
applause from the army in Flanders.
Nor does the performance end here
Not only those distinguished citizens
outside Of political life who expressed
their honest distrllst Of the Human
Green bill but also the Hon. CHARLES
EVANS HUGHEs. who declined 10 COM
pei hostile Assembly 10 accept this
bill, are being denounced in passionate
attacks.
The attacks upon the Governor and
e20n those private citizens who OPP
Nued his ball in a memorial may be set
uOwn 10 disappointment and the natural
bitterness Of defeat. The attacks upon
the members " the Legislature have a
different explanation In the language
a the direct primary camp a majority
q the legislators are towards as well a.
criminals. II the people can be con-
WINGED Of their crimihality their indigna-
zion win compel a final manifestation Of
cOwaEdice. II enough popular passion
can he produced. then the surrender 81
the Legislature 70 the direct primary
bill will be assured. Hence the sudden
outbreak Of this campaign Of vinllence
and violence.
THE Sun does not believe such a cam
paign can succeed. Il does not believe
that any considerable portion n the
people Of this State are fools. or that any
large fraction n the members Of the
Legislature are cowardly knaves. On
the contrary II believes that the cam
paign now undertaken il n the sort that
discredits itself n tho transparent IN
command credence among the most
credulous. Already in the expression
Of the press and the people Of this State
Il has seen enough to he satisfied that
the direct primary campaign. for the
present at least. IL q spent effort.
For the prompt termination Of the
vicious and futile campaign. however.
there are practical reasons. In the past
four years Of reform administers and
moral awakening the cost Of State gov
srnment has increased nearly 81 per
cent. an increase only partly concealed
by iuRRery with canal payment last
year. II was tSo.OOO.OoO in 1914: II was
st0,OOO.OOO i=s. year, despite tho lug
Cling advance reports from Albany indi- !
cate that n will be sll.OOO.OOO ,his year
re return IN the direct tar abolished bv
ODELL has BEEN insured by HUGHEs
The Legislature IL still in session in May |
and a June adjournment IL certain,
where anciently adjournment came in |
early April.
The truth is the game Ia up The peo-
pie Of this state are not in a mood 10 |
believe the interested self-advertiseru
when they assert that the Governor has
betrayed his cause. Nor are thew now
likely To credit the impudent assertion
tina, the Legislature has sold out its con-
stituents II Ia time for these political
sandWichmen 10 change boards. for the
public ms loSt interest. the facts Of State
government have at last eliminated the
phantons. All that a weary electorate
now asks II the Legislature IL that II do
il real work and quit The habit Of
forecasting political annihilation for all
Legislators who vote against an inpor-
tant measure Is too familiar and has too
often been proved foolish ~ frghtsn
any one In the last phase Of the direc,
primary fight all others are revealed
exposed. but even for that tho time 20 /
end has come.