New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-05-18
PRIMARY LAW DEMANDED.
About Forty Legislators OF Both
Parties Call on Governor.
WARREN LEADS DELEGATION
sovs Dix Should Urge Direct
Nominations Legislation as
Well as Income Tax.
nv Telegraph to Tire Tribune J

rpe telegram - IRE lrlounN-I
.A.rv Nav 17-Indicating their heher
=. namooracv was distinctly lukewarm
~ direct nominations issue. about for
,.-iels+ors Of both parties called on
,..,o-nor Dix today 70 urge him 70 take
se4,,,a and positive action on this matter
-, rointed out that he was as much
.-,;,te5 n the enactment Of q thorough
80 direct nominations law by all party
-,.aoes as he was 10 the adoption OF the
40 TAX resolution. They declared he
.ho,ld do as much in advocacy OF direct
formations as he had done 10 further the
.,ssare Of the income tax amendment.
HEADING the delegation was Assemolyman
v-sr-en. Of New York. who has introduced
statewide direct nominations measure
,..icb has much legislative support and is
,,o-,ilv approved by direct nominations
-, - both parties. II Is virtually tibet bill
..,,,o,ted bv Governor Hughes applying
:. an officials from Governor down, save
"a, IL does not contain the party commit
.. desicnation scheme Of the Hughes DILL
- in consequence the ballot is some
9. 6i4erert from the one in the Hughes
measure.
Asemblyman Warren. in presenting the
,svs Of the legislators 10 the Governor
ro- only urged action by the Democracy
end asked the Governor to take the lead
!, mai action. but criticised the so-called
INK direct nominations bill.
AN YOU said In your forceful letter on
-. income tax amendment" said Assem-
,,r,,an Warren. could be said with equal
t,-cs ~ the erect primary issue. You
-,-b. almost send the same letter 10 the
7 legislature. substituting the words 'Di-
-,c, Primary for Income Tax When both
rs-,ies in their platforms pledged them
Elves 10 the enactment OF statewide
drect primary bill they meant law
which would apply 10 all elective officers
tom Governor down. II there had been
s,v ,dea that the reform was to be only a
PARTIAL one. that the platform was insincere
and did not mean what it said, PROBABLY
many n rs would not De here to-day.
III direct primary means anything IT
means that every man is 10 set fair deal.
7, means he is to- have a chance to impress
r.. Views on his party, II they are worth
ANYTHING. and. al least, II should give him
q chance 10 submit his views 10 the voters
Of his party. That purpose is nullihed II
,re urinary ballot IS such that there can
M, he a free expression of opinion. We
boIeve the ballot provided for in the So
,..Ie5 administration bill would make direct
,.rinlaries nothing better than farce, and
-.ere could he no real primary contest
under such q law.
For these reasons We hope YOU will use
YOUR efforts either 10 see that some bill
which does provide for these things is en-
seed. or that the bill which has your
sympathy is amended 10 apply 10 state Of
hcers and has. instead OF the present bal
lor one ~ the Massachusetts, form, so
there might 10 real direct primaries
Most Of those in the delegation said they
favored tho Warren bill. but would sup
tort the Ferrs-Ievy bill-the DIX measure
If 10 was broadened 70 include state Of
f.ers IN its scone. and had the ballot
changed 90 a fair and workable scheme.
senator Neucomb Of New York Repub-
rra-l and Assomblvman Brace Democrat
t''d rho Governor of the necessity for direct
primary legislation and the Importance OF
r- HAVING a proper. fair ballot provision.
I this delegation were Senators Burd,
Roosevelt ugnamel and Newcomb and As
.eudlrweu Cnarler Brace Drummond.
Huber Kennedy. Warren Friedman, Hoyt.
s-ortt Frfde0 becker. Beach. Fly. Terry,
ceatons. Ashton Parker. Walter Herrick.
Wheeler. Miller Saunders. OConnor Tur-
'sr Nork Evans Tromh.y, Sheide, Martin,
"a Eeau Democrats and Higgins Will
-o0. Ahearr Colne. Goodman. Hof and
N1~rev lRe0unHcanr This included most
of the aru-Sheehau insurgent Democrats,
Who In more or less united fashion are
f-,Ing 90 ger passed some decent legisla-
non this res-, either hy tie help Of the
Republicans or tv appealing 70 the Gov
e-nor against some ~ the Tammany
r-~e7es