New-York tribune., 1911-10-06
WYATT ON ASSEMBLYMEN
TO PASS PRIMARY BILL
Paid Off Saturday, They Took
Leaders Advice and Stayed
at Home.
SMITH PROMISES ACTION
House, Expecting Arrival of Abb
sentees, Adjourns at Midnight
Till 10 A. M. To- o-day-
Close Call Planned.


Albany, oct 5.-If anything was
needed to put a climax TO the farcical
character of the Democratic considera-
ton Of direct primary legislation, the
events Of to-day furnished it. The DEM
ocrats Of the Assembly are under pledge
10 pass the bill which finally was
whipped through the Senate-the com
promise bill' which Tammany was will
ing 10 stand for. Yet not all the efforts
Of the Assembly machine, which appar-
emily was working TO its maximum
capacity. could bring the necessary AS
semblymen 10 the Capitol tonight TO
pass that bill.
After holding the members in session
until after midnight, the leaders re-
ceived word that some Of the Buffalo
members on whom they were counting
could not possibly get here until to-mor-
row morning. Therefore. the Assembly
adjourned 10 meet at 10 a. m. to-mor-
row. at which time 1t is the plan Of the
leaders to hold the House under a close
call until the Tammany direct nomina-
tions bill is passed.
The eleven Democrats missing at mid
night wer Dawson. Hearn. Jackson.
Monczynsh and Neupert. Of Erie;
Gould, Of Niagara; Coleman. OF Nassau;
Kennedy, Of Queens; Scheide. Of Suf-
folk. and SpIelberg and Turley, Of New
York
II may be that all the absenteeism
which the DAYS events disclosed was
genuine. The Assemblymen. contrary to
the provisions Of the legislative law, re-
ceived last Saturday night the portion OF
their pay which is supposed 10 be held
back until after the Legislature has
finally adjourned. While they were
being paid off IL was reported around
the Hobbies that the machine leaders
we're advising them to go home and stay
home. That was before Tammany had
become converted to direct nominations
and evolved the bill which later was put
through the Senate as a machine meas
ure. Now that Tammany wants to put
this Hill through. few Of these absent
votes WO1ll come III lltINgs
No Trick, Says "a" Smith.
"Ar' Smith, Tammany leader Of the
lower House, insists that there vas no
trick contemplated 70 defeat direct nom
nations. even the Incomplete and unsat-
isfactory variety provided by the Senate.
"I gave my word" said he that there
NOM Ina tiOnS Dill
passed. and I meant It. l wasn't trying
to duck or shift. If 1t comes TO the
point where I'VE got TO break my word
10 the fellows I'm working with here
each day. I'm willing TO quit this legis-
lative game. This direct nominations
bill is going through"
Maybe 1t will go through. Every un-
lucky Asscmblyman who happened 70
he here to-day was held here, and the
far ends Of the state were secured for
absentees. Yet at midnight the count
Of the Tammany leaders showed that
thev lacked one vote of the number nee
essarv TO pass their direct nominal
tions" bill. and this included several
democrats who had voted against Tam
many on other occasions and said they
were thinking Of doing it on this meas
IRE. They had given up hope of getting
any Republican votes for the measure
for in conference the Republicans had
voted unanimously to oppose the meas
IRE az n fake direct nominations BILL
adonting the following resolution:
Resolved. That. inasmuch as the Fer
ris hin pending before the Assembly pro-
viding for the regulation OF party pEi-
mares is not what the people OF TINS
state stat 81, expect. in view Of the declarations
of both the majority and minority par
ties. the provisions Of the Dill not cor
recting the evils complained of, but rath-
or aggravating them, we, the Republican
members of Assembly in conference here
assembled. DO repudiate the bill because
il is a specious trick, and decide unani-
mouslv to oppose its passage in the AS
sembly.
The Democrats Sole Hope.