New-York tribune., 1911-10-07
PRIMARY FIGHT A LONG ONE
Begun by Hughes Nearly 5 Years
Ago-Roosevelt's Part.

Albany. Oct. 6-The elimination Of
five years effort 70 place a direct non1ina-
tions law on the statute books Of New
York State in which Theodore Roosevelt
played 2 prominent part last year. was
accomplished to-day when the Assembly
passed the Tammany bill.
When Governor Hughes assumed Office
in 1907 he recommended a direct nomina-
tons law. and during his four years as
Chief Executive he continued 10 urge pri-
mary reform. In 1909 a legislative com
mission was appointed 70 investigate the
subject Its members visited several West
ern states and early in the session Of 1910
submitted q report accompanied by a bill
which later became known as the Meade
Phillips organization measure 4 more
drastic statewide bill was introduced by
Senator Hinman and Asseublynan Green.
while Senator Grady and Assemblyman
Frisbie put in 2 measure which had been
framed BY the Democratic League
The battle waged throughout the session.
and IN an effort 10 bring about harmony
among the various factions Senator Cobb,
then Republican leader, introduced what
vas known as the Cobb compromise bill
after conferences with Vice-President Sher-
man, United States Senator Ellhu Root
and others prominent in the councils Of
the Republican party.
This was before the arrival IN America
Of Theodore Roosevelt from his African
hunting trip. and during a debate IN the
Senate Senator Hinran predicted that
when the former President learned what
vas taking place in the Legislature he
would take a hand N the fight. This pre-
! 10
iected the Hinnan-Green and the Cobb
and the Grady-Frisbie bills and passed the
Meade Phillips measure which Governor
Hughes promptly vetoed as not being a
genuine primary reform measure.
The Legislature adjourned without fur
Their action and was promptly recalled IN
extraordinary session BY the Governor.
who declared there should be further op-
uortunitv for considering the Cobb com
promise bill. Soon after Colonel Roose-
velt's return from Africa he invited Gov
error Hughes 70 visit him ar Oyster Bay.
The Governor accepted, and they went
over the direct nominations situation N all
its phases
II was during the extraordinary session
when the Republican organization was
hghting direct primary legislation that
Colonel Roosevelt sent message TO Lloyd
c. Crisconn. then chairman Of the New
York County Republican Committee. in
dorsing the Cobb bill. with certain amend
nents which had been proposed By that
organization. The effect was as Il 2 bomb
shell had been dropped into the camp Of
the old guard" and Roosevelt became the
potent figure N the contest
After a bitter fight the Cobb bill was
decisively beaten in both houses. and It
was ar once predicted that the former
President would have 70 get back into the
political harness His defeat az the hands
Of the Republican organization. IL was
pointed out, had created a situation which
would force him 70 take an active part in
state politics.
At the fall convention both Republican
and Democratic parties pledged their sup
port 70 direct primaries. and Colonel
Roosevelt was active in fghtng the op-
position of the old guard" led by Will
lam Barnes. tr. now chairman Of the Re-
publican state committee 70 placing such
= plank in the Republican platform.
The Democrats won the election and
Governor Dix renewed the fight for pri-
mary reform in his annual message 70 the
Legislature Various measures were intro
duced. the Assembly passing a bill provtd-
ing for the direct nomination OF Senator's,
Asseu1blvrnen and city councilmen, which
was rejected by the Senate on the eve Of
the summer recess. Recently the Governor
renewed his recommendation for state
wide bill. and the amended Ferris Blauvelt
measure was passed