New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-07-19
Majority Allows Itself To Be Ma
nnuvred Into Refusing to Bring
Out Direct Nominations Bills.
GOVERNOR URGES ACTION
Insists That Legislature Give
proper Consideration to Sub
iect-Wants Ferris -Blau-
yelt Measure Widened.

LEGISLATURE would give due and proper
..ideration to the subject of direct
nominations. the Democratic majority in
~. cenate to-day went on record sew
.-si times against that reform as en-
bodied in various bills now before the
Senate judiciary Committee. Governor
Dix's message urging a widening of the
scope Of the Ferris Blauvelt bill, adopted
by the organization" as the official di
rect nominations measure. provoked the
fight. Before it was over the majority
had permitted itself TO he manpuvred
into a position of refusing to bring out
the direct nominations bills, even one
sponsored by Democrats. for consdera-
,ion Of the Senate though talking loudly
in favor Of the principle.
The attitude taken by Senators Burd,
LOOMS SAKE and other Democrats more
or less independent on this issue was
PECULIAR They refused at first to vote
with the Republicans in favor of mo
tious by Senator Bracket designed TO
get the direct nominations bill out Of
committee Finally Senator Bracket,
BY persistence and by concocting what
he termed "a dose Of direct nominations
weak enough to suit the most delicate
stomach" got five Democratic votes
those Of Burd, Duhamel. Loomis, Roose-
Welt and SAKE The others stuck solidly
against any action tending 10 bring any
direct nominations bill to a vote then.
When the Governors direct nomina-
tions message was read. Senator Wae-
ner made a formal motion for its refer
enCe 10 the Judiciary Committee. Sena-
tor Roosevelt proposed as an amendment
that the message be referred to the Ju-
dietary Committee and that the commit
tee be instructed TO report Immediately
q bill 10 conform 10 the Governors rec
concentrations. That started the fight.
Democrats Won't Be Hurried.
The organization Democrats may in
tend TO pass some kind of direct NOM
nations bill but they don't intend to be
hurried by any Republicans or erstwhlie
insurgent Democrats. Senator Wagner,
majority leader, protested vigorously
against the Roosevelt suggestion. Sena-
tor Hinman was strong for it. He said
a vote for II was equivalent TO a vote
for the Hinman bill which Governor
Hughes advocated and which was before
the Judiciary Committee. Senator New
comb and SAKE. Democrats, also spoke
Tor H. Grady and the organization
Democrats contended that the motion
was unprecedent and in effect was an
affront 10 the committee. 1t was voted
down "a TO 9. Those voting for it were
Duhamel. Hinman. LOomis, Newcomb'
Roosevelt SAKE. Thomas, Wainwright
and White.
Then Senator Bracket brought into
action some big guns by moving as an
amendment to the Wagner motion that
the Judiciary Committee be instructed
TO report forthwith the Hinman bill.
This stirred up the Democrats. Grady
made n point Of order that it was really
motion 20 discharge the committee. but
Lieutenant Governor Conway ruled
against him. Senator Wagner protested
that the subject Of direct nominations
was not before the Senate.
when il comes UP all these bills may
be discussed and discussed seriously
said he. Don't make this subject ol
direct nominations a joke
The question is before us. and mas
been before us since January /, without
much action" retorted Roosevelt. This
committee has three or four bills before
It which any advocate of direct nomina-
tions could support. They haven't been
reported vet. / will vote for any mo-
ton which will get them before us when
We want them not when the majority
leader or whoever is behind him wants
them"
Accused OF Playing to Galleries.
u hone no Senator will be SO foolish
as 10 think that Senator Roosevelt
speaks for the Governor" countered
Wagner. for he doesn't" He accused
Roosevelt and NewcOmb of playing 10
the galleries I'm their pretended adVo-
cacy Of direct nominations.
Senator Ferris said that there was
lot Of buncOmbe i'm the Bracket motloh'
Roosevelt and NewComb declared that
the unexpected message Of the Governor
had forced the curtain 10 rise niue
early on the Democratic stage play OF dl-
rect nominations and had showed all the
machinery I'm full operation. Finally
vote was taken on Brackets motion. III
was lost-1S to q. The only Democrats
who voted for il were Roosevelt ana
SAKE. Burd and Loomis, both piedged
10 direct nominations. squirmed ana
voted against it, Bracket then moved
that the judiciary Committee report for
the consideration of the Senate the Copp
bill which, he said, would meet the Gov
ernor's idea entirely. az IL did not aool-
ish the state convention.
III anybody I'm this Senate really
wants 10 vote for direct nominations, ne
must vote for this notion said Brach-
EFT. This is as diluted a dose as VIII
suit the most delicate stomach" Never
theless. the result was little different. His
motion was ost-17 to 26. SAKE dIdh
vote this time; Loomis voted for direct
nominations.
As there had been much talk from the
Democrats that these were Republican
bills.' Bracket met them on that
ground He next made similar inotioh
for consideration OF the Burd- Warren
bill. a Democratic measure similar 10
the Hinman bill. applying 10 all oflcers
ifom the Governor down. Crazy WISH
ing TO end at once all further taIk oi VI