New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-03-28

| which comprises the official board OF can.
vassers of the primary ballots, would begin
| its work to-day. Under the law II has 100
hours from midnight of primary day in
which to complete its task That time win
| be up on Sunday at midnight, and Mr.
| Britt does not expect the canvass 10 be
completed much before Saturday night
| A young man representing the Roosevelt
| committee went TO the Board OF Elections
| In the afternoon and asked to be allowed TO
go over the returns. Mr. Britt said that
every courtesy would be extended 70 the
representative of the Roosevelt people, hut
that the returns had not arrived in any
great numbers. They were coming In slow.
~ Yesterday afternoon, but it will Be late
to-day before they are all in. T-
Some Of those received yesterday we're
made out on sample ballots, and other uu.
official paper because of the lack of tally
sheets.
George Valentine. president of the Martin
e. Brown Company, printers OF the ballots.
made a statement yesterday accepting re-
sponsibity for the failure to get the bal
lots distributed to all the polling places
in time.
I'm doing So" he added, II impute no
fault 10 any one, as the election oftlc!als'snd
the police co-operated with US in our effort
to accomplish the impossible. The fact Of
the matter is that the primary ballot: Of
this election is an unTorkable and an I'm
practicable ballot so far as the printing
and preparation are concerned"
Mr. Valentine said he realized this wien
he took the Job. but they had done cleo.
ton printing for so long that they hest
tated to refrain from bidding They had
put on 40 extra men, exclusive OF $50
extra men who were engaged in pastins the
long ballots together, he said, but even
then 1t was impossible to get the work
done promptly.
Some Question Over Bond.
The company put UP a bond OF 5000 for
the faithful performance OF the work ana
there was some question last night as
to whether there might not be dis
pute over payment for the ballots that ar.
rived too late 10 be used.
Republican leaders in Kings County sx.
pressed regret over the failure Of the bal
lots TO arrive promptly, because the
thought II might cause an unwsrrspted
prejudice against direct primaries in tbs
minds Of many.
Going Colonel Roosevelt one better when
he called the primary e wicked farce,
Jacob A. Riis, according TO statement
given out by the Roosevelt committee last
night. said 1T was worse than that, II
was foul outrage
The message sent 10 Governor Dix b.
Judge Duel Of the Roosevelt committee,
was in part ar follows
regard TO party or political affiliation, de-
clare that yesterdays alleged primal
election in this city and throughout tbs
state was a farcical breakdown OF the
deprived Of the opportunity OF casting their
ballots. The official ballots in many cleo
tions districts were not delivered az az.
and even in more numerous instances wer4
delivered shortly prior 10 the close OF NE
polls
judicial review of any action or neglect
OF an official or public officer In connection
with the primary law contemplates court
proceeding In each separate instance OF
r TtTs G for yesterdays COLLAPSE Of the pr
mary election it would require the instltu-
ton of thousands OF special proceedings
and resultant closing OF the coI detss sp %
the voter seeking TO protect his rights
under the primary law.
In the Interest OF honest politics, We ash
you, as Governor OF tns WnOle ptppL,.. ~
the state of New York to give this m tter
your immediate official consideratiorb so
that by proper recommendation toe the
legislature now I'm session and with ifs
co.operstiou proper steps may be taken
for the vindication of the law now eT-the
statute books. and what We deem even
more important. the vindcation of the civil
rights OF the citizens Of the state under
lying the statute.
Without preSumng to formulate your
course Of action, N Is manifest, We thinK,
that another primary should be held AT
once 10 abate the public sense Of outrage
and TO solve an intolerabe situation.