New-York tribune., 1912-03-24
PRIMARY LAW ON TRIAL
Both Big Parties Find New
Measure Full of Defects.
BALLOTS MANY FEET LONG
Abnormal Republican Vote Ex
pected on Account of Roose-
welt Issue.

Direct primaries will have their hrst
trial in this state on Tuesday, when party
committees will be elected by direct vote Oh
the enrolled voters under the ferris-blau-
Welt law. The Republicans VIII also eie't
delegates and aternates TO both the Ia
tional and state conventions Inc Deiho
Gratis will select delegates to the state cum
vention. but, as Is their privilege unuei
the law, have chosen to elect delegates "
the national convention at the state con-
vention.
The greatest interest In the present pri-
mary I'm this county Is in the fact that can
didates for delegates pledged to vote for
Roosevelt are running in every Congress
district I'm opposition to the regularly dess
mated candidates, who are in favor OF the
denomination Of President Taft.
In trying to work under the law both Dig
organizations have found il Ia be full of
defects. one Of tho most absurd things IS
the size OF the ballots required For IN
stance, the Democratic ballot in the 25d
Assembly District Is fourteen feet long. IL
will have to be folded seven times. Other
ballots are proportionately long. and spe-
for some of them.
Take, for instance the ballot for the 18Th
Election District OF the sd Assembly Dis
trict. The candidates appear on it in the
following order and numbers: Three dele
gates to the state convention, three al
ternates To the state convention. one mem
Der of the state committee. 81 members
Of the county committee, - members OF
the Congress committee, 10 members OF the
city committee, Il members of the Alder
manic committee, 81 members Of the
Municipal Court District committee, fol-
lowed by candidates for Senate and As
sembly committees.
The Republican ballots contain not 50
many candidates for the county commit
tee. but have two candidates for delegates
to the national convention and two candi-
dates for altornates They appear about
half way down the ballot.
The Board of Elections has printed about
10000 ballots, at a cost of $4,000. The
paper used weighed five tons.
The primary polls are open from p. m
until p m II is expected that the count
Will be slow On account Of the difficulty
Of handling the long ballots AS I'm other
years two election districts will be com
bined in one polling place. The Democrats
of two districts taking the polling place
In one Of the districts, and the Republicans
tho other Being the minority party In the
! state now. the Republicans have To share
| their polling place with the other parties.
Each party will have ballots Of a dis
tinctivo color viz, the Republicans, cherry;
| Democrats. light green; Socialists, bun In
| dependence League, canary; Prohibition.
| mandarin
| The party committees elected on Tues
| day will hold over unit. a year from Sep
| tember. a special provision FOR Presiden-
! tla years For that reason the city COM
mttees, chosen Tuesday. will be the ane 10
designate the organization candidates FOR
! Mayor IN 1913.
! The other committees Will name candi-
dates for Congress. the Senate, the As
! sornbly and for whatever nominations must
| be made for tho judiciary next fall.
! The size Of the vote poll"d by the Demo
Gratis Will give fair indication as to whether
oficial primaries bring out larger mum
Der OF enrolled members OF the party than
( the unofficial that have been held up 20 this
| wear ON account Of the Roosevelt issue,
| the Republican vote will De abnormal
| II IS estimated that the primary on Tues
day will cost the city over Seoo."o.