New-York tribune., 1912-03-20
URINARY MOVE BLOCKED
Robinson Loses on a Test OF
Strength In Assembly.
81 REPUBLICANS WITH HIM
Democrats and "0ld Guard" Join
in opposition-No Bosses,
Exclaims Smith.
IBy Telegraph to The Tribune. ]

Albany. March 19.-Assemblyman Theo-
dore Douglas Robinson, nephew OF iheo-
dore Roosevelt, made his hrst reai test VI
strength to-day on a motion TO dlscharee
the Judiciary Committee from iurt
consideration OF his direct primary Dill
While the motion had no chance OF peiNs
carried with the Democrats and old
Guard" Republicans against II, Mr.. hop-
inson afterward derived great oeai Va
satisfaction out of the fact that large
number Of the younger Republican ineih'
bers voted with him.
or the eighty-nne Republicans WHO
voted on the motion, fifty-two supporter
the nephew Of the former President WIN
the exception of Willmott ( Kings the
Democrats voted soidly against the mo
ton. Fleck and Ruddick, the two lhde-
pence League members, and Merritt INC
Socialist. voted for It, Among the he-
pubIicans who supported Mr.. kopihsoh
was the majority leader. Mr.. Young WHO
on most other propositions had taken the
side of Speaker Merritt and the "oiu
guard The motion was lost ny ''''
56 to 70.
Mr.. RobInsons bill is practically the
same as the Hnman-Green bill OF TWO
years ago, providing for the aholishlng Oh
all conventions. In the debate Assembly
man Hnmm, chairman of the JUDICIARY
Committee. without touching on the merits
Of the measure, explained that II Woulu
have been time wasted for the committee
IN report II. as il could not he enacted
with a Democratic Senate and Demo-
cratic Governor.
"Well. that doesn't excuse the Repuo-
Iicans from at least making the attempt
retorted Assemblyman Murray
Assemblymen Robinson and Stoddard
made impassioned speeches for the Dill
! The latter declared that under the present
system the voter has absolutely no chahce
70 express his choice at the primary ana
| that the entire machinery of making nom
nations Is within the grasp OF political
bosses.
"Bosses," sarcastically exclaimed the NIL
norlty leader. A. u. Smith, in opposing the
bill IT don't think any member OF the
Legislature believes there Is such thing
as a political boss. We have leaders not
bosses"
what is your distinction between boss
and a leader" interrupted Assemblyman
John T.. sullivan, OF Chautauqua County.
In rrply Mr.. smith entered into long
discussion Of the tendency among all bodies
Of men sooner or later to recognize some
one man as a leader. He declared that
there could be no movement without leaders
but Indignantly spurned the insinuation that
there could be such thing as a polltlcal
boss.
Answering the contention or one OF the
advocates of the bill that 1t would bring
the voters into better acquaintance WIN
each other and with the candidates. hr'
Smith said: How many men in my district
do YOU think know John a. Dix? why II
ne and Stimson were TO get into fight on
Park Row not one man in hundred wou!a
know either OF them from Adam.
Nobody wants this bill he said Ia'er,
"Onlv three or four members were retu'nel
~ this Assembly on the ground that they
were advocates OF the direct primary
There f. no more demand for il than there
js for a mad dog. Such demand as exists
was created by men who have nothing else
I, do and no other way TO keep in the
limelight."
Assemblymau Aaron J. Levy compiaihel
that the Democrats returned to the Assem-
bly this year with hopeless minority ne
cause OF their dickering with the dlrec'
primary proposition last year.