New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-12-06

ment of q committee on social welfare,
| to which may be referred proposed Leg
| islation dealing with social questions.
| The resolution was adopted speedily.
| 1t was considered perhaps the most i'm
/ port by the Progressives. because under
the revision Of the rules the way is
made easy for putting through proposed
| legislative measures.
GO Slow" CounseIs Gruber.
During the discussion on this resolu-
ton Abraham Gruber. who confessed
| that he had been travelling the Republi-
can road for the last fifty years or more,
mounted the platform and cautioned the
younger aud more progressive brethren
to go slow" lie said he was willing
to accept the propositions made by the
chairman. though he had not always
felt that way.
II want TO caution you not to pull
down the blinds entirely on the past
he said II am not the kind of Repub-
lican who believes the party has been
walking up the wrong road for the last
fifty years. But already you see the
brigadier general Of the enemy coming
over with flag Of truce"
Mr. Gruber's remarks were received
amiably and his reference TO Controller
Prendergasts withdrawal from the Pro-
gressive party caused good laugh. AS
semblyman Harold ]. Human. OF Al
bany. was among those who rose to sec
ond Mr.. Arndts resolution.
Frederick c. Tanner presented the reso-
| luton in favor OF the short ballot, pro-
| vIding for the elimination of all elective
Offices I'm the state. with the exception OF
the Governor and Lieutenant Governor.
! The resolution was discussed by several
| conferrees. Abraham Gilbert. chairman
| OF the law committee of the Republican
! County Committee. spoke I'm favor OF ii.
Z. p. Sealman, Brooklyn. suggested that
| the judges OF the Court Of Appeals should
also be appointed. instead Of elected Mr..
| Stimson and others opposed the SEAMAN
| amendment. and ii was finally voted
down. Edward S. Griffen. Mayor-elect
Of New Rochelle, proposed the election
of the State Controller under the resolu-
ton, but his motion 10 that effect was
! lost.
| Mr.. Barnes strongly opposed the sug-
gestion TO make the places on the bench
OF the Court OF Appeals appointive Of
! fees. There was no mention OF the Mas
sachusetts ballot I'm the resolution, and
| II was not discussed. II was pointed out
that 10 obtain the short ballot an amend
ment to the state constitution was nee
essary, while the Massachusetts ballot
could be adopted directly by the legisla-
| tors. Therefore II was not deemed expedi-
.nt TO Join the two In the resolution.
Mr.. Stimson offered the resolution on
the state budget system and it was
adopted without much discussion. In pre-
senting the resolution Mr.. Stimson said
| that such fiscal system was regarded
as appropriate and necessary In order TO
focus responsibility and to prevent ex-
travagance. The present system resulted
IN a wasteful duplication of effort as
| well as wasteful diffusion OF RESPONSE
bility, he said.
The presentation OF the resolution on
direct primaries by Judge William H.
Wadhams precipitated a sharp discussion
Mr.. Barnes and Mr.. Stimson INDUCED In
a somewhat heated argument on the sub
iect The state chairman argued against
ito adoption at this time, and suggested
a substitute resolution merely calling for
a reaffirmation OF the plank on the sub
loot adopted at the 1912 and 1913 conven-
tions.
Barnes and Stimson Clash.
Mr.. Barnes contended that the official
declarations of the party in the platform
met every proposal advanced with the
exception Of the abolition OF the state
convention. Mr.. Stimson fatty declared
| that the Issue was clearly drawn-that IT
was the original resolution on one side,
with the Barnes substitute on the other
Samuel Jones, Assemblyman-elect Of
Chenango County; George w. Wicker
sham. former United States Attorney
General, and others suppocted the Barnes
side OF the argument. Seth Low was rec
ognized by the chair and declared that
| Mr.. Barnes had been making the same
statement "over and over again"
my Judgment is that you have TO put
the Republican party in line with pro-
gressive principles II VIC are TO come back
| in power" he said. IL hope that we will
adopt this resolution"
Job Hedges said that he was in favor
OF Mr. Wadhams's resolution In all except
that II did not declare affirmatively for
the state convention. He outlined a SINH
lar plan OF his own for direct primaries
When the ayes" and noes" were called
for It was difficult to judge which had IT,
and Senator Root called for rising vote
which resulted in 1872 for and lG against
the resolution.
While the resolution did not call for the