New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-09-30
OPEN FIGHT FOR DIRECT
PRIMARY LEGISLATION
Advocates Indorse SuIzer Bill
and Will Start Campaign to
Elect Favorable Assembly.
TO FORGET PARTY LINES
Platform of Principles Of New
York Nominations Alliance
Adopted-W. B. Selden Elk
plains Plans of Movement.

plains Plans of Movement.
From a stan Correspondent, Of The Tribune
Albany. Sept 29.-The direct primary
nominating committee, the purpose or
which Is to bring about the election OF
an Assembly favorable 70 direct primar!
LEGISLATION this fall. was launched to-day
AT meeting at the Ten Eyck Hotel
called by General Amasa j. Parker. oil
this city II II had been In the Executive
Chamber it would have been faithful
re2lica Of the Sulzer direct primary CON
ference last June. before the Governor
started out on his memorable but unsuc-
cessful campaign previous to the eNtr"
session. There were about forty present
and without exception they were a"
familiar figures at the Executive Chamber
conferences
Sulzer officeholders were particularly
conspicuous. Taking an active part III
tho proceedings were Chester I. PIatI
the Governors private secretary; John
\. Hcnnessy. his official Investigator; MI
Uanofv. State Hospital Commissioner
Samuel Bruckheimer. executive auditor
and Charles f.. RattiGan. whom the GOV
ernor recently appointed warden OF Au-
burn prison: the Rev. .. r. Miller canon
w s. Chase. OF Brooklyn. NJ. H.. Haven
OF Syracuse: Francis A. Nillaro' sec
rotary OF the Thomas Mott Osborne
League: Jay Forrest. OF Albany. ana
Henry ]. Crawford. the Albany Progress
sive leader.
Mr. Willard. who was made secretary
n, the COMMITTEES. said after the meeting
that this fall we are going TO elect a
direct urinary Assembly just as sure as
sin" Mr.. Willard is a Democrat but he
said that the conditions which exist IN
the Democratic and Republican parties
are making Progressives every day.
Hinges on Progressives.
In the coming Hsht." he said the
Progressives hold the balance or power
All through the state they are indorsihs
men who are for direct primaries
whether they are nominated on the Demo
cratic or Republican ticket. In TINS move
mont party lines will be forgotten, ana
the direct primary nominating committee
Will Eight for direct primary candidates.
The permanent officers OF the commit
toe. besides Mr.. willard. are: Chairman
General Amasa J. Parker. Of Albany
vice-chairman, Chauncey J. Hamiin' OF
Erie County. treasurer, Charles gibson
OF Albany. An executive committee OF
fourteen will be appointed !mmediateI!
TO start the movement Soing, and later
a general committee OF three In each
county will be named 20 carry on local
campairns. Mr.. willard prophesies That
few Assemblymen who voted against the
Sulzer direct primary bill and were re-
nominated will be reelected.
Among those present were Alonzo g
Mclaughlin, Of Kings; Collin II. Wood
ward, OF New York. John \. stephens
OF Albany: jefferson u. Hobbs. OF west
chester: Walter T.. ward. Of Albany;
Burr W. Mosher. OF Broome w. w.
schermerhorn, OF Essex, Roland y. Ma
hany and A. j Elias. OF Erie; h. NJ.
Crocker. OF Genesee. Clinton Beckwith.
OF Herkimer: Daniel d. FritchIe. OF Scho-
harie: Senator Duhsmel Assemblyman
Schaap. william s. Snyder. Lucien Knapp
and Francis e. Dale. OF New York.
Adopts Alliance Platform.
A DELEGATION from New York. headed
nv william II. Selden. and including rep
resentstives OF all the counties In the
greater city. obtained the Endorsement or
the platform OF principles recently
adopted by the New York Direct Primary
Nominations Alliance. This IN sub
stance follows the principles advocated
I'm the sulzcr bill. but makes no mention
OF Sulzer. The committee finally adopted
n resolution saying the so-called Sulzer
b,ll he and hereby is Endorsed by this
committee
The alliance platform goes beyond the
Sulzer bill. in that II calls for the add
ton Of a column on the election ballots
where direct primary advocates may vote
irrespective OF party affliation. under the
emblem OF an arrow. for candidates 70"
city. county and borough offices In the
State OF New York.
1--WE advocate a statewide direct NOM
nations campaign and the placing OF
such a column on the ballot in every
county" Mr.. Selden said. This arrange
ment will give every direct primary sup
porter the chance TO he counted under
the column.
This. briefly. Is our plan: simple
and direct economical procedure. by
which the voter may have the same right
TO vote for candidates on primary day rs
no has now on Election Day state
wide bill to apply 10 all elective onices'
No preferential positions TO be given the
rule Of the petition holding. NO party
designation to be permitted Candidates
shall be grouped alphabetically. Expenses
OF candidates shall be limited and the use
of party funds prohibited. Informal
party conferences. held In advance or
primary day. TO replace state conven-
tons"
Several OF the conferrees said that
Chester c. Plat, Governor Suffers secre-
tary. cndeavored tor learn the sentiment
Of those present. with view TO present
ing a resolution indorsins the Governor
personally and expressing confidence In
him In his present situation. The resolu-
ton was not presented