Evening star., 1913-12-06
RADICALS CARRY POINT
FOR DIRECT PRIMARIES
Republican Conference De-
cIares for Statewide Nom-
nations in New York.
All Candidates to Stand On Equal
Footing-Party Emblems on
Ballots Opposed.

/ NEW YORK. December 6.-The radicals
ruled the republican state conference yes
| terday afternoon and forced the approval
of a direct statewide primary law State
/ Chairman William Barnes motion to
reaffirm the more conservative primary
| plank in the last republican platform
| was defeated by vote of 49, to 1S1.
| The radicals led by Henry l.. Slim
son. former Secretary of War, split with
Mr.. Barnes and his followers over the
question of retaining party conventions.
The state chairman's proposition was that
| the conference favor the direct nomina-
| ton of congressman, members of the
state legislature and county municipal
officers. but keep the state convention
| for the nomination of governor and the
| other officers on the state ticket.
| Delegates to this convention were TO pc
chosen directly by the voters, who shouid
have the right also to express direct
1 preference for nominations for state Oh
4 tcerS if they so diSered.
Stimson Carries His Point.
| This did not suit Mr.. Stimson and his
| friends, and after a long debate they car
| ried a small majority of the conferees
| with them. The resolution adopted de-
| cared that all candidates should stand on
an equal footing II opposed the use of
party emblems on the general election
| ballot and the factional column on the
| primary ballot. At the same time, II eX-
pressed belief in party organization and
reiterated the doctrine of former Gov.
Hughes that the direct primary should be
an adjunct to and a check upon rather
than a substitute for the deliberation and
conference of the partys representatives.
The conference was called by the state
To
the republican members of the state as
sembly, which was returned to republican
control in the last election Nearly every
sepublcan of Importance in the state was
present United States Senator Root
presided, and Mr.. Stimson, former Attor-
ney General George w. Wickersham, Job
T.. Hedges, defeated candidate for gov
ernor at the last state election, and setn
Low former mayor of New York, took
part in the discussions. Mr.. Wickersham
sided with Chairman Barnes in the pri-
mary reform debate.
Some of the Recommendations.
Until the primaries question was
reached the meeting worked rapidly and
harmoniously. 1t recommended the adop-
ton of a vigorous compulsory working
mems compensation law. reform of the
rules of the assembly and the amend
ment of the state constitution to take
all state offices, except those Of gov
ernor and lieutenant governor, out of
the elective list and empower the gov
ernor to fill them by appointment. Rec
ommendation made also for reform
ing the state budget and placing the ad-
ministration of the fiscal affairs of the
state upon a scientific, stable basis.
Mr.. Barnes argued that the meeting
should not adjourn without definite &C
ton. He called attention to the example
Of Massachusetts, where the republican
So. or la Ct
ton refused to accept the platform adopt
ed by the state platform convention. He
attributed to the defeat of the party in
Massachusetts to this disagreement
Seth Low and Mr.. Stimson agreed with
Messrs Wadhams and Hinman in the
declared purpose not to temporiZe, Mr..
Stimson said: THE people want right
to put an extra check on the state con-
vention The continual demands of
earnest, permanent republicans show that
they are not satisfied
Changes in Assembly Rules.
Changes recommended in the assembly
rules provided that the power of the
rules committee should be limited so that
it's members no longer should be able to
dictate legislation in the closing days.
They called for adequate publicity of
committee hearings, votes and action;
forbade voting by proxy, and sought 10
permit the presentation of minority re-
ports on proposed legislation.
A motion to include judges of the court
| of appeals among the officers TO be ap-
pointed by the governor was defeated.
Mr.. Barnes opposed the appointment
of judges.
THE republican party he declared, is
committed to maintain the Judiciary as
an independent part of our government.
William A. Prendergast, controller of
New York city, who yesterday announced
| his withdrawal from the progressive
party, attended the meeting, but took no
part in the deliberations.
Reference to the progressives who had
left the party was made by Mr.. Hedges.
who said Let's tell them to come on
back and stop their nonsense, and let's
get busy"