Ashland tidings. [volume] (Ashland, Or.) 1876-1919, 1913-05-19
ARE MAKING
LAST FIGHT
INTERESTS IN LAST DITCH IN
NEW YORK STATE.
so DECLARES GOVERNOR SULzEU
Executive Calls Upon Democratic
Legislature to Fulfill Pledges
Made For Primaries in Campaign
Last Year.

Albany, N. Y, May 16.-Declaring
that the power of wealth and special
interests is greater in New York than
| in any other state and that these in
terests are making their last stand
here, Governor Sulzer declared his
fight for direct primaries in a. spe-
cial statement prepared for the
United Press. The statement fol-
lows
1T is gratifying to know that the
movement for statewide primaries in
New York has aroused public inter
est throughout the nation, because
this is a fundamental reform upon
which must depend many other re-
forms demanded by the great wave
of a democratic sentiment sweeping
over the country.
Unless the people are permitted
to nominate candidates for public Of
flee they cannot elect such public
servants as they may desire, or make
and execute such laws as are de-
manded by present-day conditions.
Every day l see accumulating evil
dence of the truth which l stated in
my recent message, when l pointed
out that those who would subvert
the powers of government to person.
al advantage and to the advantage
of public service corporations and
Others seeking privileges, find great
opportunities to carry on this nefar-
ious. work through the adroit and
skillful manipulation of our system
of party caucuses and political con-
ventions. s,q,
"Disgraceful secret alliances be-
tween big business interests and
crooked politics must cease.
The power of wealth and the spe-
cial interests is greater in New York
than in any other state, because in
New York is centered the great
financial interests of the nation.
Most of these interests are sound,
legitimate, honest, but some of them
are illegitimate, and it is the inter-
ests last mentioned which are fight
| ing the reforms which l am advocat
ing.
The spirit of true democracy is
summed up in the slogan, Let the
people rule They cannot rule until
they obtain successful method of
operating the nominating machinery
of political parties. New York is one
of the last states in the union to
capitulate to the present-day demand
for popular rule in the election of
candidates for all public offices. The
powers of special privilege and in
trenched pelf are here making their
last stand, but they are sure to be
| overthrown.
THE widespread demand for di-
rect primaries originated mainly
from the scandalous failure of state
conventions to faithfully reflect the
sentiment of the party voters. -.
There are two kinds of primaries
direct and indirect. The latter
constitutes the reactionary delegate
system; the former constitutes the
peoples progressive system. The
principle admits of no debate and no
compromise.
The democratic party of the state
of New York in it's last convention
declared in the most positive terms
for direct statewide primaries. l be-
lieve it is my duty as governor, elect
ed on that platform, to do every
thing in my power to carry out this
solemn pledge. Every democrat in
the state elected on that platform
should uphold my efforts to redeem
the pledge.
80 far as l am concerned there
will be no step backward. / am in
the fight to stay and to the end.
Hence l urge every honest democrat
who believes in fair play, who wants
to keep good faith, and who favors
redeeming party pledges to aid me
in the struggle.
we are bound to win in the end.
The leading newspapers of the state,
seven-tenths of the voters of the
state and the overwhelming popular
sentiment of the people are behind