The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1913-12-06
BEAT BOSS BARNES
At REPUBLICAN
CONFERENCE
Radicals Control G. 0.P. Gath.
erlng in New York
STATE. WIDE PRIMARY WINS
Resolution Adopted by Small MaJori.
~ Declares That All Candidates
Shall Be on an Equal Footing

New YORK, Dec. o. ne idu4Cai7
ruled the republican state conference
Yesterday afternoon and forced the
approval of q direct statewide 9ri
mary law. State Chairman William
Barnes motion to reaffirm the more
conservative primary plank in the
last republican platform was defeat
ed by a vote OF 1872 to 1877
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
proposition was that the convention
favor the direct nomination OF con-
gressmen and members of the state
LEGISLATURE and county and munich
pal officers, bat keep the state con
vention for the nomination OF COVER
nor and the other officers on he
state ticket. Delegates to this con
ventlon were to be chosen directly by
the voters, who should have the RICH.
also 10 express direct preference Tor
nominations for state officers II they
so desired.
This did not suit Mr. Stlmson and
his friends and after a long debate
they carried small majority OF ,he
conferees with them. The resolution
adopted declared that all candidates
should stand on an equal footing II
opposed the use Of party emblems on
the general election ballot and the
facticnal column on the primary bal
lot At the same time it expressed
belief in party organization and 1e-
itcrated the doctrine Of eX-Gov.
Hughes that the direct primary
should be an adjunct TO and q check
upon rather than q substitute for,
the deliberation and conference OF
the party's representatives. He fay-
ored the principle Of short ballot.
The conference was called by the
S Fate committee TO recommend leg
islation TO the republican members
Of the state Assembly which was re.
turned TO republican control BY the
last election. Nearly every republi-
can Of Importance in the state was
present. United States Senator
Root presided, and Mr.. Stimson, for
mer Acknowledgement George W.
Wickersham. Job +. Hedges, defeat.
ed candidate for governor at the last
state election. and Seth Low, for
mer mayor of New York, took part
In the discussion. Mr.. Wickersham
sided with Chairman Barnes in the
primary reform debate.
Until the primaries question was
reached the meeting worked rapidly
and tremendously. II recommended
the adoption of a vigorous compul-
scry workingmen's compensation
law, the reform OF the rules of the
Assembly. the adoption of the short
ballot and the amendment OF the
state constitution TO take all state of.
fees except those OF governor and
Lieutenant governor out of the elec.
tive list and empower the governor
TO mi them by appointment Recon-
mendation was made also for reform.
ing the state budget and placing the
administration Of the fiscal affairs Of
the state upon a scientific stable
basis" Since nearly all the republi.
can assemblymenelect participated
in the conference its recommended
items were considered binding and
were accepted as the program Of the
Assembly majority at the next regu-
lar session.
The direct nominations resolution
that prevailed was presented by
Judge William II. Wadhams OF New
York