The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1913-06-17
LEGISLATURE GETS
SULZER'S MESSAGE
Document Summarizes All the
Points He Made in Cam
paign Speeches.
WANTS PARTY FAITH KEPT
Governor Takes Firm stand
Against Retention of the
state Convention.


state Convention.
albany, June 16.---Gov. Sulzer sum
married. all the points he made In his
recent campaign speeches for direct
primary bill in the special message that
he sent To the Legislature tonight.
This is the Governors message In
part:
ITO the Legislature:
The Republican party, in convention
last year, as part of its platform. adopted
the following
1--WE favor the short ballot. surround
ing primary elections with the same safe
guards as regular elections. the direct
election Of party committees. the direct
nomination of party candidates In Con-
gressional. Senatorial, Assembly. county
and municipal subdivisions. and the di-
rect election of delegates to state con-
ventions. with the right Of party electors
to directly express their preference for
nominations for state offices II they 40
desire
The Progressive party. in convention
last year. part Of its platform.
adopted the following:
I'VE pledge the enactment of real
direct primary law applicable to every
elective office and Presidential prefer
ence primary law
The Democratic party. in convention
last year. as "A part of its platform,
adopted the following
THE democratic party was the first
to reco=nize the demands for a state
wide direct primary and so declared In
the Rochester platform of 1910. and the
Democratic Legislature of 1911. despite
Republican opposition. enacted the first
i..xs T. lp
tory of the State We again declare In
favor of the principle Of the direct pri-
mary and We pledge our Legislature to
adopt such amendments 10 the existing
laws as Will simplify and perfect the d.
rect primary system
Thinks Legislators Are instructed.
1T must be apparent Ia the average
man, from a careful reading Of these
platforms. that the leading political
parties in our state are irrevocably com
mitted. by the most explicit promises. to
the enactment nj legislation for direct
nominations. AS q matter of fact II seems
TO me all the members Of the present
Legislature are instructed by these pledges
Of their respective parties and are. there
fore. in duty bound by the highest politi-
cal obligations 10 vote for statewide
direct primary measure.
IN my message 10 the legislature at
tho beginning of the wear | said. We are
pledged to the principle OF direct rri-
maries. statewide In their scope and
character. and | urge the adoption OF
such amendments as Will simplify the
procedure and make complete and more
ef.ectv" the direct primary system OF
the State
AS nothing WAS dore Of material mo-
nAnt IN connection with his recommenda E
ton and 20 carry out in good faith the
pledge, above mentioned again in the
early part of April IN "A special message
urged the Leg stature in the interest OF
the general welfare 20 hcarken to the
!nsis,ent demands Of the people through
out the state for ID direct statewide pri-
mary law Much to my disappont tment,
however, the Legislature adjourned with
out in this respect meeting the Just ex.
pectations Of the voters.
Sense Of Duty.
50 n sense Of public obligation made il
my du'y in the interest of the common
veal to reconvene the Legislature in eX-
trtprdinarN session 10 the end that the
recommendations I have made 20 the
Leg stature for direct primaries can he
considered without further delay and u
bin passed for dlrcc, nominations which
Will fulhl party pledges. In response
70 the overwhelming sentiment Of the
state. | am convinced, we should do this
as matter Of duty to our constituents.
The record will show that for years
have been consistent advocate OF
direct nominations am now always
have been and always will be in favor
"f carrying ont in letter and In spirit the
PLATFORM pledges Of political party. The
best way TO strengthen a political party
is to keep good faith with the voters
Hence, in view Of all the clrcum-
stances, In connection with the struggle
In our state for law to give the voters
tho right To nominate il 10 my candid
opinion that the Legislature in this ex-
traord!nary session, without unnecessary
delay. should give heed to It's promises
and Immediately consider, and with due
de!iberat'on aid me TO write upon our
statute books a practicable and a com.
prehens!ve statewide direct primary Law
that will faithfully carry out our pledges
to the people.
Eject Of Direct Nominations.
'p!rect nominations will go far to re-
store to the people the complete control
OF their state government and afford the
voters of the state the fre-st expression
of their choice of candidates for publ,
| office
The voters believe themselves Just Al
competent to directly nominate all Off.
cials as the delegates they select They
| want this right to nominate because they
have so often found the delegate system
was not faithful agency OF their wishes
and that it not infrequently failed to meet
the demands and the expectations Of tht
people,
| AN the arguments now used against
the abolition Of the convention. or the
delegate system OF nominations have
been used in opposition to the direct elec
ton Of United States Senator'S, but these
arguments have been all In vain against
the ever rising tide OF popular sover.
eighty and progressive democracy.
, Let us he true to ourselves. Let III
not try TO deceive the people. The plair
fact is that in our primary reform Iegis
latton we In New York State have left of
our work just where the citizens expected
US to begin.
Try not making our primary law appl,
! directly to the nomination OF state officer.
We have continued the delegate system II