The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-01-19
PRIMARY MAKES |
LONG CAMPAIGN
Politicians See Four Months
Task to Pick Next
Governor.
BARNES HITS CHANGE
Republican Leader Talks Of
"Visible" and "Invisible"
Selections.
BELIEVES IN CONVENTIONS
Thinks New Law Again Pre-
scnts Conditions 1t Was In
tended to End.
BELIEVES IN CONVENTIONS

The new direct primary law is found
% have Mt least one big effect on tho
political machinery Of this state not fore
seen by most OF its advocates. The
actual campaign for the election of
Governor next fall will begin some time
In June OF early In July, and
II will keep up until election day. Under
the old system a six weeks campaign
was enough. Under the new system the
campaign will last nearly four months.
Here If a political calendar which was
worked out yesterday. taking account of
what the law prescribes and what the
party leaders are most likely to do:
June c3-July 7-Preprimary elections OF
DELEGATES to unof'ieiai county conventions.
conventions 10 pick delegates to unofhcial
state conventions.
State conventions to express an effective
but preliminary choice OF tho party for
United states Senator. Governor and other
August 7-september ls-circuiation Of Pc
'o nsn ~ .ns interest st, OF az VINO want 20
choice of conventions or not.
September 1-september ls-Tims for ming
completed petitions with the Secretary of
September ee--Primary day.
November SELECTION day.
So. IL the politicians who worked this
out are right, the campaign will be at
best as long as the municipal campaign
which New York went through last sum-
mer and fall. twice long as the Sulzer
campaign of 1912. with its Progressive
complications, and about twice as long
- the Hughes campaign of 1908.
Another effect of the new law which
was pointed out yesterday is the rever-
sion. TO all intents and purposes, to the
complete convention system OF nominal
L.
enactment of the Levy election law of
1911. The leaders say that they
are driven to a choice between the selec-
ton Of candidates in open convention
and the making of a slate In n quiet SEES
oion Of leaders.
william Barnes. Republican State
chairman. said he could not predict what
would be done. but he indicates his pref
efences clearly.
mo one can foretell what will be the
political manGuvres prior TO primary
day" he said. when all candidates for
public office in the State OF New York
will be nominated by the direct vote OF
the enrolled voters Of the several parties.
THE theory Of the simon pure direct
nominations proposal. which Is now the
law OF the State OF New York. is that
candidates shall terminate from the peo-
pie. or course every one knows
that no such thing happens Candidates
either make their own contention. or an
obvious candidate Is frequently selected
by those who believe he would be an ac-
ceptabe man TO the voters and his can
didacy is projected by them. These
men have been called bosses district
leaders, &c. They happen to be those
interested in the success OF the political
party to which they belong and who think
about political matters and qualifications
Of candidates.
NJ Is
AS far as State offices are concerned
this year there are eight Offices to be filled
and voted for by the people OF the en-
tire State. End IL the electors In April
pass favor,bly upon the proposed con-
stitutional convention there will be fifteen
more to be chosen, making twenty-three
in all, a plurality OF the votes cast carry
ing with il the nominations.
81 do not know whether the Republican s
will attempt to hold "A convention for the
purpose of getting up ticket OF twenty
three men or whether they will not. There
will be either such n public grouping for
the purpose of suggesting candidates or
there will be secret groupings for that
purpose.
Let me take. for an example espe-
cially, the Office OF Associate Judge OF
the Court OF Appeals which must he filled
next fall Are candidates for Associate
Judge of the Court OF Appeals TO organize
their own campaign committees for the
purpose of securing the requisite 5000
signatures In order to so upon the primary
ballot or will there he some public or
private meeting or conference at which
some Judge or lawyer will he proposed as
a proper selection for this high office?
ut Is very doubtful to my mind II any
man in this State fit to be "A Judge OF the
Court of Appeals win organize a COM
mittee or group for the purpose Of putting
his name upon the primary ballot, and
he. do. -
ers must do so or he cannot be nomi-
mated
Sees Certainty Of Criticism.
81 was heartily in favor of the enact.
ment of the new law, because il is a real
direct nominations law. and the voters
will have an opportunity to make NJ theil
minds as to It's effectiveness. That IL IL
wrong in concept is true because II as
sumes that there will be no pregroupnp
for the primary, but unless there is a pre-
grouping there will be no candidates
Grouping will either be visible. as in 4
convention, or invisible without one ant
yet any attempt to hold one will be mel
with the charge that II is "A proposal Il
get around the law.
"What the various groups OF Republi
cans In this State will do ! cannot pre-
dict. nor can any one"
Other political leaders think that mas
much as the law places the expense %
preprimaries on private contributions TN
parties will go at the selection of delegate
In the cheapest way. Statewide primaries
are very expensive. The municipa
primary last September cost about So
vote. So the leaders believe that unofficia
county conventions will do the work bet
ter and more chcaply, They add that tn
county conventions will doubtless maxi
recommendations for county tickets at tn
some time. II their prophecy is RICH
New York goes back in effect to the day
before the direct primary idea took root
TANGO AND PUNCH ARE BLAMED