New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-03-23
BARNES FROWNS ON
CONVENTION PLAN
Suggestion by Hedges on
Direct Primary NOml-
nation CenSured.
SOME MERIT SEEN
IN 1T, HOWEVER
Republican Committee TO Con
slider Idea-Leader Fears
for Laws Future.

Eeplyirg yesterday TO the letter Of JOB
r. Hedges, advocating the calling OF
state convention 10 consider and discuss
candidates 10 he nominated under the
statewide direct primary law. rs now
sncndcd. i'm order that the primary e'ec-
tou Scptembcr g may not "rthect the
operations Of small coterie OF poll
tfcians who will take the time 10 organ
ize for their own purposes William
Barnes. chairman of the Republican
state Committee. said he was not an ad-
vocate Of the proposal nd gave his rea-
sons
Ny Barnes. however, said that MI
Tedges's suggestion had much merit IN
IL and was worthy OF consideration ana
that ne would take pleasure i'm calling
meeting OF the state committee IN me
near future TO consider IT.
uc contended that il was better TO let
tbc statute work itself out upon the
theory upon which it was planned. Thus
he said. the iueffectiveness of the law TO
accomrlish the purpose for which it was
designed will be made clear. and IN tine
an election law may be passed conceived
IN reason.
Mr.. Barnes's letter follows:
.ryou maintain that under the election
law. as 1t now has been amended, provid-
ing for statewide direct nominations oy
all parties. unless an unofficial conVeh-
ton is called. where there may be con-
srltation. discussion and Cancellation by
individuals. the result Of the primary
election To be held September % viii sure
:, reflect the operations of small CO.
ter'c Of politicians who viii take the time
.o organize for their own purposes.
This objection was raised 10y the op-
moments Of the direct nominations idea
ncfore the present law was enacted
Their voice was uuheeded and their mo-
lives impugned by those who disclosed
their own character by the imputatlons
they laid at the door OF others.
From the beginning of the discussion
Am this state there has never been honest
and impartial treatment of this subject
Question Of State Control
state control over political parties
(Which are merely groups Of voters hay
Ing the same views upon political ques-
tions) is only possible through the
agency Of the official ballot, which grants
i'm THIS state, TO aggregations OF citizens
who have cast more than ten thousand
votes for a candidate for a state office
the privilege that the candidates whom
they nominate shall be placed upon an
Official ballot without expense TO them
selves and al the expense Of the people.
Having granted this privilege, the
state has the mower TO define how these
ageregations shall nominate their candi-
dates.
Having made the initial error OF grant
ing this privilege, the state has gone
step after step on the wrong road, until
now the six political parties In this
state which are recognized by law must
nominate their candidates Tor state Offices
by plurality Of the direct vote of their
membership. the primary 10 be paid for
by the people candidates to be proposed
bv petition OF certain proportion Of
the enrolled electorate Of each party.
THE logical sequence Of providing by
statute for the direct nomination of can
didates Of a political party for public
Office is the abolition Of the primary it
self. because candidates. projected for