New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-04-22

the State Senate Of men like Ellsworth,
Higgins, Humphrey, Hendricks, Krum
and White. And this has been his at
titude toward other men in public life,
at least. those whom he found there.
And the men who succeeded these Sen
ators do not measure up to the stand
ard formerly maintained, for the rea-
son that men do not want to go to
the Legislature il il means that their
opinions must be surrendered without
even the possibility of consultation on
the merits of legislation.
"Of course. the newspapers Will urge
you to make an effort TO have the state
convention adopt direct nomination
plank. OF course, you realize that those
who oppose that proposal on principle
will be compelled 70 contest 1t.
1.-THE Meade Phillips bill ought to
have been signed by Governor Hughes.
Ii embodied all of his recommends
tons with the exception OF the direct
nominations feature. The Cobb bill was
ridiculous, and not 10 per cent OF the
men who voted for il in the Legislat-
ure would have done so were II not for
the fact that they feared. for their
skins.
"The party is structurally weak, and
although Wadsworth would be the
strongest candidate for Governor for
vote getting purposes | think he would
not consider the nomination. The can
didate for Governor, however, should
be one of the strongest individuality.
/ The reflected glory of the Hughes ad-
ministration would weaken rather than
strengthen a man.
81 noticed your interview in The
/ World in which you said you did not
talk, but strike. You certainly could
: not expect that we who have been OPP
posing direct nominations for four
years could change our positions over
night. Sincerely yours,
WILLIAM BARNES, JR.
"Hon. Theodore Roosevelt"
: Also an addendum as follows:
Primary Sentiment a Fiction.
: "Your letter has just come. On my
4 return on the 30th of July / shall com
municate with you in the hope of seeing
you. The men with whom | have beer
cooperating will never relinquish theiI
fl. 1T against the principle of direct
nominations, but will favor every pos
sible reform to our primary system, sc
that people will be encouraged TO go tC
primaries for fair shake there.
THE so-called sentiment for direct
primaries does not exist. II is purely
pro Hughes sentiment and has nothing
TO do with the merits of the proposal
Governor Hughes advocated the plan
but he did it purely to make an issue
not believing that we had the courage
or the political strength to back up oul
opinions. The principle of committed
nominations with ratification pri
mary Is worse than direct nomination!
in every possible way, because the
committee making the nominations i:
compelled TO make up its judgment (
month before the primary, and any
malcontent under the guise of regu
larity can kick rp fuss o. can lie in
duced to d. so by corrupt leaders OF
the other side. He will not care
W ether or not he wins at the primary
bu. he will have weakened the ticke
so that it cannot make the race.
Direct nominations are an invita-
ton to party discord, but their evi
could be minimized by the holding o
unofficial primaries and unofficial con
ventions, which would unquestionabl,
be done.
"The idea of getting rid Of bosses
is absurd so long as you have part.
government.
"The direct denominations idea is
confusion in the mind of the function
OF an individual as a member of
party, a voluntary organization, an
the functions of a citizen.
1.-THE people do the electing, but tn
party should be free to frame up it
proposals to the people in their owl
way, safeguarding them against fraud.
81 sincerely hope and trust that yo,
will not become committed in such
way that it will force an issue at tn
Saratoga convention on this question
We should have a primary plank of tn
strongest possible kind to protect voter
and give them every opportunity to ex
press themselves in conventions.
, THE convention is the last day o
training for the battle of the campaign
To have d committee nomination wit
ratification primary would be lk
changing generals in the middle of
battle.
THE campaign would be really start
ed under the Cobb bill when the nomi
nations are made by the committees
Then for four weeks opportunity i
given TO those inside the party to com
plain legitimately, because the nomina
tons are tentative.
, when nominations are made the
should be final II the people do no
like them they can beat them at tn
polls, but the members OF part
should have chance prior to the pri
maries and conventions to exercis
. their judgment and express their will.
The answer OF the Colonel to thi
letter was mislsid. II will be looked u
and if not found the Colonel will Civ
the substance OF il tomorrow.
Odd you in 1910 have any con
yersations with any persons concernin
the primary legislation? ! am referrin
, now to persons other than Mr.. Barnes.
Mr.. lvins-l object.
Mr.. Bowers propose 70 show no,
the facts that were repeated TO hir
J concerning the legislation at Albany i
1909 and 1910, during the Hughes ad
} mlnistration, which we set up in on
answer.
Reward for Racetrack Vote.
The Court As / understand it, thi
allegation is substantially that Nj
Grattan, member Of the Senate. toll
;, some other Senator that was going I
vote for the Agnew-Hart bill that h
could not vote for il; that Mr.. Barnes
who was the leader, had directed ther
not 70 do so; that as a consequence
Inquired Of him co. ruins tha matte.