New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-11-20
Budget Reform All That
Albany Is to Get in
Line of Fireworks
ANTISALOON MEN
READY FOR FIGHT
Legislature to Get Local
Option Bills as Soon
as Work Starts
From star Correspondent, Of Tn. rriOun, ]

From /, star Correspondent, OF Tn. Trbunsl
Albany, Nov. 10. Great expectations
Of entertainment in the way Of politi-
cal fireworks here this winter are III
! founded There won't be any fire
woris unless the few possibilities now
under cover arc thoroughly dried
which is unlikely.
Such skyrockets as reapportion'
men: Of the Congress districts of the
state and primary law amendments
LOOKING toward a return TO the con-
vention plan of party nominations may
possibly be lighted, but they won't
70 OF, much less rise gloriously into
The black political sky.
Governor Whitman has a cute little
pinwhecl which may attract some at
1crtion. Budget reform is its name
1t will provide something to talk
about. and the reelected Governor VIII
te able to play the role of the people 5
friend earnestly DESTROYS Of conserv-
ing the public funds against the nun
CRY and thirsty patriots in the Legs
laturo who have this or that financial
axe to grind. and who hope AT the end
of the session TO get away with SOLD
rewards of honest toll. The little
birds around Albany say that state
finance will be the chief subject oil
the forthcoming message.
Brown May BE Opposed
Gossip in Buffalo, Rochester, Syria
cuse and WATERFOWL points to the sus-
picion that Senator Elon r. Brown,
president pro TEN of the last Senate,
may not be unopposed when it comes
time for the thirty-odd Republican
Senators to decide in conference upon
when they will confer the honor Of
leadership. Senator Brown. OF Wa
tertown. is of the "old guard as well
as the old school Of politics, and his
opinion of the Governor is low. II
all depends on how badly Whitman
wants peace.
There is no doubt that the Governor
would like 10 get rid of Brown. but IT
will take a right smart fight TO dis
lodge him from his position Of Senate
leadership. Senator George +. Arget-
Anger. of Rochester, who was chair
man of the executive committee of the
state campaign committee. is probably
the man who would be selected to OPP
pose Brown if the Governors forces in
| the Legislature decide TO make fight
on what they will call "the last yes
tiges Of the Barnes influence"
Upstate Republicans who did not like
the Democratic Congress reapportion-
ment of 1911 naturally would have 10
/ objection TO gerrymander which
would make things easier for them in
| 1918. But among several Western and
/ Central New York leaders interviewed
| since election not one was found 10
/ entertain seriously a suggestion for a
reapportionment in 1917. Congress APP
portionments invariably have come
after Federal censuses. and there is no
reason 10 lay the party open to a
charge of gerrymandering this year
/ There will be trouble enough making n
/ State Senate apportionment which will
/ stand the test of the Court of Appeals
scrutiny.
Direct Primary Law to STAY
To those who remember the Hughes
/ days at Albany. when direct pri-
maries" was the only subject of news
paper discussion. when Hughes spill
/ the party from Erie to Montauk and
then skipped off TO the Supreme Cour,
/ bench. and when the manner of nomi-
nations for party Office seemed the
most important thing in the world, DO
| litically speaking; to those who re-
member it it is surprising how few
people realize or care about the differ
ence between the kind of direct pri
maries Hughes wanted and the kind
/ that a combination of Dix, Sulzer,
/ Glynn and Whitman have wished on thu
state.
I There is a feeling that the present
| law is expensive, clumsy and bad; that
! the results produced under it are far
/ from popular desire. It is beginning
! TO be suspected that the practical poll
/ tician can get exactly what he wants
nine times out of ten with the present
| law But there is still the hopeful
/ feeling that the direct primary is the
| panacea.
1t might be possible to do something
next winter with a bill providing for a
| trial of the old Human Green plan of
| direct primaries. but an attempt to go
back to the convention plan of nomina-
! tions would not have a Chinaman' s
chance in the Legislature. The Repub-
| lican leaders do not contemplate any
such attempt. Various amendments TO
the primary law may be introduced,
but no serious effort will be made TO
/ pass them.
| Governor Whitman is reported to be
more than satisfied with the primary
law as it now stands. 1t is soft" for
| him. 1t would be still softer if the
J Legislature gave him an opportunity
/ to write ringing veto of a bill pro-
viding for return to the convention
/ system of nominations.
Liquor Fight in Sight
The approaching session at Albany
/ may not be entirely without interest,
/ because there viii be vigorous efforts
! directed toward further amendment of
! the liquor laws. The Anti-Saloon
/ League is awaiting eagerly the bell.
AS soon as the legislative session is
ready for work, various local option
measures will be introduced.
The forces of reform. unfortunately
( do not seem to be in completely loving
4 accord. The Rev. o. X. Miller, who
/ claims 10 represent great many
/ churches, split with the Anti-Saloon
League during the recent campaign on
an issue which gained practically no
/ publcity-the personal habits of the
! Governor. The Rev. Mr.. Miller at
tockod tho tho Apti-Sal0On