The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-08-25
HARRIS CALLS FOR
Big PRIMARY VOTE
State Chairman Fears That
Democratic Voters Are
Not Aroused.
SENDS OUT AN APPEAL
Says Condition in Republican
Party Makes Special Eff
fort Advisable.

Never before in the history OF the
primary law in this State has a man
with opposition to his candidacy for
party nomination for public office gone
| Il rough a primary campaign without
uttering a single word on his own be-
half. either directly or indirectly. But
that Is Just what Alfred E. Smith has
done 80 far. II he doesn't weaken. and
he does not expect to. he will continue
right through until after the primary
vote Is announced without raising a
finger to secure is selection.
This may be in a measure due to his
| supreme confidence in the efficiency Of
the Democratic organization. which
through its duly elected representatives
at the Saratoga unofficial convention
recommended him as the proper candi-
date. Or in a measure 1t may be due
to the fact that William Church Osborn,
who Is entered in the lists against the
Organization choice" has made his en-
tire campaign as protest against the
custom Of trying to forecIose nominal
lions by unofficial selection, with the
addition of a strong personal war plat
form, but without trace Of a personal
attack upon Mr.. Smith.
There being no attempt to d!sparage
felt 1t necessary to 60 out and shout his
qualifications for the office Of Governor
to the members Of his own organization.
He has spent most Of his time since the
Saratoga convention resting at Good
Ground.
The natural result has been. based on
the old principle that It takes two to
make a tight, Mr.. Osborn has not sue
ceeded in arousing the interest of tie
Democratic voters to any considerable
white heat. For this reason Edward s.
Harris, chairman of the State Commit
tee. fears that only "A small proportion of
the enrolled voters viii! come out on
primary day. Not that he fears this will
lessen Mr.. Smiths chances Of nomina-
ton. for 1t may be whispered that I'M
officially re is keenly interested in the
success Of the Tammany man. but he
fears the psychological effect Of a small
primary vote upon the campaign against
the Republican candidate.
So Chairman Harris has written
letter to each member Of the State Com
mittee saying that the various contests
In the Republican organization will
probably call out a large vote in that
party, whereas II ere is only one contest
in the Democratic ranks. and urging the
committeeman to become busy and get
out good vote.
THE condition in the Republican party
makes It greatly to the interest of our
State ticket that We poll as large
primary vote as possible" writes the
State chairman. 80 that the difference
in the total amount OF. votes cast in the
primary will not be SO large as to cause
comment. An especially large vote cast
at the primary for the winner in our sole
contest will look well to the party
throughout the State and be considered
an omen of victory in the fall.
you are therefore especially urged as
a member OF your county committee,
not only to vote yourself at the primary
on September 3 but by personal solicita-
ton. by telephone and any other means
that may suggest themselves to you. TO
obtain in your district the largest
primary vote possible"
The request is made that the commit
tee send to the State committee the re-
sGlt OF the primary in the respective
districts. with a comparison of the vote
in other gubernatorial years
But after primary day-that is an
other matter with Mr.. Smith. He eX-
poets TO be the nominee and Is planning
to make n vigorous fight. Although he
does not believe the people want a speak
ing campaign to begin much before Oc-
tober l. he will be active in bringing his
candidacy before the people of the State
in other ways. Probably his first move
will be the announcement of a personal
campaign committee.
There will be meeting of the State
committee about a week after the pri-
maries for the purpose of casting up re-
suits and discussing conditions in vari-
Gus parts of the State. At that time Mr..
Smith is planning to confer with the
various members of the committee in re-
gard to what character of campaign is
most essential in their sections of the
State.