The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-02-16
COMMITTEE SPLITS
ON CONVENTION PLAN
Majority Of Republican Inves-
tigators Favor Old Sys-
tenn, Modified.
REPORT THURSDAY NIGHT
Minority Group Advocates Pri-
maries to Ratify Party's
Choice.
REPORT THURSDAY NIGHT

Return to the convention system OF
nominating all candidates for public Of
nee in this State-not the old convention
system. but by conventions organized
under and surrounded by the authority
Of law-will be recommended by the
special committee at a meeting Of the
Republican county committee Thursday
night
A minority report will be presented
by four Of the eleven members Of the
committee recommending a system of
nominations similar to that provided
for in the old Hinman-Greene direct
primary bill. which failed of passage in
the administration of Gov. Hughes.
This provides party responsibility by
having party committees select organi-
cation candidates. but also gives the
party members a chance to overthrow
the organization choice by having pri
maries for the ratification of this choice,
in which any candidate may place him
self in opposition through getting GER
tain number of signatures.
Tanners Suggestion Refused.
The suggestion made by Frederick c.
Tanner, former chairman of the State
committee. that there be party conven-
lions. but that there should be an APP
peal from such selection OF candidates
only In case there should be dissatisfac-
ton with such choice. apparently was
too far away from the primary system
to suit the minority of the special COM
mittee and gave room for too much po-
litical maneuvring to suit the majority.
Charles z. Heydt. chairman of the
special committee, will present the ma
,ority report. which also will be signed
by Ezra P. Prentice, former chairman
of the State committee Robert w.
Bonynge. president Of the Republican
Club; Mrs. James G. wentz. president
OF the Woman's Republican Club; Miss
Mary Wood, Nathaniel A. Elsberg. for
mer State Senator. and Herman Hoff-
man. leader OF the Sixteenth Assembly
district
Tho minority report will be presented
by Robert p. Lewis, leader Of the Thir-
teenth district, who will be Joined in
It by Stanley N. Isaacs Martin c. An
sorge and Miss Clara Stiles. Mr.. Lewis
and Mr.. Isaacs were prominent MEM
bers of the old Progressive party.
Every opportunity will be given by
Samuel S. Koenig, president Of the
county committee, for full and free
discussion, and It Is expected that the
advocates Of the primary system, al
though probably in the minority In the
committee, will make a strong fight for
its retention.
The Heydt report would put the
county committee on record as favoring
a return TO the method OF nominating
all candidates, from Governor down, at
conventions, the delegates to which
would be selected at direct primaries
Leld under legal safeguards. as at pres
ent Such a system would provide that
the certificate of election to such dele
gates would be issued by the properly
constituted election officials Of the dis
trict and that there would be no appeal
from this except through the courts.
Could Prevent Old Practices.
Such a system would guard against
the old practices OF packing a conven-
ton or of throwing out properly chosen
delegates in order to CONTROL" said
member OF the committee yesterday.
We know that these things cast odium
upon the old system. But with the
proper safeguards around the selection
OF delegates at direct primaries and
with their rights properly protected
there is no reason why the candidates
people.
Then the convention will give the
party a chance to make a declaration
of its party principles and formulate
a party platform in which its policies
on the pressing questions of the moment
may be brought before the voters This
Is most important.
las for the suggestion OF Mr.. Tan
ner that there be an appeal from the
n
simply make things more complicated.
make II necessary to have two pri-
maries-one for the selection of dele
gates and another on an appeal from the
choice of the convention. Then again
1t would be An opportunity for mere
soreheads and troublemakers to pose
in the spotlight and confuse the issue.
To pit two or more candidates for party
nomination against one another simply
gives a chance for the publication OF
mean and petty criticism Of these candl.
dates. which invariably reacts upon the
party on election day.
"One OF the great arguments of those
who have opposed a return to the con-
vention system in New York State has
been that IT would look reactionary
to the Western States. which led US
in taking up the direct primary sys-
tenn. But you will find that these West
err., States are sbandaRi4- direct pri-
raries. ! SPY only a day or two ago
that they had been given up in Idaho"
The Minortty's Plan.
The report OF the minority will adj
vocate a system whereby party COM
mittees, elected in the primaries the
year before, would meet and select
candidates in the various political units
Then these selections would be placed
before the members of the party in
primaries such as we have to-day.
The minority says that the State
committee could cnunciate a platform
for the party, which would meet the
criticism OF those who deplore the pres
ent mpossibllity for such authoritative
declaration. To this is opposed the idea
that members of such committee
chosen the year before might not be
In touch with or at least responsive
to the latest party sentiment on lead
ing issues.
Tenth district, who represents the Re-
publican Club. which has gone on rec
ord for a return to the convention
method of nominations has prepared a
bin TO that end which he will introduce.
II Is understood that the provisions
of this bill meet the ideas OF the ma
Jority OF the county committee.
There is now bill before the Legis-
lature, introduced by Senator Walton of
Kingston. which provides that all party
nominations. except those for Presiden-
tial electors and for Justices OF the Su-