The evening world., 1921-03-26
GOVERNOR MILLER
May NOT CHANGE
/ Direct PRIMARIES
Republican Leaders Split and
Governor Fears to Use
Party Whip.
E.aanE Verdi

E,gs-sa Run . stuh o--ep1nasit ~ IN
Brraug Noridl
Albany. N. ", March 3s,-The
pireot Primary Law may not be dis
apreSed BY this Legislature after all.
A real hght IL on between the lead
en- Of both Houses over the proposed
naoasure, and n In a certainty that
, hho bin framed by the whitley spe-
soiaa legislative committee will not be
uaasod by the Assembly unless the
f2oveFnor cracks the whip and
drives the Republican lambs into the
1filleF aold.
But 1t Is quite possible, notwith-
gtandlES that the repeal OF the Pri-
mary Law was made part OF the
party platform. that the Governor
may keep his hands on. lie has not
ssnt any special message to the Leg
tslaturs on the subject, and It is re-
called that when spoken TO some
weeks agO concerning such a mes
sage. he said; 'The Legislature may
beat me 10 Il; they may take action
before / Eet the message in"
Early this week the Republican
Senators adopted a plan 10 repeal the
Law in part, but this was done only
after a long and bitter fight behind
nioSed Doors. The proposition was
not popular with the Senators from
upstate, and IL is no secret that
many cs their constituents are Op-
posed 30 any dOctoring OF the direct
primary.
The fight against the changes was
led by Senator Frederick NJ. Daven-
port OF Utah, Oneida County. who.
SaSt year was an independent but
ahis session became regular" The
opposition was showed under, and
Warlle there was no bill bafore the
conference, II was decided that the
sense of the conference was that
state officials and the Judiciary. down
70 and including Supreme Court JUS
dinaa, ahould be nominated by con-
ventiOns. With regard 70 all other
nominations the Direct Primary Law
remains intact
It was expected that the Rapubli-
cans OF the Lower House would hold
q conferences on the Direct Primary
Law on Monday night, after the ses-
sion, but this expectation will not bs
1uldiled. There will be no such con-
ference next week. and II one Is held
the week following the result will DO
quite different from the reading OF
hhe Whitley dill, now reposing In the
Senate Judiciary Committee.
Assembly leaders declare that the
senate conference plan Is too cumber-
some and too expensive; but there Is
more behind the opposition than that.
The Miller prOgramme had been
rushed through with ruthless diBre-
gard of the public interest and OF
the desires OF many of the members
IN many cases the members of both
Houses have been mere automatoms,
voting as the party leaders dictated
Most of the Governors programme
has been put over, and now the party
leaders are looking over the field, fig
uring the cost and summing up any
possible profits. The big capital which
has come to the Republican Party, 80
Far as can be figured. Is the conBun-
nation OF the Governors economical
plan. Outside OF that the programme
has made many enemies within the
party lines.
The Traction Bill. II is estimated,
will cost the party dearly. Not only
has rs paAnage lost Greater New
York, II u figured, but II Is going 20
aplit the party upstate beyond the
ability OF the party bosses TO patch
up. Some OF the more sober minded
OF the leaders believe that the line
must be drawn somewhere, and that
the place 20 draw It - in the Primary
Law.