New-York tribune., 1921-02-28
Direct Primary
Repeal Caucus
Likely To-tliellt
assembly Leaders Trying
to Get Caulfield TO Sign
the Nj a jority Report
Favoring Conventions
Liberal Dry Bill Is Sure
anderson Influence Gone.
New Law Will Permit
Home Brew, Hip Flasks
Trera a Sc Correspendent

members of the Legislature, who are
row chiefly concerned with Governor
Niller's public utility program, on
which there will be public hearing in
lie Assembly chamber Wednesday, will
confer tonight on two matters OF great
import TO the citizens of the state.
One is the proposed repeal cf the di-
rect primary law and the restoration of
the party convention for the nomina-
non of state officers and members of
the judiciary. The other is the lib
eral enforeement measure, which en-
bodies the Governors ideas on dealing
with the dry question in this state.
On the dry enforcement the legis-
lstive leaders expect to have easy
sedding. as William II. Anderson is no
longfr persona grata with the Legis-
lsture or the Executive chamber. The
Anti-Saloon Leagues bill, which was
regarded as worse than any measure
conceived by any of the blue law bri
gade, is doomed, and the MulIan-Gag
Dill, with its liberal Interpretation of
tae Folstead act, is scheduled for
speedy passage and enactment into law
Uneer Its terms home brewing will be
tolersted, as will toting on the hip and
having little IN ones home or hotel
room for medicinal purposes"
Dry Bill Caucus Tonight
Tae Republican Senators will caucus
on the Muilan-Gage bill tonight, and
tomorrow the majority in the Assembly
vii caucus on the measure. Al the
same time an effort will be made to
caucus the majorities in both houses
on the proposed repeal of the direct
primary bill
Whether the leaders will be able to
ses enough OF the Republican Senators
and Assemblymen TO remain in can
Gus on direct primaries is matter
Sney themselves are ignorant of. A
majority may be found in the Assembly,
but only the most vigorous use of the
party whip Will be able to hold a ma
lority for the measure liz the Senate.
Up TO the present the Joint Legislative
Committee on the Election Law, whose
NE ends on Tuesday, has been unable
70 get the signature of Assemblymsn
James Caulheld, of Brooklyn. to the
majority report, which recommends the
feFeal OF the direct primary in so far
as 1t affects state officers and members
u the judiciary.
There are five members on this COM
mittee-two Democrats and three Re-
pRhlicans. The majority consists of
Senators James L. Whitney and D. H.
An1es and Assemblyman Cauifeld.
CautneId, who IS a strong partisan and
~ equaLy strong advocate of the di-
rect primary SYSTEM. is not in a very
een Portable position. His partisanship
H. s7een played upon, but SO far with
o. sFall, Caulteld maintaining a firm
.&AG against anything which would
SAVIOR OF a drive on the entire direct
primary system, for that is what is said
TO be behind the partial repeal planned
l0r the present session.
The leaders are appealing to Caul-
deld to sign the majority report, tell
,ng him that he can fight the PROPOSE
tion on the floor OF the House if neces-
sRry, but that his signature is needed
TO have the report submitted, which
contains several excellent recommends
lions for strengthening the corrupt
practices act as well. The leaders are
hopeful that Caulfeld will sign some
time tomorrow, so that the report may
be submitted tomorrow night, as the
committee will cease to function after
tuesday noon.
Minority Prepares Report
Anticipating that Caulfeld may not
withstand the pressure, the minority
members of the committee, Senator
James j. Walker and Maurice Bloch,
nave prepared 8 minority report in
which they attack the direct primary
teFeeL pIOSlSlOU anu dS LLlS SAillS L4i1lS
praise some of the proposed amend
ments to the corrupt practices act.
Some recommendations contained in
5ae majority report are not objection
able" reads the minority report, land
may we'll be considered in amending
the present election law. They are,
however, quite unimportant in compari-
son with the main questions involved
and need not be discussed here. The
principal consideration is whether we
are prepared to abandon the advanced
ground occupied by those who have led
voters forward and given them the
courage TO demand as q right the op-
portunity of selecting their own can
dIdates. II primary elections are to
pc continued for certain purposes there
will be no material saving of expense
oy restoring party conventions for the
purpose of naming candidates for state
Offices and judicial positions, and If the
concession is once made it will be fol-
lowed by vociferous demand that we
return to the old days Of secret confab
and unadulterated bos5ism."
The minority report charges that in
nuential politicians are trying to get
rid Of the direct primary system, and
continues;
THE majority report does not meet
the issue fairly, nor does it contain
any affirmation of facts upon which to
decide such an important question. A
fatal admission is contained in the
words The nomination by convention,
as provided by the bill, is not abso-
Idte. IL it is the proper method. why
should it not be final and conclusive?
Denies Primary Is Expensive
The proposition that objectors may
oe, allowed TO file petitions and present
other candidates is impractical, for the
obvious reason that all who would dare
TO enter such a protest against their
party organization, acting in conven
Siion, would be properly disciplined by
she regular party organization and
md themselves politically outcast. 1t
Is not the legitimate business Of any
political party TO maintain an organi-
astien for the purpose of presenting
psrtieuiar or favorite candidates for
ONCE The organization should support
such candidates as the enrolled voters
seiect to represent the party and it's
principles.
Experience in this and other states
aas disposed of many objections that
vera originally raised to the direct
primary plan"
!he report declares that the charge
mat the direct primary system is eX-
pehsive is not only untrue, bus that the
cry is raised TO gain support for the
repeal. The facts, according to the
minority report, show that the cost per
w~.~&l. ~