The New York herald., 1922-10-19

fifteen years ago was demand that
they be permitted TO keep control"
The Democrats in 1918. because Of
their belief in popular government
established direct primaries" the
sreaker continued mo demand was
made by the rank and file of either
party for the restoration of the conven-
zion system, and the bill restoring it
passed the Assembly late on the Satur-
day night of adjournment in 1921
Public Hearings Denied.
"The bulky measure. containing a
mass of printed matter, was not even in
the hands Of the members during the
course of the debate; and the manner in
which il was passed is Characteristic OF
the session, in which the most important
laws were put through with little or
no real consideration, solely at the
crack of the party whip. Public hear.
ings We're denied TO the people and king
caucus ruled supreme"
Mr. Smith then proceeded TO quote
what he said were some of the reasons
given for the bill by its sponsor. Senator
Whitley of Rochester, and the speaker
replied to them one by one.
The former Governor said the Repub-
lican Legislature had made the first as
sault on direct primary by sending him
bill to restore conventions for judicial
nominations only. He promptly vetoed
it. The speaker continued
The direct primary system is either
fundamentally right or 1t is wrong if
right why should it not apply to all
elective Offices, and. IL wrong, why should
1t apply to any? This situation. it seems
TO me. leaves something for the Governor
to explain. Why did he accept what
amounts to compromise with great
principle? Why nominate State officers
and members OF the judiciary by conven-
tion and allow the rest of the officers
elected in civil divisions of the State, to
be selected by the direct nominating sys-
tenn? Or is it perhaps Gov. Miller's in.
tention, IL reelected, to wipe out the
direct primary system altogether?
THE Governor talks loudly about his
aversion to group government, why does
he return the nominating power to the
small groups against the rank and file?
man who is so distrustful of the people
that he is unwilling to leave with them
the nominating power should be the last
one to speak about group government
Thanks to Gov. Mller's backward
step, the small group In control of nom-
nations have it within their power to
poison the wellsprings of progressive
government at their very source. Is it
possible that the Governor returned to
the convention system to make easy the
road to his own denomination? Is it
possible that he feared the progressive
element within his own party;'
Mr.. Smith said the recent convention
of the State Federation of Women's
Clubs indicated that the women of the
State generally resented the Governors
action in "sanctioning the destruction of
the direct primary system" He quoted
one woman there as saying: only a
narrow group of people were against it,"
and another as declaring "the politicians
have taken the teeth out of the women's
vote by abolishing the direct primary"
1T must be disheartening to the
women voters of the State" the candi-
date said, after being admitted by con-
stitutional amendment to the full privi-
lege of citizenship, to find their oppor-
tunty for a voice in the affairs Of their
party cut off by a return to the system
that gives the power to small group.
Is it possible that the friends of the
convention system fear this and pro-
gressive power in party organization? %
Tomorrow Mr.. Smith will go to SYRIA
cuse by way of Oswego. where he has
been asked to speak at a luncheon. In
the evening he speaks In Gov. Miller S
home city.