New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-01-03
TILE GOTERNOHS lIESS1GE.

Governor Flowers message resembles Gov
ernor Flower himself 1t is bulky and 1t seems
TO mean well, but wherever it approaches a
high level it sraightway begins to sag. What
it says is generally well enough, for when the
Governor contrives messages he doubtless has
somebody by him whose wit is sufficiently Keen
to point out the pcrils Of personal Renaissance
and tales of youthful misdemeanor. But what
it does not say is significant. This is especially
true as to the recommendation on the most I'M
portant subject before the Legislature, that or
ballot reform. 1t appears that the Governor Is
in favor of blanket ballot. which seems to
mean that he IS opposed to the paster ballot
He says that the names Of candidates should
be 80 arranged and printed that the elector
can easily vote for the candidates Of his CHOICE
Nobody will dissent from this unless 1t favors
particular form of ballot which enables the
petty politicians around the polls to vote float
ers with comparative ease. 1t might mean
that, or it might mean the system prevalent
generally in States that have adopted the re-
form, and commonly designated the Massachu-
sets system.
The fact that II Is impossible to say
what it means illustrates the general OBJ
lection to the. Governors recommendations
They would be all right If one could be sure
DDS. But if they don't mean that, they are
without value. Unfortunately Governor Flow
ers relations are with the worst elements
of his party, the elements that have
for years been endeavorng to defeat almost
everything that Is good and useful in legisa-
ton and to promote almost everything that is
degrading and harmful. And whatever he says
has to be looked at in the light of that record.
@bn N n
whose existence threatens the reforms that
were demanded by the people when they elect
ed the present Legislature 1t is as nearly GER
tain as anything can be that all those reforms
will receive the approval Of a constitutional
majority in both houses, and that they VIII be
expressed in shape satisfactory to the best
sentiment Of the people And the question as
to every one of them is, what will happen
when they reach the Executive Chamber! ms
a question that ought to be left to Governor
Flower The Republican leaders in the Legis
laturc should give it no consideration They
should not pass laws to put the Governor In
n hole" But as little should they give atten-
ton TO any view or purpose Of his antagonisuc
to wise and sound legislation They should
not present their bills in an unsatisfactory form
in order to accommodate the low political Ideals
of the Democratic faction which Governor
Flower represents. Their purpose should be to
satisfy public sentiment in its best and most
unselfish sense and if Governor Flower chooses
or dares to put himself in the way of laws so
devised they should leave public sentiment 10
deal with him.
On certain subiects-such as forest preserva-
ton, the improvement Of roads. state care or
the insane, the protection Of the dairy interest
and fish pr0pagation-the Governors views
being those of expert minds unaffected by po-
litical interests, the message contains many
useful suggestions. 1t would be Of immense
value to the State if the Legislature would
show itself wise enough, having accomplished
those political reforms that public opinion
plainly demands, to drop that class or leglsla-
ton and give its attention TO plans to conserve
these practical interests Of the people The
preservation Of the Adirondack forests Is one
of the most important matters that the Legls-
lature can consider. The new Forest Com
mission has studied the situation with dill
gence and thorOughness and its report may
well be made the basis Of new laws. Our State
is exceedingly fortunate in that its financial
condition permits its legislators to regard the
subject of needed public improvements without
running the risk Of expressing the people with
new financial burdens. Good sense and fair
dealing are all that will be required in their
treatment Of these practical public questions.