New-York tribune., 1901-01-05
BEHIND THE GOVERNOR.

Governor Odell has doubtless listened with
great satisfaction, and possibly some slight
amusement. to the unanimous verdict on his
message We say unanimous, for, while here
and there a note of hesitation or dissent as TO
two or three of his proposals is heard, the
message as a whole has evoked nothing but
praise The Governor of the Empire State Is
not an inconsiderable parsonage at any time,
and we intend no disparagement of the office
or of its new incumbent's reputation when he
took it in saying that he woke up on Thursday
morning to find himself famous. Not often has
even Presidents proclamation In war time
attracted so much attention as was Immediately
bestowed upon Mr.. Odells first State paper.
The best of it is that the universal applause is
abundantly deserved.
1t is especially interesting to find that the
politicians are vying with the general public
i'm demonstrations of approval and that in par
ticular the politicians of the Legislature are
not permitting themselves to lag behind the
rest. The Leutenant-Goyernor, who has no
VOTE but can exercise considerable control over
business in the Senate; the leader of the ma
jority in that body, the minority leader of the
Assembly, the Speaker and other members OF
experience and influence have FASTENED to de-
clare not only that they heartily agree with
will be carried out. 1t was 10 be assumed that
some of those who have been heard from would
take this attitude, and perhaps it is not really
surprising that others who have not heretofore
been distinguished by their devotion to meas
ures of reform have done the same thing, mas
much as the popular response was so quick
and loud. But this suggests the reflection that
a relaxation of public interest in the Governors
scheme of retrenchment would probably be fol-
lowed forthwith by loss of enthusiasm at Al
bany. The promise, though encouraging, is
easy, but the fulfilment is still long way off.
There are members of the Legislature and they
are not among the least expert and powerful,
who will watch closely for signs that the peO-
pie have begun TO look in some other direction,
in order that they may themselves feel safe in
taking a differen, course if they see fit when
the time for action arrives 1t does not cost
much now to say that the Governors policy is
sound and needs TO be adopted. The rub will
come when members are brought face TO face
with the separate items of that policy and en-
abled to determine their fate. Then many a
man will be strongly tempted to reason that
whereas the general scheme is good and this,
that and the other abuse unquestionably ought
TO be corrected the particular little arrange
ment in which he takes a personal interest is
not an abuse at all and must be retained.
This is one of the reasons why are glad
TO see so many Senators and Assembymen put
ting themselves thus early and emphatically on
record If any of them should hereafter feel in
clined to desert the Governor their original ex-
pressions of loyalty would at least tend to re-
strain them by making desertion awkward. But
we hope 1t is not necessary to look for such an
oozlng away Of courage. If the people continue
to show that they on the Governors side
there will in all probability be votes enough in
the Legislature to carry the main features of
his programme into effect.