New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-05-16
No LAUGHING MATTER.

In case fine reluctance Of Mr.. Morris TO WITT
draw his resignation should not be overcome, IL
will he necessary before long TO appoint d nc"
chairman of the Republican County OoiliLii'
fee. and the qualifications Of several recep'iso
candidates for that important place are areau9
under consideration. We observe with q DeHef
client interest that among those mehuoneu 10
Mr. Joh f Hedges man of pleasing gIts'
whose friends saw that he is likewise possessed
~ so,id abilities. So far as we aware, that
Is NOT q partial judgment Entering pubnc NE
Sc secretary to Mayor Strong ana aSsoclaIeu
In tbe public mind with the service OF the HIS
torical teapot whereby that administration was
accustomed to alleviate the cares or ONCE MI
Hedges steadily established substantial ciaihls
70 nreferment. and in the performance Of Varl-
Gus duties of an exacting character mas slnce
avfnced capacities fully equal to their require
ments.
We are not obliged to nominate successor TO
,Fr Morris nor do we feel that without more
accurate knowledge of Mr.. Hedgess talenIs ioi
odr,in,st1ation and command we ought TO pro-
nounce q definite opinion concerning his fitness
m fill the vacancy Nevertheless, we note with
6isannrovaI disposition to make 1t appear thaI
tbe reputation of Mr.. hedges as q hunorlsI 10 d
fatal objection to his candidacy for the county
craftsmanship Thus 1t is said that as olteh DIS
the subject is introduced in political circles NC
.. .ooosa,v hracketed with Mr.. Simeon Ford,
hts particular co.. Jeutor for applause alounu
the festive board. Well, what OF II! Ii MI
Ford and Mr. Hedges are able TO raise t"o
| lauphs where one grew before, or perhaps not
| even one they are to be regarded as puDiic
henefactors in this somewhat arid era But that
is not the point at issue. The imputation is thae
a fellow OF infinite Jest is presumpuVely olS-
uualiied for serious occupations how fluleu
| Ious! We are not Informed that poor 1orlcA
| was Incapable of doing anything out set lhe
| table on q roar. Few things are better known
than that Mr. Ford understands how to run a
hotel. He himself has recently admitted that
| in spite of the excise law and many other olli-
cuIties with which his business is beset, he Is
still several square meals ahead Of the game
| We have already alluded TO the creditaDle man
| nor in which MIR. Hedges has discharged lmpor-
| +snt functions Why then, should it be as
| sumed at this late day that 1t would be danger
GUS to invest him with new responsibilities
| There is too much talk about the handicap 10
which nirth producers subject themselves. Inc
great Mr. Addison was humor1st If there ever
was one and if he was only mediocre Secre-
tary of State we have no reason to suppose that
| the latter fact bore any VITAL relation 10 the
| former General Horace Porter possesses lhe
respect of the French Government and the con-
| fdence of his own; he was a good soldier ana
a competent executive, but he was never afralo
to be amusing. Bacon was wit, but, though
| his administration Of justice left something TO
be desired, the painful lack was not accounted
for by that fact. And what shall we say OF our
own and only Chauncey? Is he conscious OF
| blight? Not much!
| If Mr.. Hedges is ambitious to succeed MI
Norris we advise him to disdain the impert1nent
assumption that people would laugh at him
under the wrong circumstances, and go right
ahead with his canvass Of the county commit
| tee We do not wish to be understood as init
mating at present that he is our candidate out
@ man who has caused so much innocent amuse-
| ment ought to have a fair chance.