New-York tribune., 1904-09-20
Tributes TO MIR. HIGGINS.

Notwithstanding their opposition 20 his canui-
dacy for Governor. the fair minded members OF
the Democratic press feel constrained 10 pay
cordial tribute TO the honesty ability ana lnde-
pendence Of Lieutenant Governor higgins
The New-York Times" yesterday, after review
ing in detail his business and legislative career,
said: Take him by and large. he is good
type Of the upstate business man, and
gentleman in politics He is good. -cleancut
citizen, and il is reasonably certain that the
Democratic issue in the State campaign VIII
mot be his record THE New-York Herald
on Sunday gave an equally eulogistic account
Of his career, dwelling particularly on his firm
ness and conscientiOusnesS in guarding what ne
believed to be the States interests, regardless
Of even the most intimate personal and political
friendships No little bills slipped by him as
a matter Of personal favor. and, though loyal
party man. he has never hesitated to follow his
own convictions when they have run counter to
organization policies.
As examples of this independence, The Her
aid" refers 10 the facts that he was one Of the
eight Senators who voted against confirming
Governor Blacks nomination of Louis f. Payn
TO be Superintendent Of Insurance, and that he
also voted against the creation Of greater New
York. In both instances the pressure Of the
State administration and the party organization
was strong upon him. Whether on reviewing
lAc u4slOts U ScEtu years VI OoAlnOiidA'AOA IAAO
voter thinks Mr.. Higgins's judgment right or
wrong, he cannot fail TO admire the man who
gives careful thought 10 legislative problems
makes up his own mind about them and refuses
TO delegate his functions lawmaker, acting
according to individual judgment and con-
science. to any organization or committee.
In matters properly subject to party judgment
Mr., Higgins believes in organization. He Is In
general sympathy with Republican principles
and policies. but as an official he has always
held and acted upon the theory that his primary
duty was TO act for the public interest along the
lines indicated by his own best Judgment and
conscience. He has never sought Office. He
was sent TO the Senate at the call of his neigh
bors. and was unanimously renominated so long
as he wished to remain in the Senate. He was
not a candidate for Lieutenant Governor two
years ago. but at a moment of difficulty, after
Lieutenant Governor Woodruff and his friends
had by their public attacks made the expected
nomination OF Mr.. Sheldon impolitic. he was
turned TO as the strongest candidate who could
be named and was unanimously nominated
Likewise his nomination this year came about
without self-seeking on his part, and he has no
private obligations 10 respect and no factions TO
serve.
The people Of the State owe much to the
work of Mr. Higgins as chairman Of the Senate
Finance Committee. II was he who stopped
the old loose system of State expenditures, by
which heads Of departments incurred unauthor-
ized debts TO be paid out Of deficiency" appro-
priations- He drafted the law prohibiting any
employe Of the State from contracting any in
debtedaess behalf Of the State or spending
any sum without previous appropriation In con-
sequence the State budgeJ Is now made ND on
careful and exact estimates. He also secured
for the. State Treasury the large amount of fees
which various saIaried officials used to collect
and he drew the act classifying the State en-
ployes and securing substantial uniformity of
service for uniform salary. cutting off a source
OF great waste and favoritism. He has taken a
leading part in abolishing direct State taxation
ana in enforcing system and economy in all de-
partments Of the State government
Such man is vastly better equipped for the
executive Office than a person. however con-
spicuous in other walks Of life, who has not had
long and practical familiarity with the problems
or administration and legislation at Albany.
The Tines is right when il gives warning 70
It's party that Mr.. Higgins's record will not be
the Democratic issue Of this campaign. That
record is invulnerable. In dealing with him the
democratic campaigners will have to fall hacl,
on their usual tactics OF epithet and misrepre.
sentation.