The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-10-14
IT FAILED 10 woRk

TT FAILED TO WORK.
 There seems scarcely q shadow of doubt that the Republican bosses of New York offered the mayorslty nomi- nation to Charles E. Hughss in pursu- ance of what they thought a very willy and well-srranged scheme for fnuzsling him. Tn his investigations into the scandalous insurance practices it is be- coming plain that his line will land him on the trial of some of the leading members of the Republican organiza- ton in New York. If he has not al- ready struck the trail of ex-Governor odeli himself the indications are that he is close to it.
 As the chief and relentless prosecutor of the insurance scandals. Mir. Hughes Is dangerous man to those who are mixed up in those scandals. They wanted to get rid of him for their own safety with the hope of saving their own hides. They knew they could not buy or bribe him with money. but they thought ambition might work for them. The office of Mayor of New York is next only to the Presidency of the United States as position of place and power dispenser. The patronage at his disposal is immense, and tor the time he is almost without limitation as to what he will do and whom he will favor.
 < Probably judging Mir. Hughes ey themselves these bosses thought that offering him the nomination w"ul9 arouse his ambition and that he would gladly accept. Then, as the candidate of his party for such an important po- sition it was expected that he would either give up his job as insurance in- vestigator or that. if he decided to con tlnue at 1t his honesty and sincerity would be discredited and his efforts nullified by the fact that he was the nominee for the mayoralty. That he felt this is evident from what he said when declining the nomination. He told the committees:
 Were I, with the best of intentions, to accept the nomination, it is my con viction that the work of the investi- gation would be largely dtscredited; its tegrity assailed. To many 1t would ap: pear that It's course would be shaped and it's lines of inquiry would be chosen; ambition might prompt or political ex- igency demand.
 It was cunningly prepared snare but the bird refused to be caught by it. He will continue his good work and if he lays some of the bosses by the heels 1t will serve them right.
 It may be possible that Hughes smeiled defeat in the air for himself or any other Republican candidate this year. Mcclellan has made good ofh- cial and he has Tammany behind him. and 1t matters not how much that or- ganization may be abused and de- nounced 1t is a power in the politics of the city and will elect Mcclellan to succeed himself. No one can say what figure Hearst will cut in the contest He has constituency backing him that should and will drive from him the best element of the city, but money talks" in New York as elsewhere, and the Hearst millions may help him to a considerable vote. Just how strong Twins, who is the new Republican nom- inee, will be is another unknown uuan- tity, but as things now appear McClel- Ian will be elected
 Speaking of Mcclellan reminds us of one of the objections the Republicans are putting up, and one of the argu- ments they use against his election. McGowan. who has been nominated on the Mcclellan ticket for President of the Board of Aldermen doesn't inspire the confidence that the head of the ticket does. Now the Republicans pre- dict that if Mcclellan is elected he will get the nomination for Governor next year and then McGowan will become Mayor. To avert this catastrophe, as they pretend to regard 1t. they claim that Wins should be elected.
 This is counting the chickens before they are matched with a vengeance. It is assuming that Mcclellan will be elected and that he will be nominated for Governor. His election is likely ard his nomination next year is pos sible, but that seems poor reason why he should not b. voted for this year, and we think it will have little effect.