New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-10-12
HUGHES AND MCCLELLAN.

The Tammany organs are prof1se in their
praise of Mr. Hughes for his high sense Of duty
In refusing to let anything divert him from the
complete fulfIment Of the trust which he has
undertaken in connection with the Armstrong
committee. Those praises may not be entirely
disinterested. The fear of the popular admlra-
ton which would have been manifested for MT.
Hughes II he had consented to be candidate
against Tammany may have something to do
with them. The wish was plainly father to their
thought that Mr.. Hughess obligations as an IN
surance investigator forbade his sitting still
and allowing the people to choose him to take
up another work when the investigation was
finished But If we pass over that and assume
the sincerity Of the Tammany demand that he
decline the Mayoralty nomination lest it inter
fere with the work he had undertaken, and Of
the compliments paid to him for rising to Tam
many's high moral standard, does Tammany ask
Mr.. Mcclellan to line up to that same standard?
Mr.. Mcclellan has been nominated to fill tha
office of Mayor for the four years term begin
ming January l, 1906, and ending December 81
1909. On the ticket with him, apparently with
his consent-if not with his consent, offering
impressive testimony to his helplessness in the
hands Of Murphy and McCarren-are some of
the most disreputable honest grafters" whom
this city has known for years Mayor McClel-
lan's friends appealing to the support of
decent people on the ground that he is better
than Murphy and McCarren, and can be trusted
to keep his associates in some sort Of order and
protect the city from the characteristic Tam
many rapacity. Yet 1t is perfectly we'll known
that Mr. Mcclellan If elected Mayor, hopes on
the strength of the victory to be nominated and
elected Governor next year. No concealment IS
made Of this programme. Mr.. MCGOWAN, the
protege OF John T. Oakley, who made the
scandalous contract with the lighting monopoly,
has already been introduced at a Tammany
meeting as the coming Mayor, and Little Tim"
Sullivan viii continue In the Board of Alder
men In expectation Of sitting in the Board OF
Estimate in case Mr.. Mcclellan achieves his
ambition Yet Mr.. Mcclellan has accepted the
nomna ton for Mayor with profuse promises of
doing his whole duty as Mayor If elected.
II It would have been wrong for Mr. Hughes
to let the chance to be Mayor even distract his
mind from the work he had undertaken will 1t
be right for Mr.. Mcclellan to let a chance to be
Governor draw him away from the work of adj
ministering New-York City's affairs, If that
work shall be again intrusted to him as he asks?
II the complete surrender Of himself to his trust
as al insurance investigator by Mr.. Hughes
was only what was 10 be expected Of an hon
est, high minded man, will the complete sur
render Of himself to ambition, regardless Of his
trust by Mr.. Mcclellan be only what Is to be
expected of him? Mr. Hughes is merely en-
ployed as lawyer by legislative committee.
His trust is purely professional indirectly touch
Ing the interest OF the people. II he is elected
Mayor, Mr.. Mcclellan will have a far more
sacred trust. He will have undertaken by gpe-
cial agreement with the people themselves To
administer their affairs, protect their lives and
property and stand between them and inferior
officials whom. trusting IN his superior virtues.
they are asked TO accept. Nevertheless, he and
his followers, who protest that Mr.. Hughes was
| IN honor bound not to for Mayor while his
| duties as an investigator were pending, see no
improperly In Mr.. McClelian's giving pledges
faithfully to perform the duties of Mayor. with
| an advertised intention OF tossing these duties
aside Ike an old shoe II a more glittering Of
fetal prize can be seized
nave the Tammany organs one rule for Mr..
hughes when his popularity threatens TO inter
Iere with their plans, and another for Mr. Nc
CIeilan when they strive to get the state as
wen as the city within their gragpY Do thew
demand and commend sense Of honor in Mr..
Hughes which they neither ask nor ENACT IN
Mr. McClellanE Are they prepared 70 admit
that Nj. Hughes has higher moral sto.dard
than AEn Mcclellan and Is more trus - 80 t,s+