New-York tribune., 1906-11-25
THE GOTERNOR-ELECT

1t is the same Mr.. Hughes after election as 1t
was before. There is no divergence between his
campaign promises and his pOst-election spirit.
His speech at the dinner of the Republican Club
his first public appearance as Governor elect
was marked by the same high seriousness. direct
ness and clear mastery OF himself and his sub
ject which characterized his public work as an
investigator and convinced the people OF this
state that he the man needed TO master their
administrative problems If during the cam
paign anybody inclined TO doubt either Mr..
Hughess sincerity or his ability TO live up to his
promises the Republican Club speech must have
gone far to correct the misapprehenson. Speak
ing to his own partsans about to enter with him
into the conduct Of the government, il breathes
just as much of high devotion to public interest
and unconlpromsing independence as if it had
been calculated for the winning of votes
Mr.. Hughes has before him n difficult task
On the one side he will be met by demands for
eXtravagantly and impossibly radical measures,
some of them born Of honest aspiration for re-
form. more cleverly fomented for the purpose of
consolidating opposition. On the other hand, he
must overcome the natural and inevitable dis.
position of politicians In his own party to leave
things as they are-to do nothing radical lest the
outcome he unfavOrable. An organized party in
power always hesitates to raise new issues and
face new problems. Mr.. Hughes must face new
problems and lead his party TO face them, for
unless he can lead his party with him his con-
structive policy is certain to be thwarted To
make real progress and far satisfy genuine de-
mands for reform that unreasonable agitators
will be powerlesS to deiude the public is task
requiring the coolest Judgment, the greatest tact
and the most answering determination. Mr.
Hughes appears to have all of thesp qualities.
He is clearly going TO he his own master. He
has set a high standard of public service for
himself and his subordinates. Public interests
and not private corporate interests are his
He is going TO he a loyal party man, but he is
going to serve his party by serving the state. He
is not going 70 forget the obligation of indepen
dence incurred by his appeal to the patriotic Dem.
ocratic vote which helped save the state from the
menace Of Hearst. He is even going to recognize
ali that was sincerely desirous of better condi-
tons in the Hearst movement and give reason
able regard to its aspirations This is the spirit
with which he takes Office, and there is not a
trace Of buncOmbe about It. THE people, he
says. "are not TO he fooled No one is astute
enough, By intrigue and strategy, to thwart the
popular demand for honest government and
worthy representation. Instead of viewing the
situation with apprehension we should cou-
''rageousIy. though with a solemn sense of its
import. address ourselves to our task" The man
who enters upon the task Of government In that
frame of mind and brings to it the trained intel
ligence which Mr.. Hughes possesses cannot fail
to render good service to the people and TO coul-
mend the party which supports him to public
confidence.