New-York tribune., 1906-04-09
TIE STATE ISSUE.


When Governor Higgins tells the people Of
New York that in his deliberate opinion the
state government is conducted as economically as
is consistent with the common welfare his assur-
Hnce will and should cnrry weight with the gen
eral public. Throughout his whole career Gov
ernor Higgins has been known as thorough
and conscientious exponent of the application OF
business principles to government. Friends and
foes alike cOneede his absolute honesty ana MS
zeal TO give To the people the worth OF their
taxes. Few men are as able as he, from long
experience and from native disposition. to form
a sound and trustworthy judgment OF the char
acter Of the administrative machine. and no
man would be less likely to make such claim as
he made in Brooklyn Saturday night II lie
did not besides believing in its truth, know that
he had a right 10 believe in il. 1t is the fashion
in these days of exposures made while you
wait. at 10 cents or | cent an exposure, to
assume the general extravaganza and rottenness
Of government. but those who really care TO base
sane Judgment on facts will, we think. he i'm
pressed with what the Governor said concerning
Republican policies and the attitude of those
who oppose them.
After all the Mysteries are over. what alterna
tive has anybody TO offer to the people and
what sane reason for taking il? First, what
need of any alternative? Certain insurance scan
dals have been developed. account Of which
publican party Also. being in the suspicious
mood they are expected TO assume the truth
of any wild charge which malicious senSa-
tional scanda monger may maze current. But
the persons who have grievance against the
Republican state administration the insuT-
ance mismanagers. not the people in general
Governor Higgins set the investigation going
and saw that il was put in proper hands The
Republicans have investigated these evils and
they touched Republicans and promised to arouse
prejudice against the party as a whole. They
have devised the remedial measures which COM
mand universal approval and have demonstrated
once more the capacity of the Republican party
for, constructive administration Why, then, eX
cept i'm mere wantonness. should anybody wish
10 turn from those who in good faith and with
conspicuous ability doing Just what the sit
uation demands? For no reason which should
appeal TO any sane man superior to claptrap
and clamOr
What is the change offered TO those who can
be persuaded that they want change? Hearst
on the one hand. and the Belmont Murphy Nc
Carren combination. the other. Does any
thoughtful man want Hearst for Governor.
feel that the state administration would he
better carried on by him. and that the welfare of
tho great body of citizens in industry and bust
ness would be better conserved: The Socialists
ana oInefS VINO Want general OVerturnlng or
conditions caring not how they get it. but hoping
vaguely TO advance themselves by change even
| if it is generally calamitous may he ready 10
trust him. His candidacy. however offers no
hope 10 the great body Of sober and thoughtful
citizens. And what his rivals in Democ-
racy offer? Is there anything III the political
theory and practice of Murphy. McC Carrpn and
Belmont which promises Improvement on the
Republican administration: Will Mr.. Belmont
deal more wisely and honestly with transit
problems than Governor Higgins? Or Mr.. Nc
Carren be more free from the influence OF trusts?
Or Mr.. Murphy prove more devoted TO clean
administration: On the contrary six months
after either Of these wings of the Democracy
| got into power the standards of state admins
traton would be lowered.
Governor Higgins does well to challenge the
| opposition TO say what Republican policies they
would reverse. VIII they curtail expenses on
| a large scale and bring suffering to the blind
| and the insaneE Will they cut down the LIQUOR
| taxes and make virtue instead of vice bear the
! burdenE Will they remove indirect taxes on
| highly remunerative business and speculation
and levy upon the overburdened land owner and
| rent payer, whether of farm or tenement: Will
they repeal the SO-cent gas law. and either
make the people pay more or go to coniscate
the property of the corporations? Neither wing
has any constructive policy. Both found their
hopes on division of Republican counsel on the
natural tendency to reaction after a period of
long unbroken Republican success and on the
movement Of social unrest spreading over the
whole country. Governor Higgins issues time
ly call, not merely to all Republicans. but to all
| friends of conservative progress and sane meth
ods or government TO unite and work with con
| ndence for continuance of the policies which
! since 1894, have operated steadily for the ad-
vancement of this state in order morality and
| prosperity.