The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1907-03-20
HIS STRENGTH
TO BEITESTED
GOV. HUGHES, REFORM PLANS Up
FOR ACTION.

\
lie wiz Measure Swords Ia the leo.
stature With the Practical Politi.
etals-Empire State Now Having an
Administration Without Boss, a
Novel Departure In That State
His Demand for the Removal Of the
Insurance Commissioner.
NEW YORK, March 2o.-whether
Governor Charles r. Hughes Is to be
classed with those reformers who
have high ideals, utopian plans Of
bringing about reform, or IS to occu-
py a place with the practical reform-
ers, of whom President Roosevelt is
the most conspicuous example. will
be revealed at Albany within the next
few weeks.
It will be known whether Governor
Hughes must witness the defeat of
the greet reforms which ne has plan.
ned and fathered, because OF the
strength of the professional polltl.
clans, or whether the reform Govern.
or of this State will triumph over these
politicians and see the reform meas
ures which he is hucking enacted INTO
laws. The first actuar test of the
strength of the Governor as against
the professional politicians will come
with The action of the Senate in the
matter of the State superintendent OF
insurance. Mr.. Kelsey. If Governor
Hughes can overcome the combination
of Republican and Democratic sena.
tors which is said TO nave been form.
ed TO keep Kelsey in office. the build
ing up of his reputation as practl.
cal, ra.her than theoretical. reform.
er will have begun.
The First Test.
If the so-called public utilities bill
fathercd by the Governor and having
the effect Of removing from Office
many influential politicians, should.
be passed, the Governors reputation
as a reformer who accomplishes nc.
tual reform will be pretty well estab-
lished.
Those New YorI, Republicans who
are best acquainted with Governor
Hughes believe that the Governor Will
be alb. to get his reform measures
passed by the legislature. and that he
will lie able to do ;his without making
deals With the Democratic members
of that body. Public sentiment in this
State is SO clearly behind the execu.
tive that the politicians in the legisla.
t"re ~i'o have shown Signs Of a wilt
ineneps 10 rebel will get in line when
they nave felt the effect of this SEN
timent among their constituents. Al.
though a lifelong Republican. the Gov.
ernor Is dealing hut little with poll
tics in Office, and Is relying for sup.
port more upon the sentiment of the
people - the State than upon the wish.
les of the politicians even of his own
party. It. is this consistent attitude
of Governor Hughes that is likely to
make ( i'm a more prominent figure In
national politics, and It is not unlikely
that hl.; administrator of the Office he
now Els may be so productive Of ac-
tnal reform that he will be looked to
later by his party to lead 1t in
Presidential fight as the successor OF
Presid mt Roosevelt wnen the Presl-
dent retires from office.
Government Without a Boss.
Unit! now the government of this
State with political boss has been
experimental. In few days it can
he known whether the experiment Is
q success or a failure. During the
term OF every predecessor Of Governor
Hughe.. not excepting the term of
Governor Roosevelt, there has been
some recognized party leader, who
was asulted upon measures to lie
dealt With by the Legislature. The
only recognized leader at this time
either at Albany or in this city, is
Governor Hughes bimself. and II he
demonstrates his power to control the
course OF legislation at Albany. he
becomes the leader of his party and
thus the creator of his own future The
experiment Of State administration
without boss may fail but 1t cannot
score n more distinct failure than
State government with boss from
the outside scored. During the admin.
istratica of Governor Higgins the Re-
publican party Of the State was di.
vided IN allegiance, as between the
Governor and the party leader, In such