Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-01-08
HUGHES DEMOCRATIC
New York's New Governor
Keeps Close to People.
BOSSES HAVE NO PULL
No Secret Way to Executive for En-
pire State Politicians.
DOOR OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
Albany Shocked at Simplicity Of Mr..
Hughes-Receives All Callers in
His Big Reception Room.

ALBANY, January S.-There are to be no
subterranean passages connecting the gov
ernor with the outside world during the
Hughes administration. Yesterday when
regular visitors to the executive chamber
entered the public reception room they al
most stood aghaSt, for they saw something
that they had never before seen-at least
the visitors who had not been around dur
ing the term of Grover Cleveland. There
in the center of the room seated at the big
desk. was Gov. Hughes. deeply engrossed
in his work. On one side sat Private Sec
rotary Robert H. Fuller, also at his desk,
and going through the correspondence of
his chief. On the other side, at his own
desk. sat Military Secretary Treadwell.
People came and looked around, and old
timers went out into the anteroom and
shook their heads and murmured: Things
are coming to a pretty pass
For six hours yesterday Gov. Hughes sat
in the reception room engaged in his work
and in the full view of everybody who
wished to enter. People from every part
of the state can come and go home and tell
of having actually seen the governor at
work, for the reception room is open to the
public. And while people came and went
the governor paid no attention to any save
those who were presented by Col. Tread
well and all who had business with him.
In the Days of Grover.
Not since the administration of Grover
Cleveland has there been anything like
that. In former years the governor
kept out of sight as much as possible.
He only came into the reception room
when his secretary thought he should
see the person who was clamoring for
an audience with him. And politicians
and leaders who stood right were ad-
mitted to the private Office by means of
door which ALWAYS locked the
inside.
But Gov. Hughes has decided to change
all that. Hereafter political leaders and
influential members of the legislature
will not be spirited into the private room
to have private conferences over pend
ing legislation. They will be received
the same as anybody else in the public
reception room, in full view of every
giving audience to the reporters former
Representative Emerson of Glenc Falls
was waiting to see him. He was in the
reception room and heard one of the re-
porters say:
THE mere fact that man is a poll
tlcian Will not initiate against you see
ing him, will it, governor" And the
governor merely smiled and said NO"
Mr.. Emerson smiled too. That the
governor is not much concerned with the
visits of the politicians is shown in the
answer to the question as to whether he
had had conferences with any of the
politicians or members of the legislature.
"Oh, yes, they come and 60"
No Underground Passage.
Gov. Hughes is going to make use of
his private Office, though, but it will be
just as he used the private room of his
law office, for the purpose of study and
the working out of difficult problems.
When he has matter that he wishes to
consider without interruption he will retire
to his private office, but politicians will
be taken there to discuss questions of
state.
While the governor has made it plain
that he will not make any changes in his
attitude expressed in his message regarding
the transportation problems of New York
city, he is already thinking of means to
hold a sufficient number of senators in
line with the policies he has recommended.
This was indicated in rumor going the
rounds of the capitol last night that Win
slow NJ. Mead of Rochester. deputy super
intendent of public works. was being con-
sidered for the position of superintendent
of public works. The governor has asked
Superintendent Franchot to remain for two
or three weeks. so the matter of the
appointment apparently has not been def
nitely decided upon. By giving the superin-
tendency Of public works to Mr.. Mead
1t would sort of mollify State Railroad
Commissioner Aldrdge and his two senators
for the turning of Mr.. Aldridge out of the
railroad commission.