New-York tribune., 1907-08-04
SIX MONTHS OF HUGHES.
Ne5c Type of Practical Politician
GOUernOr Who Series the People.

NONtI ftCf ~ ftO ACCf ICo ttC L CODIN.
Since January the great school of American
politics at Albany has had new head master
in the person Of the Hon. Charles Evans Hughes.
Now that the school is out, so to speak it is in
teresting to note the work. methods and char
acteristics of this new type Of a practical poll
tician.
There have been other governors who have
been able TO keep order and - rule the New
York Legislature. but they have used other
methods than direct appeal to the people. Too
often they have secured the adoption OF their
measures by giving rewards of merit for IA
vorable action and by infieting punishment for
disobedence. 1t was a school accustomed 10
these methods OF which Hughes was elected
to take charge by the people of New York. From
the outset he has confined himself strictly 70 his
duties OF being the executive and not the legis-
lative In other words, he has simply assigned
the lessons without trying in any manner TO
dictate the exact way IN which they should be
learned.
SO long as the lessons are well prepared the
Governor is satisfied. But let one neglect 10 do
satisfactory work, and something is sure 70 hap
pen. Take the case Of KELSEY, the State Super
tntendent of Insurance. for example. Not one
word was said against his personal conduct. but
his work was not up TO passing grade and
consequently his resignation was requested Kel-
sey thought otherwise. and invited an inspection
OF MS work IhlS invitation was accepted by
the Governor with startling promptness, and
oral public examination was held to decide the
matter. After the quiz was over Kelsey, accord
Ing TO the newspaper reports. had "funked'
Now came the first real trouble for the
teacher. Those who were opposed to Hughes
and to his efforts ito make good" the reforms
promised n his campaign speeches their
first opportunity 10 try their strength in Op-
posing his recommendation 10 the Senate that
Kelsey be removed from office. The boys had
decided 10 the school and to turn the teacher
out. They succeeded in preventing the passage
Of the recommendation and were happy in the
thought that the Governor would have TO
come 70 their terms
The punishment received at school IS often
made fun OF by the pupils their way home
Such was the case IN Albany after the Senate
had refused to remove Kelsey. The Senators
who had opposed the Governor had a good
laugh among themselves. and then school
boys who have cut up at the Friday after
noon exercises. they went home fully expect
ing 10 repeat the performance the following
week II vas the old story: the teacher
had sent a note home in the shape OF appeal
TO the people However much fun boys may
make OF the efforts OF the schoOIrna' am, they
have a very decent respeCt-even though moth
ing IS said about it 10 their comprehension
the efforts made in the old woodshed at home.
What done IN the political woodsheds is
not OF much Importance as the result that
those who had openly laughed at Hughes
came back prepared to work with him in his
politicians had learned the very important les
son that It IS the people who decide whether
school keeps or not Another important lesson
they learned at this time was that the people
had Just as much confidence IN Hughes as he
had IN the people
Although Hughes believed in learning one
lesson at a time, he was fully determined that
school should not close till the regular course,
as mapped out al the opening OF the Legtsla-
ture had been finished. His words, Il respect
fully urge the passage OF suitable legislation
with reference 10 the following matters, were
understood by all TO mean that the Legislature
would not adjourn until some action had oeeh
taken Needless 10 say. the action was taken
When the final examination over, there
were honor grades instead Of tust passing
marks"
or the man himself little need be said He
reminds one more Of q teacher than politician
He acts more like the former His examination
Of Kelsey was similar TO that he used TO give
his pupils In the days when he taught in q llllLe
country seminary in the interior or the state
A politician who thinks OF trying 10 Work d
.-blurr' would do we'll to take the advice Of Cor
nell students who tried the same trick when
Hughes was connected with that institution
Possibly his likeness 10 q college professor Is
heightened by that mark OF scholarship, the tAl
Beta Kappa key. which the Governor wears as
a charm his watch chain-not an honorary
gift in this instance. but the result or hard
work while he was student al Brown ChlVer-
sity He listens TO a man pleading LOT d pHl
as a professor would listen 10 a STUDENT IeCil41S
a lesson. In other words, those VINO appear
before the Governor receive respectful atten-
ton whether they be railroad officials or ran
road employees. AS has already been intlnl1ted
he would be a poor teacher before Wncln 10 tFy
10 work bluff. but good one TO "hoIn 10
20 In case of actual difficulty IN the prepara-
tion OF a. lesson. There is something about the
man that compelled respect among ms sIuueA'S'
II stlu commands the respect Of politicians
His lack of magnetism 10 draw men instead
or beIrr an element of weakness is one or
strength; IT prevents the requests or poLltlcaI
fayors on the ground OF friendship Ills ap-
noin+nents so far seem TO be based on no otner
Fsc+ than that the men selected were the men
best suited for the postuouS-another new
method for governors
In sDtte of his academic" dignity he has been
In great demand a speaker at social func-
tions During the hrst SIX months aI'el ne pc
came Governor he attended over sixty oanquets
he has confessed that If IL had not been for this
relaxation he doubted whether he could nave
stood the strain of the routine Work. LOT as
Governor of New York he had TO burn the mid
nfqh- oil oftener than during his student days
PIT he stood the strain well. and actually
gained In weight-nine pounds
what he has tried 70 do while Governor ne
has himself well told in the following words;
.eIVbfIa in the executive chair IL has been my
desire TO vindicate If possible, the principles 'I
reason as applied public questions When l
+urrad q deaf ear 10 those VINO insisted upon
80 spectacular effort l did so because be-
lieved that nothing done in that way would
warrant the sacrifice And when. proceeding at
tho risk of making mistakes and standing Tor
those things which would not stand public dis
cussion on their merits. determined that they
sbould be presented with such discussions on
rbafr merits and having determined that every
thing should be regarded in the light of reason.
ord without other aids, I am somewhat surprised
~ find myself now accused of executive usurpa-
zion To nv mind, It Is the duty, well as the