Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-07-22
Not Popular With the Republican
Politicians.
UPSET PARTY ORGANIZATION
His Work With Legislature Which
Adjourns This Week-Democrati
Aid to Embarrass Republicans.
Special From a STAFF Correspondent

Special From a STAFF Correspondent
NEW YORK, July 22.-Gov. Hughes ex-
poets to have the legislature off his hands
by the end of this week when the record
session in thirty years will end. Some are
applying the test of practically to the
governors achievements up to date, and
the general sentiment is that the ASSAY
Will be about as follows:
First. The governor has been successful
along reform and sentimental lines.
Second. The governor has not been SO
successful where politics came into play.
Third. The governor has succeeded in
thoroughly demoralizing the party organi-
cation of the republicans in the legisla-
ture.
Gov. Hughes amazing success in achiev-
Ing legislation of such ia Ideally reforma-
tive character is the marvel of the politi-
clans. In conversation with a friend the
other day, Gov. Hughes gave this as his
own version of his success.
Il have capitalized every legitimate COM
plant that citizens have made in the past
fifteen years"
Tie governor assuredly capitalized the
two most serious complaints voiced by the
people, and thereby appealed to public sem
tlment in the two ways most effective. He
did this by the creation of the utilities COM
mission to remedy the transportation prob
lem affecting millions of people in Man
haitian and Brooklyn; and by answering
the demand of the upstate citizens for
state regulation of other public service
corporations. Thus the governor makes a
direct appeal to every citizen along lines
with which he is familiar.
Both Blessed and Berated.
He is blessed by the people at large for
doing this and berated by the politicians
for his way Of doing it. He has smashed
his party organization, as l have pointed
out in a previous dispatch, SO that there is
little left of it as machine. To b, sure,
many of the working parts are intact, but
they are not assembled.
Not long ago, according to well-known
Albany man, Gov. Hughes was dining with
David B. Hill, sometime democratic gov
ernor of New York, at the latter's home
Wolfert's Roost. Gov. Hughes was boast
ing of the number of members of the oppo-
sition party he had appointed to Office since
January l. Ex-Gov. Hill replied that if the
records were searched it would be found
that he, while governor. had appointed
greater number of the members of the OPP
posing party.
But" added Mr. Hill, II maue this rec
ord of -partisanship without breaking
up my party. That's what you will have to
look out for, Gov. Hughes.
Mr. Hill might have said further that
when he did give job to a republican he
FASTENED to give three loyal machine demo-
Gratis places to salve the followers of the
gang.
Absence of Leadership.
Much of Gov. Hughes success with his
plans has been due to the, absence of lead
ership among the republicans. He was
quick to recognize that the party was
broken up into factions with their petty
leaders, each jealous of the other and with
opposing interests to serve. He made sure
to keep these factions apart us well as he
could and to prevent any one man rising to
the power OF a leader. He has been aided
by the democrats, who were anxious to en-
tarrass the republicans in every way pos
s. BILE. The democrats at Albany do not put
much confidence in the era OF reform that
prevails. In fact, they regard it as a
spasm of reform rather than an era, and
they think that the good old days are
bound to come again.
When Gov. Hughes started upon his exec.
utve career he said he would not interfere
with legislation. He kept that resolve until
he was defeated in his efforts to have Kelsey
removed when he found it necessary to as
sert himself. His success with the legsa-
ton creating the utilities commission was
due of course to the fact that he had the
moral support of the people of the whole
state and members of all parties back of
him. Consider for a moment how the way
had been paved for him by Mr. Hearst in
and his speakers had dinned into the ears
Of the people for weeks and weeks the ne
cessity of controlling the public service
He had done 1t in his own
way, appealing to the most
radical sentiment, even to the socialists. Mr..
Hughes had in a more conservative way
pointed out alleged evils and the necessity
for their cure Everybody was ready, there
fore: for some practical steps.
Surprised Business Interests.
The business interests probably did not
expect Gov. Hughes to go quite SO far as he
mas gone, but once he started he had the
people back of him to enable him to go as
lar as he liked. The utilities commissions
have far-reaching power, and
IAN take action against the corporations of
a most drastic character But l am told
Town in the financial district that they
nave confidence not only in the governors
iesire to restrain commissions, but has
power to do so, and they believe that the
will exercise their Office with
,ut detriment to financial vested interests.
Politicians say that If the Greater New
York commission solves the transportation
problem of Manhattan and Brooklyn it will
make Gov Hughes demigod in the eyes OF
he people. 1t will also lessen the opportuni-
les for another Hearst crusade and keep
Town the spirit of discomfort that has been
growing so rapidly, and which some day
would make Greater New York a field for
he operations of socialists and demagogues
The existing deadlock in the legislature
over the apportionment plan is expected
10 come to an end this week. A promi-
nent state senator remarked last night
we will either have to patch up or break
>p." He meant by that that the legisla-
ure would either pass an apportionment
dill or give up the undertaking, and the |
ipportionment of the state would revert to !
he old lines in existence before the last !
apportionment. which had been declared /
was made.
The Apportionment Trouble.
The trouble over the apportionment seems !
% be that Gov. Hughes wants it made !
along constitutional and legal lines. and 4,
he politicians want it made to serve po- /
uical ends Gov. Hughes would like to !
nave the assembly districts la d out on the :
basis of population The politicians wouli !
ike to have them planned to favor this ,
politician and to hurt that one. The pub !
ic at large does not take great deal of I
interest in the case, and refuses to get ex-