The morning journal-courier. (New Haven, Conn.) 1907-1913, 1908-08-31
10Th CENTURY LEADERSHIP.

zUIH tENIbht LEsbbNshiT'
The political and personal friends Of
William Howard Taft the deserving
and winsome candidate for president
of the United States have reason to
fear the consequences of republican
leadership at this stage of the TWEEN
tieth century In the states of Connect
cut and New York. The Journal
Courier has given Its opinion Of the
hopelessness Of the Connecticut view
and need not at present repeat II,
New York now forces herself upon the
sober minded friends fMr. Taft as
threatening to make additionally dim
cult the task of carrying the Empire
state for Taft, and that without a
shadow Of reason beyond the fear the
machine has OF Its own future,
A brief review Of the political career
OF Governor Hughes Is sufficient to
expose the mock pretentions of the
machine toward him to-day. Called
Unexpectedly to investigate the insur-
arlce frauds in New York, he unex-
pectedly laid bare secrets the far
reaching results of which have not
yet been overcome in the commercial
life OF the country. It was the prac-
teal disclosures forced by Hughes
that In large part gave point and sub
stance to the preachments OF Roose
welt The same disclosures appealed
to the conscience Of the people Of New
York and, by impressing the repub-
lican machine with his personal pow
err, led first to demand that he run
for mayor, which he ignored and sec
ond to his nomination for governor
against his choice, and his election to
that office. The entire history OF his
career since is contained In this brief
paragraph. taken from the political
review Of the situation as printed In
the New York Herald: 1T Is long
story Of the drifting apart OF these
two men, and many time the presi-
dent has felt baffled and puzzled at
the methods Of this new figure In poll
itics, who will not play the game Of
give and take, and while Shaping the
bosses in public refuses to deal with
them in private"
There has been no change In the
man Hughes since his characteristics
were early thought to be useful in
dealing with government In New
York He has introduced no new
methods of personal conduct nor has
he substituted new purposes for the
old He has taken his duties serious
ly, pointed out new lines of political
progress and made test Of the sinceri-
ty of the voters, but he has not plotted
for political mastery nor even re-
nomination. Another term Of Cover
nor Hughes in Office would reduce the
arbitrary republican machine of that
state to condition OF palsy, Just as
another term OF Governor Woodruff
In Connecticut would perform a like
service here. In other words, II
there was a drop Of sincerity In the
republican leadership In either state
at this minute, so far as professions
are concerned affecting the issue Of
good government rather than machine
government, 1t would be Hughes with
whoop in New York and Woodruff
with whoop In Connecticut. 1t is be-
cause this is not so, and that these
machines propose to compel Mr.. Taft
to aid, with his big personality and
political power, to pull their chestnuts
out OF the fire that his friends flnd
reason to worry over the outlook in
this section Of the country. He pre-
+ lGJlQS 10 no Shlll DIS d pOllLlCldn, winch
is unfortunate under the circum-
stance. With his warm nature and
his natural confidence In the sincerity
OF personal friendship, he suns him
self in the belief that his political fate
is as secure in the hands of the lead
ers as it would be In his own. That the
latter are ready to take full advantage
of his trusting nature, If they dare, is
well attested
1t Is refreshing to receive so many
evidences of the ultimate abandon
ment of the kind of political leader
ship which now prevails. 1t Is the
product of the lower ideals of the
nineteenth century and must newt
ably give way to the higher ideal OF
the twentieth, If representative gov
eminent is Itself to prevail. The peo-