New-York tribune., 1908-08-18
SCHURMAN FOR HUGHES
"PEOPLE DEMAND HIM. .
CONGRESSMAN Cocks Says He Thinks
denomination Is Sure.

President Jacob Gould. Schurman of Cornell
| University issued public statement last night
| in which he says emphatically that Governor
| Hughes is the only man for the Republicans to
| nominate for Governor
Congressman W. W. Cocks who represents
the Oyster Bay district and has had a recent
conference with President Roosevelt. gave his
| opinion that the sentiment in favor of the re-
nomination of the Governor would develop rap
| idly in the next two weeks and that the Gov
ernor would be renomnated.
There is a growing feeling among Republicans
that in spite of the bitter opposition of some OF
the leaders, after all is said and done the Pc
publican state convention will place the Gov
ernor again at the head of the ticket.
President Schurman says that the leaders
must that the people admire and trust Gov
! ernor Hughes, and they cannot afford to antag-
onize the sentiment of the people.
IN my Judgment" said President Schurmau,
there is only one man for the Republican Iarty
to nominate for Governor this year, and that
| man is Charles E. Hughes He has already
shown himself in office wise and efficient exec
utive faithful supporter OF the constitution
just and fearless administrator of the laws. a
resolute defender of the rights of the people
| against every form of financial or political
usurpatiOn and domination, and a constructive
statesman who regarding only principle aud
scorning self-seekinS expedienCy, has carried
| through great measures OF reform for the better
protection of the rights, liberties and interests
of the people and the safeguarding and strength
ening of our system of government"
President SChurman's statement continued:
In his speech of acceptance Mr. Bryan as
Eerts with emphasis that the primary and fun-
damentaI issue in the present campaign is
this: Shall the people rule? Thanks In no
SnHll degree Governor Hughes the hin
ORANGES which impeded the sovereign rule OF
| the people have in large measure peen re re-
moved in the State of New York. The delib-
| crate will of the people is. IL anywhere eX-
| pressed in the constitution which they solemn
| ly adopted. That constitution forbids public
gambling Governor Hughes, In securing the
| enactment OF a law TO carry that prohioltion
| into actual effect. not only observed his oatn
| of office but obeyed the deliberately expressed
command OF the people.
Again. the control by the people of the pub
Tic service cornora ations is the principal plank
| in the platforms of both the great national
parties But Governor Hughes is the author
of epoch making statute which already gives
the people of the State of New York control
of their railway and other public service cor
porations; and if the telephone and telegraph
the purview of this statute. that is because
! the Governors recommendations to that end
were not adopted by our last Legislature.
II remains. indeed TO put the people on top
In politics, to free them from the domination
OF political machines. which while useful as
servants are highly objectionable as masters
and despots. And this end Governor Hughes
seeks To accomplish through the enactment OF
law authorizing direct nominations By the
people
Naturally the people desire to see Governor
Hughes renominated But to his denomination
certain political leaders are bitterly opposed
Without meaning any dsrespect. and with sim
pie regard to the facts, 1 may point out that
the days when Mr.. Platt Mr. Hill held the
state in the hollow of his hand have passed
away.
No Republican leader to-day claims juris-
diction or receives allegiance beyond the limits
OF his own county district. Some. but by
no means all. OF these local leaders are opposed
to Governor Hughes. Their complaint is that
/ 14v,fs- tom How
ever that may be. these leaders must see that
the people trust and admire Governor Hughes.
and leaders cannot afford 10 antagonize the
sentiments of the people II they are sasacious
politicians they Will consider not their own in
jured feelings. bur the character Of the polit-
Cal forces by which the results of the cleo
tious are be determined
SO doing they Will perceive that to reject
Governor Hughes in favor Of any other person
whatever would be TO repudiate the reform
policies TO which the Republican party not only
in New York State. but thanks 10 President
Roosevelt throughout the Union is to-day
committed. and this great betrayal would
provoke resentment and indignation that might
easily cost Mr. Taft the loss Of the electoral
on doubtful states in which Republicans are
vigorously demanding reform and opposing re
action.
But even apart from that possible danger we
owe il - Mr. Taft associate him with the
highest and best Republicanism in state.
So much is due 10 his integrity OF character.
his high political ideals and his distinguished
achievements in many fields of public service.
connected With the racetrack gambling inter
ests Because he has vindicated the constitu-
tion Of our state. which declares the will Of the
people in opposition TO public gambling. they
sneer at the Governor Charles the Baptist"
Governor Hughes's father is honored Bap-
tist clergyman. and the Governor himself Is a
liberal minded member OF the Baptist Church.
But the OF the gamblers lies equally
against all religious denominations. They are
opposed to any of moral and religious
principle who will observe his oath of office
and support the constitution OF the state. which
forbids public gambling. Theirs would be a
candidate without any regard for religion.
morality or law. But the party OF moral ideas.
and not only Republicans. but the independent
friends Of good government and the advocates
Of reform who believe also in the supremacy Of
the constitution, have fixed their choice
altcraby Charles f. Hughes.
.'I feel sure that Governor Hughes will be re-
nominated said Congressman Cocks "Of
course those leaders who declare that the Gov
ernor would be a weak candidate may know
about conditions in their particular districts. but
they do not represent all of this great state by
anv means l do not think that the leaders have
had an opportunity of getting at the true senti-
| ment Of the people but I am satisfied that in
| the next two weeks there will be impressive
| DEVELOPMENT OF sentiment in favor OF the re-
nomination of the Governor.
'.I have one of the biggest racetracks in the
state in my district, but The sentiment far as
| I have been able TO CLEAN IT Is the side of
| the denomination of the Governor
There is just one thing that the leaders
should realize. Both the opponents of the Gov
| ernor and his friends are equally emphatic in
| their position but 1t will be much easier to get
| the machine politicians in line for the Governor
| than to win the support OF the independent
friends of the Governor for any other candidate.
In fact the latter would be almost impossible
Tho CONGRESSMAN said that unuuestionabIy the