New-York tribune., 1908-06-03
ALTER. NOT BREAK,LAWS
fDTTCE OF GOVERNOR.
Calls Percy-Gray Statute a Desmc
able Trick on Constitution.

-, J,y,e 2-Raoetrack gambling was de-
- forcihly again 10y Governor Hughes
J.. smoke this afternoon at the cele-
-.ior or the Rockland County Taxpayers As
...io, The address was heard by twenty
= ,,,,dred persons, gathered in a huge tent.
his reference 10 the racetrack evil brought
"'o .+or77, of applause. He denounced tie
Cray law as the most desficable measure
- she statute books.
Governor arrived here early in the after
= and vas the guest of the association at a
.,-e- when he entered the meeting place he
.,.i,-e5 an enthusiastic greeting by the twenty
= hundred persons present, and his address
g na,nc1uated frequently by demonstrations of
.as-4v approval. The evils Of government ex-
,.oeance and corruption and the means of
,,o-recting or avoiding them was the Governor S
-, theme. but his mention OF racetrack evils,
-, Incidental was the most striking feat
me Of his address
,-ho ezIls Of such government extravaganza
- ,o--,,Dtio.1 were chiefly felt. the Governor
"a .s,,, those who sometimes in their ignorance
- ain :7 power the machines and orSaniza-
- ,rf.r7 through dealing out pretended
-, and by hypocritical cultivation Of the
.,-,s7- feelings mold and control a power in
.,csf 10 the best interests Of the people who
&c unable 10 protect themselves
,.5i,c- I'D 10 the raCetrack gambling ques-
-, Governor Hughes expressed confidence in
:. ,--,srzyortliness Of the vast majority of the
people
.-The men vou cannot trust he said, ARE the
x.,t-chosen persons who undertake to dominate
-,a men yo. can trust. Having this calm con-
esenoe in The honor and integrity of men, we
+ns;st and at a1 times must insist that the laws
-e haze enacted must be observed; that If the
lars are not right they must be changed.
~ thai We VIII not become Connivers at law
b,sskine ourselves to tolerate an evasion or a
--i,tv performance Of legislation on the part
Of others
THAT is WHY" said the Governor, Il have
s,nrht. as strongly I might insist that the
constitution Of the State OF New York should
rot be trickec.
Governor Hughes then said:
rselected one matter because IT was one about
which there could be no debate with the
morality and the integrity and the r1anhood o.
the state On one side. reinforced oy the express
7srTusse Of the constitution, and on the other
side only those who would with contenptuous
disregard Of the morals Of our youth and the
srnlicir mandate OF the constitution and OF our
lsT seek 10 make money by the most despica bie
and demo-alizinE Of means
Ihave never known. in a study for some years
m the subject of legislation. anything more
utterly desplca bic IS q trick upon the constltu-
-or than the Percv-Ciray law; and have held
II before the people Of the State Of New York
Simply because here was an illustration Of the
way poger. unscrupulously used. could thwaTt
The VII Of The people, though expressed In the
r-ost sole-nn manner.
The Empire state is 4 state of sound consttu-
s-,s II IS a state IF splendid citizenship: and
Thatever NAY he done to-day or Tomorrow or
next week Or the week after that. the issue so
tlesrf- made can have but one result. and We
are going 70 prove that the constitution OF the
STATE Of New York is supreme, and that all who
rome within our borders. ali who are seeking
what may he called reforms. know that the
paTlsnt. respectful method. and regard for law
ana order and respect for property rights and
insistence upon progress according TO the genius
of our institutions. are recognized essential
70 or Development in the State Of New York
Nothing is offensive 70 the American n
citizen who values his blrthrlght man me
k7oTledge that one man can say 10 the repre-
sentative of the people: Why. promised your
Tets 10 So-and-So. and II YOU vote the con-
fra1y you viii not get nomination; you won't
GET e denomination: you can't 60 back. have
Promised Your vote to So-and-So.'
We have got 10 have American manhood as
ssrt Itself. The people within constitutional
limits. can have what they want. They can
change the constitution If they do not like it..
Ihsy csn send such men 10 represent them as
they please; only let them speak, and do not let
US have the machinery Of our republican govern
Tent turned against us for the people. when
hey want 10 speak, can make their voices ef-
tective
Governor Hughes strongly advocated the prin-
ciple Of direct nominations not. he said, in dis
raragement Of party organization. in which he
thoroughly believed. but that the people may
get the representatives they want and the legis-
lation they desire-so, he said, that each rep
ressntatlye may feel that he must go back, not
10 man IN q corner room TO explain, or to three
or four mon 10 fix it up. but the community
which sends him. which viii uphold or con-
oernn, according 10 his record"