New-York tribune., 1908-09-16
THE GoTERNOR,s RENoMLNATION.

THE GOTERNOR'S RENONINAT1ON.
The denomination of Governor Hughes Is
triumph for the people There was no force
behind him except the public approval of his
administration, the public desire for the com
pletion of his unfinished work and the public
demand for another term of his services. He
made no effort to obtain q denomination, merely
announcing his willingness TO remain in office
If the people wished him TO do So There was
no organized effort 10 win delegates for HIN,
and. indeed. powerful forces of various kinds
were arrayed against him; but the demand for
him WAS so overwhelming that all opposition
was swept aside.
The Republican party is to be congratulated
upon having a candidate who enjoys the popu-
lar confidence and has the popular support to
such al unusual degree. The tide of popular
favor % running strongly with him and there
is little reason TO doubt that il will prove as
irresistible on Election Day as 1t proved yes
terday at Saratoga Probably the very Oppos-
ton which be met at and before the conVen-
ton will only serve TO make him stronger at
the polls 1t has roased the peoples interest
in retaining the Governors services to an III
tense degree 1t will make them feel that he
is peculiarIv their representative and their can
didate chosen by themselves, whose success
depends upon them. The unconceaIed reluc-
tance with which many Of the party leaders ac-
cepted him viii give TO his candidacy WIDER
anpeal than could be exercised by one too com
Dletely satisfactory to machine, and Demo
Gratis and independents will be attracted 20
candidate of whose consistent placing Of the
public over and above the party certain leaders
have given indirect but convincing evidence
Indeed, il is doubtful if any candidate was ever
offered for the governOrship in this state who
could make so wide an appeal Mr.. Hughes
makes and who had such power as he TO break
down party lines and to impress the average
voter as the candidate of the people, irrespective
of party In this he viii be strengthened by
the fact that he stands for certain policies, now
powerfully moving the popular mind, which
promise greater and more direct political au-
thority for the people than they now enjoy and
more immediate responsibility OF officials to
them.
For these reasons the nomination of Mr..
Hughes is not merely the strongest and best
nomination that the party could have made but
the only nomination which it could have made
without doing itself grave dscredit in the
eyes Of those who are accustomed TO look to
il to keep at least abreast of the best tendencies
in American public life BY renominating him
il ranges itself on the side Of his ideals OF pub
lie service Of efficient administration and un-
selfish loyalty to the people. 1t stays in har-
mony with the best tendencies Of the day, tow
ard which the whole country is htT'ilN dlIN'--
and the coming election will probably show
the voters Of New York to he equally alive
in sympathy with the sentiment for greater
democracy in political affairs and for the
Jealous assertion and maintenance Of popular
rights everywhere. And not only is Mr. Hughes
strong hy rea son of what he stands fer and
by reason of the peoples recognition Of him as
their candidate and champion, but he is per
sonally effective because he is the strongest
campaEner in this state. No one excelS him
in the art of driving his points home in the
public mind Of convincing the public of the
reasonablemess Of his policies and his earnest
ness in his advocacy of them and the utter
disinterestednpss Of his position. He has zap
peal ia the people" over and over aGain-
when his public service legislation was in dan
ger. when the auti-gambling bills were in
doubt when he invited Il denomination against
determined oppositon-and he has never
failed. There is no reason TO doubt that he
will be equally successful now.
The Tribune's pleasure in the Governors re-
nomination is heightened by the consciousness
that it did its full part in bringing about the
result accomplished yesterday. 1t saw the in
evitable public demand for him before it was
formulated and early expressed the opinion that
the sense of duty Of the attorney for the
people would preclude his leaving the service
of his clients. 1t resisted the suggestion of the
politicians that the Governor was politically
weak and insstently urged his denomination
So far as il contributed To that result it feels
that it served equally well both the party and
the state.