New-York tribune., 1908-09-28
THE UNFINISHED WORK.

1HE (AFIAISHED " Ohh'
When The Tribune said last spring that the
people wanted Governor Hughes's services TOT
another term ii said they required them because
the Governors work not yet finished. Ine
question which his candidacy presents 10 ihe
people is whether not he is going TO nave an
opportunity to finish that work. Is he TO nave
the chance of setting the state on the ROAD
toward better and cleaner government, in whicn
the interests of the people shall be piaceo
above selfish advantage? Or is Murphy gong
to have the opportunity to turn 1t backward III
the direction of government in which the III
terests Of the people will be subordlhated ~
those of the boss and of the corporations ll''I
finance him: Is the spirit of hughes 10 pe
dominant at Albany or the spirit OF Murphy
Is the Hughes administration TO be mere epl-
sode or is It to exercise permanent lnnuelce
upon the character of the state government:
Are we going TO have administrations III 'he
future inspired py ideals similar TO those OF the
present administration and with the same sense
of freedom from bossism and of direct respon-
sibility to the people. or are we going TO nave
administrations which will serve the people only
when they are not serving the boss ana the III
terests TO which he sells them:
No one can complete Governor Hughes WORK
but himself The election of the Democratic
ticket would undo all he has done and would
deliver the state over TO bosses who stand 1or
the exact opposite of what the Governor repre-
sents. Whatever may be thought of Mr. Chanler'
the real power in the state if he is elected, VIII
be in the hands of men of the type Governor
Hughes desires TO deprive of place and power
Murphy and Corners together will rule the state
Just as the Tammany boss rules the city. The
snirit of 14th street will he dominant.
The Governor will finish his work by fixing
more firmly in the popular mind the standards
of administration he has set. When he gets
through with another term the people will no
longer be tolerant of the kind of government
under which Murphy and Conners and their
kind thrive They will insist upon having the
undivided service of those whom they elect to
office. Part of the Governors unfinished work,
too will be election reforms. which will put the
control of the election machinery in the hands
of the party voters. With the direct primary
system of nominations it will be easier in the
future for the people to obtain for themselves
administrations in spirit least, if not in capac-
ity resembling that of Governor Hughes. At
present officials owe their elections to the people.
and their nominations, generally, to bosses or
TO political machines. The result is that they
are under the necessity Of serving two masters
The direct primary system ends this divided
service and puts nomination and election in the
same hands On this subject of primary reform
Mr.. Hughes said in his speech of acceptance:
The present method of choosing candidates IS
inadequate. The voter feels that he has little or
no influence in determining the result. He feels
that candidates are selected for him and that
the selection is not even made by those whom
ne chooses 10 perform this duty Against this
system he is in revolt He is willing to abide
by the decision Of the majority, but he wishes
the majority TO decide. The movement in favor
of direct nominations is acquiring, L believe, an
irresistible momentum. 1t is instinct with the
spirit of democracy. It is not revolutionary. but
consistent with our theories of government.
Party government is likewise based upon the
free choice OF party candidates. For this |
stand and because l believe that they are es-
sentiaI to secure such choice 1 am in favor Of
direct nominations by every party, and If re-
elected / shall recommend to the Legislature
mandatory law for direct nominations.
Another part of the Governors work is TO es
tabISh in the peoples mind his standard of sane,
reasonable treatment of the grave questions be-
fore the public to-day. He entered upon Office in
a period OF great public excitement. when dem
agogy came within about $4,000 votes of being
triumphant in this state. He has treated all the
questions over which the popular mind was then
agitated without passion. He has effected re-
forms which in other states seemed inseparabe
from agitation excitement and extravaganza
with the calnlness with which routine business is
transacted When he has appealed TO the people
il has always been 10 their minds and not TO
their emotions. As he himself put ii in one of
those questions in which he stated the issues of
the campaign: Shall the effort to enforce pub,
lie rights with fairness 10 all concerned and
without unjust arbitrary action be censured
or approved?' 1t is not merely a question
whether that spirit Of fairness and reason shall
he censured or approved. but whether it shall
rule for two years more and have a chance to
become the habit of New York in meeting its
grave problems. Not the least part Of the
Governors influence in this country has sprung
from the contrast he presents TO the noisy
demagogues who were uppermost in certain
other states. He has shown that he could
complish more than they did with sane, quiet
and reasonable methods