New-York tribune., 1908-06-05
ON POLITICAL VIRTUE
HUGHES TO QUEENS MEN.
Thinks Government Vas NeUer Bet
ter. but Wants Direct Nomination.

ter. but Wants Direct Nomination.
The improvement of government. including the
need for the people themselves to name the men
whom they want to run for office, was dwelt upon
by Governor Hughes last night, when he spoke at
the third annual dinner OF the Allied Civic Associa
tions of the 4th Ward, Borough of Queens, which
held at the Hotel Manhattan. The big dining
room was filled with about two hundred representa-
tive from the borough across the river in
Guiding Lawrence Gresser, the Borough President.
who when called upon to speak said he was not an
orator and begged to be excused to make way for
others.
Governor Hughes, who was accompanied as
usual by Colonel Treadwel. was loudly applauded
for fully fve minutes. while the guests stood up
waving their napkins. After few words by the
POSTMASTER, II. p. Engehardt president OF the
Allied Civic Associations, the Governor began Dy
saying that in the past he had frequently gone to
Queens business. but that yesterday afternoon
he had made his quickest trip by way of the tubes
under the East River. I've been hearing OF
Queens" he said, "ever since 1 became Governor
There seemed TO be nothing that 1 took hold OF
that didn't have Queens at the other end"
When the laughter had subsded he said serious
ly: Whether not you think 1 have done well
by Queens. I have tried to. The future OF New
York lies in those outlying. sparsely settled dis
tricts. OF which we now in the habit Of think
ing little. The centre OF political will shift
from Manhattan to them. Manhattan is to be
other boroughs." He then took up the main trend
of his speech. and said
Government is very simple In theory. however
quirements Of good government are absolute hon
esty, absolute attention to efficiency and we must
Iitcal virtues-honesty. efficiency and economy:
You can't have them If you look on governmqent mn en-
tanning political organization.
the state have found citizens organized like you,
in organizations such as boards of trade and bust
and have found they have hit upon way of asso-
nomcal government believe in the bottom Of my
eoa heart that there 9exer % was time when the po
He spoke of the early days OF the Republic. say
ing that then now, there were men who were
traitors their country but that those who fought
for good principles they would win now.
There has never been higher level of citizen
ship than have to-day IN the Empire State" he
said amid great applause. Those men who live in
little groups and get their ideas from others of
their own kind, and then try to thwart the will Of
the people, the bindest, most shortsghted
people we have to-day. The people are bound to
get honest government
He then spoke of the usefulness of orr ganizatons
citizens who work together for their rights, and
spoke of these men from Queens who were before
him and who were bound together by the ties Of
business. He said that he had recently attended
exhibition showing the unequal distribution of
the population. What needed dis
tribution of population. he said, but he added I'VE
must have distribution Of work well Of
population
This remark greeted with enthusiasm, and
the Governor went to explain that he hoped that
the population moved from Manhattan about
their settlements would be established their places
of work, that they would not be obliged to travel
far. In talking of the cost Of government he
said: IF YOU maintain expensive admnistra-
ton at end you will have to expect expense at
the other end We cannot have too much velvet in
orr in q e
pared the who makes unfair contracts with
the administration to a traitor in time of war.
We have enough differences matters are, he
said II have recently been called upon to pass
several questions that presented sharp differ
ences. and 1 knew that no matter which way 1
decided them there would be thousands who would
think wrong
In reverting TO the question Of good government
he referred to the manner iE which tyrant or
king oppresses the people while he keeps about
him a coterie called the arstocracy, which is re-
warded for helping him grind down his subjects.
The revolution freed Americans from the mon
archical system. but to-day. he said "a lot OF men
under free institutions forming the same
tyrannical coterie. We must be vigorous, and L
would like to see get machinery in such
shape that the people could say whom they wanted
to run for office. l want to il that three or
four men cannot get together in a back room and
decide the man for whom they will permit the
people to vote while three or four other men get
they will let the people vote for" He remarked
with a smile that of two candidates thus chosen
the people likely to ask. What's the differ
ence,'
The Governor touched the racetrack legisa-
ton without naming it when he remarked: Some
people have said: What a narrow minded Gov
ernor this interfere with the peoples play!
What a miserable, puritanical Governor, But L
am Just the laws the people made
/ just broad those laws We must
have absolute fidelity constitution and to
laws"
In closing the Governor predicted the rapid
growth OF Queens and told Of his pleasure at the
confident expectation OF this. He departed mme
diately attend another dinner, and once
again cheered by the standing guests.
Others who spoke Edward NJ. Bassett, of
the Public Service Commission; Representative
H. Pounds president of the Real Estate Exchange
of Long Island. Among those at the speakers
table Dennis J. Harte, State Senator from
Queens: Assembyman William A. De Groot, Alder
man Michael J. Carter, and Frank w. Scutt, presi
dent of the Queens Borough Real Estate Exchange.
Congressman Cocks, who comes from President
Roosevelts district, said that he heartily sympa-
thized with Governor Hughess address. But he
said lit should be remembered in connection with
direct nominations that the plan would work out
ali right respectable people would take part in
those nominations not otherwise. BY popular in
attention best of ideas are perverted and breed
trouble for the public that fathers them"
N