New-York tribune., 1908-07-26
GOTERNOR HUGHES.

The formal announcement by Governor
Hughes that he is ready to accept renoihina-
zion if the Republican party desires nm 10 90
60 and that he shall regard it as duty ana
\ privilege 10 serve another term if that is the
will of the people, while it does not lmmedia'eN
solve the political problem In TINS state Is d loh5
sten toward its solution Three months ago we
said that in our judgment Governor hushes
would not resist general public demand that
he should carry more nearly to completion the
work which he has successfully prosecuted dur
ING the last two wears We have seen no reason
TO modify that opinion since II was nrst eN-
pressed and consequently the Governor oe-
cision lust made public does not surprlS" US
On the contrary, it exactly corresponds 10 our
forecast of the considerations by which he
would he controlled. He has no Thought OF Iorc-
ing himself upon the party through the use OF
the machinery of office He merely offers to
the Marty an opportunity TO submit to the voters
the question of continuing his administration
for another period of two years. and promises
the neonle that in case of his reelection he Will
faithfully pursue the course which he has thus
far followed His announcement comes at the
right time. for the party was entitled 10 kno"
what his position was in view of the fact thal
the convention is not far away and delegates
are already being elected.
There is no advantag ge TO be gained by ignor-
ing the fact that many or tne most conspicuous
Republican leaders in this state have been out
of sympathy with Governor Hughes personally
and with some of his important aims. We have
no doubt that they have hoped his own deter
mination or the course of events would enable
them TO select a candidate of a different type
for Governor this year, and that his consent TO
a denomination for the moment diSappofnts
and perplexes them. Nor can it be denied that
the position which he has taken on some pub
lie questions. especially his remarkable cam
paign against racetrack gambling, conducted in
contempt of the organic law, has aroused the
bitter hostility of certain element in the COM
munity. But equally we have no doubt that the
strength of the opposition so engendered mas
been greatly Overestimated by the afflicted;
that taking the state as whole, ii is far more
than offset by the appreciation which his reso-
lutte. logical and disinterested course of action
commands in both parties. and that the Re
publican politicians who have been restless
under his popular leadership and hopeful of
being able TO leave him out of their calculations
! will soon come to realize, if they do not now,
that he is the party's most valuable asset in
| this vastly important commonwealth.
! One thing in our opinion is certain-namely,
1 that if there is wide and strong response to
| the Governors offer of his continued services,
the men who largely mould the DEGREES of the
| party organization will make up their minds
| in ample time that the offer is one which 1t
would be insane to reject. Governor Hughes
| makes it plain that his wishes depend upon
| those of the rank and file of the party. If he
| is wanted. and that want is decisiyely made
! known, he will lead them in the coming cam
| paign, and nobody. think, doubts his great
and growing power an advocate and de
! fender of the causes to which he is committed.
Our belief is that the call will come.