New-York tribune., 1908-05-12
THE SPECIAL SESSION.

The situation has greatly changed since the
close of the regular session. When the Legislat-
rIre adjourned few of the Governors enemies
in Albany realized how strong a hold he had
| upon the people of the state. The rising tde Oh
public opinion in his support has been re-
inarkahe in the last few weeks. exceeding
even The signal demonstration Of popular
strength which was evoked by his first 'ap-
peal 10 the people when his public service leg
isIation of last year was in danger. Moreover
few Of his opponents had any real conception
of the kind of man they We're dealing With
They looked forward with confidence to the
special session as fhc Governors one last nf-
fort at securing the passage Of his legislation
after which a man more amenable 10 their IN
fuence would take his place. But now the
consensus of the best informed opinion is that
the Governor is in the fight to stay, and
Furthermore. in the last few weeks greater
issue than gambling has come TO the fore
one that II will demand all the resources OF
Governor Hugbes's nature TO bring 10 sue
cessful finish and one that. unlike gambling,
cannot be settled at the special sesslon-the
freeing Of the party and Of the state from the
domination of petty bosses. 1t is an issue ot
which nothing was heard at the close of the
regular session. one of those sleeping dogs
which few county bosses would not let lie.
hut which hv the exhibition Of their con
ests of the gamblers they provoked to anger.
Now this issue has grown important that
both in the popular mind and in the Governors
mind il completely overshad0wS the anti-gam-
bling issue
Though this change has taken place-though
the determination of the people and the reSoll-
ton of the Governor are now manifest IS
not clear that such corresponding change as
might he expected has taken place In the at
titudc of tho Legislature. There are rumofs
that certain Senators who voted against the
Governor before will now reverse their posi-
ton. but there is nothing 10 substantatc these
roports and il may he that none of them will
now support the bills They may feel that
they have already sealed their political fate
in the present temper of their constituents, ana
that they have nothing TO gain by coming out
at the eleventh hour on the right side. More
over though the Governor may gain sup
nortpr in the special election today he has
apnarently lost one through the untlmely Ill
ness of Senator Foelker, so that If none or the
eight Republicans who previously voted against
him changes his vote the result, so lar as tne
anti-gambling bills concerned. may be the
same as in the regular session.
The fate Of the other bills recommended by
the Governor will probably be dependent on
that of the anti-gamblng bills In the llsht
OF the rapid Development of the anti-hoss IS
sue within the last few weeks, the Governor 5
recommendation of direct primaries ieSlSia-
tion assumes an interest and Importance that
Il has not hitherto possessed In any nght
In wrest the control of officials out Of the
hands of the bosses. to get the people on top,
In the Governors own words. a direct primary
law will play q very important part "lth
direct popular nominations the responsibility
of officials TO the people becomes more direct
the scope for the operations of the pohtlcai
maniuIator is circumscribed and il becomes
The peoples own fault if they are not on top
This recommendation, from being matter "i
little more than academic interest TO the people
al large has now suddenly turned into major
element in the Governors programme. Every
one who wishes to have the Governor lead III
a fight 10 down the bosses must earnestly hope
that he will succeed in securing the passage
of the measure which more than all other leg
islstion the bosses fear. This bill is essential
10 the Governor in the fight in which he Is no"
enlisted which seems nearest of all to MS
heart and in which he has certainly met Win
a tremendous popular response.