New-York tribune., 1908-09-15
THE CONVENTION.

The FIRST session of the Republican State Con-
yention at Saratoga was characterized by
further evidences of the weakness Of the oppo-
sition to Governor Hughes. His opponents were
not agreed among themselves and had no can
didate. They could raise nc issue against Tue
Governor except their OWN personal grievances
ond with such grievances as Ex-Governor Black
said the public has no sympathy In Woru'
they had no public support, while the Cover
nors cause has the people behind Ito an
extraordinary degree as must appear when it
is considered that his candidacy is proving IRE
sistible at a convention where he has no head
quarters no shouters. no managers and no
spokesman.
The Presidents declaration for Mr.. Hughes
w = -sao 4 lotent factor in disintegrating the
II : opposition. If anything can be said 10
be ';S;rtegrated which has never shown any
ca;iatity 10 get together The President is the
keenest Judge of politics in the state, and every
one Of the anti-Hughes men who have been
trying to make out that the denomination OF
Hughes would be impoitic knows it and knows
that this side of their case crumbles when the
President pronounces against them. They
know. too that the President has an enormous
personal following. and they cannot afford to
put themselves in opposition to him as well as TO
the Governor The President, furthermore, has
the success of the national campaign at heart,
and to oppose his wishes would be to lay them
selves open to the accusation Of imperilllng the
fortunes of Taft and Sherman merely TO sat
isfv what Mr. Black has called personal griev-
ances" Every one who is interested in the
success of the national ticket takes the same
view as Mr.. Roosevelt, that Governor Hughes
must be renominated. and indeed. every disin-
terested observer both in this state and in
many other states is similarly impressed with
49, 4oIT,- daf1-i, pou-prf1I nObic SeQfl-
ment as that which without organization and
without machinery, has made Mr.. Hughes the
predominant figure at the Saratoga convention
1t is no ordinary movement Of popular feeling
no common assertion Of the popular conscience
that is behind him, and it cannot safely be
triied with
Secretary Roots able and effective speech
dealing chiefly. was to be expected from
member of the national administration. with
national affairs furnished reasons for the Pres
ident's solicitude for the denomination of Gov
ernor Hughes. He identified the Hughes ad-
ministration. in the spirit which has governed
it and in the character of many of its accom-
plishments with the administration Of Presi-
dent Roosevelt. Both the President and the
Governor had felt in an unusual degree that
they were the immediate representatives OF the
people responsible TO them and not TO political
Intermediates and deriving their power N
their struggle against entrenched abuses from
the moral support of the people. Both have
gone TO the people with their policies and car
ried them out by the aid of the force of public
opinion Their administrations have been alike.
moreover. Mr. Root thought, in their more than
ordinary sternness and vigor in the enforce
"ment of the law" This likeness furnishes 4
special ground for the Presidents keen interest
in Mr. Hughes's denomination. The Presidents s
anxiety for the prevalence of disnterested 10y
atty TO the people on the part of men in public
station is not confined to the national field
His influence has been the inspiration Of many
state administrations. and it has been almost
as potent a factor for good in raising their
tone as in improving the national government
The resemblance between Mr. Hughess admin
istration and his own has not been accidental
The Governor has repeatedly confessed that he
owed his inspiration TO the President, and the
latter could not be expected TO show no desire
for the denomination of the Governor N1r
would the Presidents followers throughout the
country view with indifference a seeming De
travail of his policies and ideals by the Re
publican party In this state. Independent vot-
ers everywhere would ask why. if the Repub-
lican party stands for Rooseveltism, it should
repudiate a man who has been conspicuously
associated in the public mind with that move
ment as it affects the states. To meet such
reasonably critical attitude there is only one
thing to do-namey. that which Mr. Root
pointed out in his speech:
May not do our work here in such way
and in such a spirit that throughout all the
country Republicans shall be inspired with
courage and hope and every doubtful voter
shall be convinced by proof that in this great
representative state, the home of the CANDIDATE
for Vice President. Republicans are sincere in
their professions. loyal to their principles. un-
selfish in their patriotism. truly representative
of the body of the people and worthy OF the
great traditions of the party of Lincoln?