New-York tribune., 1908-08-27
THE REsULTs OF THE PRIMARIES.

The results of the primary elections In the
state are what to be expected, and upon
the whole are fairly to be interpreted as indl-
eating the growing strength OF Governor
Hughes The election of antiHughes delegates
from counties like Albany, Onondaga and some
others could not occasion surprise because OF
their compact, thoroughly organized machines
whose leaders were committed against the
Governor The really significant results are
seen in counties whose attitude before tho prl-
maries might have been regarded as DOUBTFUL
SUCH for instance, as Clinton County, WHICH,
showed great enthusiasm for the Governor ana
Erie, which yesterday unanimously passed feso-
lutions indorsing him. Those counties may De
regarded as typical Of many whose leaders nave
not openly taken q position one way or the othef
regarding the denomination, but have been wait-
ing to learn what the sentiment OF the voters
is regarding it. When counties whose leaders
have remained thus open to conviction come
out for the Governor it is a clear indication
that his strength shown in the demand Of the
voters is making itself felt. No such county
is TO be found as Il result Of the primaries III
the anti-EIughes column. with the exception OIL
Niagara where however, the Hughes issue WAS
dwarfed by a local fight over the renomlnatloh
of Congressman Porter and the Governors can
didacy was weakened by being, coupled with the
unpopular side of that controversy
headway among the enrolled voters of such
counties as Albany and Onondaga is not sur
prising The primaries in perfectly organized
counties reflect the will of the leaders of the
machine The Hughes sentiment in such coun-
ties was unorganized and large part or 1t
would probably be found among the voters VINO
do not enroll ard because of their independent
habits of thinking not urged to enroll by
the election district captains who do thus urge
all whose votes they feel they can control. IN
der such conditions the friends OF the Governor
had no opportunity to indicate their desire 10
see him renominated only one ticket. repre-
senting the machine. being put in the field.
Where the opposition of the leaders to the
Governor was open no fight was made because
IT was felt that with the primaries so lnconl-
nIeteIy representative of party sentiment a con-
test would be hopeless.
In the districts however, which might fairly
be regarded as doubtful and where the leaders
had reasonably adhered to their professed attl-
tude of keeping their hands off, the voters have
indicated their demand for the Governor
ErIe's significance cannot be exaggerated, for 1t
has been claimed by both Sides and might have
been expected 70 exhibit that anti-Hughes sen
timent which has been said TO exist in other
than political circles. Erie might reflect the
racing sentiment, because Of the tracks near
Ruffalo Again, Buffalo has large German
population, and IT had been intimated by the
Governors opponents that this element dis
liked him The primaries as whole show that
the leaders who have openly taken ground
against the Governor are going to adhere To it
in face of any public demand that has hitherto
manifested itself, but that those who, doubt
ing his availability. have been waiting TO let
the public sentiment make itself felt, are becom-
ing convinced of the Governors strength or are.
not using their influence 10 sti1e its expression
at the primaries Despite the fact that me
Governor has clearly the best Of it up TO the
present time. that his strength has become evil
dent and that the whole country has shown a
synpathetic interest in his progress. while the
opposition to him has not been able 10 produce
a candidate it will not do for his friends to
rest and take his nomination for granted. Much
work remains TO be done. The public demand
for him, which at best. can express Itself only
imperfectly in the primaries should be made
SO clear that no doubt Of it can exist and that
his opponents will see, what impresses every
unprejudiced observer, the danger TO the state
and national tickets of offending the best pub
lie sentiment by rejecting him.