New-York tribune., 1908-05-25
HUGHES READY T0FIGHT
SITUATION At ALBANY.
Feeling WorrWng Po'-
ticiinns-Legisldture at WOrk.

Albany, May 24-Now that the big grist OF
business left on his hands from the regular leg
isIative session is finished. Governor Hughes WIKI
turn his attention again to his fight TO get the
anti-racetrack gambling bills enacted, and 10
loosen the grip of the misrepresentation boss on
the Republican party and it's voters. While ne
has speaking engagements for the next week..
a Memorial Day engagement at Brooklyn
and a speech at the Clinton exercises. his
friends here expect him soon TO take up as a
statewide issue the campaign he opened in the
Niagara Orleans Senate district. when he ef-
fected the election of William c. Wallace against
big odds.
Legislators will return here tomorrow night
ready to dispose this week of about all the bust
submitted by the Governor to the Legis-
lature at this extraordinary session. Anti
Hughes men have boasted that they would de-
feat all his propositions post-haste; then force
him to submit the gambling matter again. when
it had no chance of passage, or have ad-
tournament taken without touching that i'm
portant question. If they imagine they do
that without defying the Governor openly and
iagrantly they have underestimated his de-
termination in this fight
The situation hanging the racing bill is
rapidly assuming tenseness surprising even
tnat at the regular session. since then the Gov
ernor had not taken up his campaign against
ticians here hate to admit it, is showing it's ef-
fects in unmistakable fashion in dozens of un-
suspected places. and is worrying them vastly
more than the Governors failure last year TO
submit to the time honored party yoke of ques-
tons of patronage and policy.
Those party leaders. unprejudiced enough to
face their problem squarely. concede that it has
become a question of passing the Governors
measures-not merely the racing bills. but the
mat ions and D711 Ito
measures-now giving him second term or
else of handing the state over to the Democrats
this fair not only the state ticket but pos
sibly on the national ticket we'll Either
way it is sad affair for the oIdtinle party boss
with his limited outlook and he is sadly torn
over the prospects.
If many organization Republicans ordinarily
loyal to Governor and party felt they dared do
it they would adjourn on Thursday or Friday
without passing a bill which by any stretch
could be called Hughes measure" and follow
up that defiance by refusing to nominate tho
Governor this fall if they thought he wanted
a second term They dislike his policies and
fear his methods personally and as "orsaniza-
ton men."
They are under delusions about his
strength with the people. and they do not har-
Dor any about the critical political situation in
this state So they are hesitating. wavering
visibly between a desire thwart the Governor
and fear of his punishment individually and coll
IeCtively. at the polls if they do.
Governor Hughes has given no indication that
he has the slightest knowledge of such condi-
tons. He has submitted many important ques-
tens the Legislature. and expects actfefY Y15Yr-
them in good faith. In the ordinary course he
will not submit the racing proposition until Sem
ator FoeIker has recovered his health and re-
turns to duty and Wallace is seated. Wallace
should be seated some time this week: Foekers
return is more uncertain But if tie legislature
should attempt any snap adjournment before
that time Hughes men think the Governor
would meet the qufbble by submitting for So
luton others of the legislative problems left un-
answered at the regular session Meanwhile.
they expect him to make at least one or two
speeches On tbs gambling proposition. with the
question of boss control of elected officials which
ii has raised.
As the Governors friends view the general
situation the immediate result will show
whether or not the politicians appreciate the
danger signals which are flying They think
change whatever has occurred in the lineup
the racing bills. and that with the seating
of Wallace and the return Of Foelker the bills
would pass by % votes if the machine opposf-
tioR TO the Governor continued. Thus they ex-
pect the Governor in any case TO win his fight
despite the bitter enmty of special interests and
political bosses But they would be especi-
ally surprised if the party organization in this
state, realizing the advisability of surrender in
part rather than bad defeat in the
autumn. should take steps to swing in behind
the Governor and convert, his victory into an
asset for the Republicans in the campaign. No
body is making any predictions about the length
of time tins might take The Governor has en-
listed until the end of the fight and the belief
is becoming general that if the combined en-
nifty of bosses and racetrack gamblers should
prove powerful for success this year. he
would take another term TO accomplish the re-
forms he has begun Nobody here believes that
even the politicians believe themselves when
they say he could not be reelected