New-York tribune., 1908-04-11
APPEALS TO THE PEOPLE
HUGHES At W4TERTOUN.
Denunciation of Racetrack Gamb-
hAg Cheered by Great audience.

Watertown. n. Y, April 1o-C;overnor Hughes
vas the guest of honor at the annual dinner of
the Watertown Chamber of Commerce. held at
lhe woodruff House tonight. The affair was
the most elaborate of the kind held in this city
in years and was attended bv over two hum
Gred members of the organization The Gov
ernor and his party. consisting of Colonel Tread
We'll. senator George II. Cobb and d. w. Cahir
superintendent of public buildings, were met at
Cuca by reception committee, and on their
arrival here late this afternoon were escorted
by Company {, n q. n Y, to the hotel where
public reception held. Governor Hughes
was enthusiastically greeted by thousands of
citizens and business men, The 24th Infantry
band. negroes. from Madison Barracks, fur
nished music during the reception and the din
ner County Judge George w. Reeves acted
toastmaster.
Mayor Francis NJ. Hugo was the first speaker
and welcomed the Governor in the name of the
city.
THE GOVERNORS SPEECH.
Governor Hughes prefaced his remarks with
eulogy of the local representatives at Albany
He then spoke on business conditions. and de-
nounced racetrack gambling, saying in part:
The depression is only temporary. There is
nothing intrinsicaly at fault. The time is sure
TO come when the demands of the people must
future. Shameful it is when men try to the
government as a means to accomplish their ends,
especially in democratic government. In
publican form OF government, the perversion Of
administration to the interest of the few is the
poison in the system. 1t must be eradcated.
We have had question before recently
which believe is fundamental. l am opposed
TO racetrack gambling. (Applause.) l am Op
posed to racetraCk gambling because it de-
moraliZes and promotes vice and constitutes a
source OF unnecessary temptation. Why, you
go through the offices in the city of New York
ana YOU VIII ind what racetrack gambling has
done. am opposed to IL because IT does not
come from the gentlemen OF wealth who can
spend their money without loss but clerks,
fathers of families dependent on them, are the
ones who participate in this. They become not
only waits of fortune but very ready material
out of which the criminals of the state are
made.
But there is n far more fundamental question
before us. The question is one that goes TO the
very root of the government. This question Is
whether this state Is a state of law and whether
the constitution is to be respected not.
We have the constitution. and it is clear that
there are many questions which admit honest
debate. There are many matters which come
before the Legislature where there are two sides
to the question. But there is not man in this
state who can read the constitution which cx-
pictly forbds gambling, who does not know
that il is the duty OF the Legislature 10 abolish
the privileges Of the Percy-Ciray law. There has
been pretence of debate on the question. but
no real debate Poolselling and booEmaking are
prohibited by the constitution. Bookmakng and
poolselling actually furnish no pretence of act
ual business. and this s fourishinE because
there is no adequate Law 10 prevent its -four
ishing.
The constitution is clear and this viii be
abolished when the proper laws passed
My friends, have got something more Mt
stake here than the matter OF a moral question.
Nc are face 20 face with tho issue ss 10 whether
Jivs constitution is the law of this state not
Would any Legislature say that IL had the right
TO pass law legalizinE Monte Carlos in Water
town and in New York and In Syracuse and
Rochester and Buffalo
Go 10 the racetrack. read tho constitution and
draw your own conclusions. The time has come
when We are TO have test to determine whether
Law is 10 prevail or whether II is not. II there
arc any OF you who do not like the constitution
go 10 work 10 get II amended. II is this law hy
which man is made felon when he bets out
side the racetrack and not when he bets within
If YOU want laws that can be enforced they must
be impartial. Make them fair
Americans resent any discrimination in the
application OF the criminal law. There is no
need when there is plain case, and this is a
plain
Sometimes YOU hear that it is the intention
Of some people to humate me- There is only
one person in the United states who can hu-
initiate me, and that is myself
| believe in free country and in a free
party l believe in an honest administration Of
government and in an honest administration Of
party affairs. 1t is amazing to hear some men
talk OF loyalty to party when the only thing
they loyal to is themselves. l am anxious
that means be provided by the Legislature
that candidates for office can be nominated di-
reCtly by the people.
| believe in party organization, but not in the
dictation OF petty satraps. What sorry time II
Is when a man bully n Senator OF this state
into voting against his conscience. Let II be
made possible that no man who has taken the
oath OF office must feel that he is the serVitOr
OF some man and that he must do mans
bidding out of a pure sense of gratitude That
is un-AmeriCan and is the vice OF American
life. | want leadership that does not have to
buy votes and that does not have to cater 10
petty patronage. I want leadership that will
sacrifice, and not that which seeks for gain or
private power, and that Is the reason that
want TO see a bill passed permitting direct
nominations. There ia only one right way in
which the government can give the people what
they deserve. and now that under that
form of government highly prize, there
is only one way that il he DONE and that
is to send men to Congress who Will represent
the people. and not any especial interest In
that We recognize the American idea.
Tomorrow morning the Governor is scheduled
TO leave here for Buffalo He is to attend re-
ception of the University Club in that city in
the afternoon, to be followed by dinner Of the
Lawyers Club Later in the evening he is TO
review the 18th Regiment. At II o'clock he is
TO attend supper given by the officers of the
regiment and the University Club.
Mrs. Hughes left Albany to-day for Buffalo.
Tomorrow a reception is to be given in her
honor by the Twentieth Century Club. Later
officers and women interested In the University
Club will give luncheon in her honor.