Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-10-09
TURNING TO HUGHES
PerceptibIe Change in Public
Sentiment in New York.
TWO CLASSES OPPOSE HIM
Machine Politicians and Personal
Liberty" Men.
MORAL ISSUE TO BE RAISED
Expected That the President and
Taft Will Come Out Strong
for the Governor.
TWO CLASSES OPPOSE HIM
MORAL ISSUE TO BE RAISED
Special From a STAFF Correspondent.

Special From Stan Correspondent
NEW YORK, October 9.-The annals of
politics do not furnish a more remarkable
instance of candidacy for high public Of
fee. with absolute personal Indifference
as to result. than is presented in Gov.
Hughes stand. Here you have a man
who was Indifferent to denomination to
:he point of contemptuousness toward all
those who opposed him. resting his case
in public opinion and winning hands
down: then. upon being nominated. leav-
Ing his own political fortunes apparently
In the hands of the same public opinion.
and faring forth to do yeoman service for
the national ticket In effect, he says to
the electorate of New York: You are ia
miliar with all the circumstances of the
case. Take me or leave me. as you see
dt. 1 am serving my party first"
Now. 1t is a fact that this attitude of
the governor is beginning to attract at
tenton. The effect is inuring to his dis
tinct advantage. The line is being drawn
sharply between the opponents of the
governor and his supporters, with the re-
suit that the classes which indorse the
governors course are bestirring them
selves in his behalf.
This attitude of the governor also has
the effect of bringing into sharp contrast
the nature of the opposition and awaken
ing the public to better realization of it.
Once let complete understanding of this
soak into the public comprehension, and
1t is easy to see what a spirit of en-
thusiasm in the governors behalf may be
aroused.
the hands of the voters, not clamorous
himself for their support, but depending
upon those who appreciate his services
to the state to see to it that his candi-
dacy comes to no harm.
Two Glasses Opposed.
There are two classes inimical to the
governors reelection. One is the ma
chine politicians who have been unable
to make connection with the state house
at Albany. who charge the governor with
bei-g above his party, with not being
republican. but a mugwump. and whose
objection to him Is largely on the ground
of what might be called his party aloof-
ness.
The other is the class which objects to
his drift toward ''puritanism." as they
term it, his advocacy of restrictive and
blue law legislation. l don't mean alone
the race track gamblers. If they were
alone the issue the outcome would be
easy. since public opinion would snow
them under. and many of those taking
part In the undertaking would be men
who have dabbled in racing and betting
themselves. But there Is included In this
class a percentage of men who. using
that vague term, personal liberty" APP
ply to it a demand for a larger measure
of exemption from restrictive legislation
than some Of their neighbOrs are con-
tent to have.
There is also against him at this time
it is alleged. an element which objects
because he vetoed special legislation de-
signed for the beneht of particular class
es singled out from the great body of
citizenship. In these are included. 1t Is
claimed. the policemen, railroad men and
school teachers.
Well how long will those classes hold
out against the governor in remembrance
of their own special grievances, when 1t
becomes apparent. as 1t may in the last
days of the campaign, that he is standing
on larger and broader platfOrm-One
of fearless administration. admittedly in
behalf of better government for the whole
citizenship and distinctly arrayed against
avowedly public evils and political boss
ship
Moral Issue to Be Raised.
You are going to see toward the end of
the campaign great moral issue raised
in this state, with Gov. Hughes on the
moral side. Has it failed to win any
where in American politics yet? Will it
be strong enough to overcome the treach-
cry of the republican machine politicians
and the bitter hostility of others? With
Taft in the state, speaking earnestly for
the governor. and with Roosevelt work
ing for both. is it not almost certain
that there will be a change in public
sentiment toward the governor?
l can already see the effect upon the
hostile local bosses and anti-Hughes eie-
ments of the governors swing through
the west and the ovation that is being
the reports of the governors progress a
good showing in the daily news, and
everybody can read of his remarkable
reception in the west There are evil
hat bo iS q
in high esteem by republicans of the
west, and New Workers are beginning to
take 1t as a reflection upon themselves
that their governor should be more highly
appraised abroad than at home 1t gives
them a new estimate of the man. He
is not dwindling in the perspective.
Presidential Action Expected.
1t is a certainty that President Roose-
Welt is going to build some fires under
these hostile and apathetic local bosses
and bestir them to greater activity In
Governor Hughes behalf. President
Roosevelt's friends here say it is incon-
ceivable that the national administration
will allow. IL any efforts of its own can
prevent, the neglecting Of Governor
Hughes affairs i'm his own state. while
the governor is devoting himself to for
warding and furthering the national cam
paiGn in manner undeniably effective.
So. look out for some ginger OF the
1T. r." variety and brand in the Hughes
campaign pretty soon. Mr.. Taft Is un-
doubtedly grateful for the governors as
sistance In the west and he will unques-
tionably voice his gratitude when he
comes to this state.
There is believed to be little question
in the minds of well Informed leaders in
both parties that the preponderance OF
sentiment in New York state is In favor
of Taft as against Bryan. on the ground
that Taft is a safer man than Bryan and
that the Roosevelt-Taft policies of prog
ress are more practicable than those OF
the democratic party. II is also true that
independent voters who hold those views
as to the national ticket are at this time
Of a mind to vote for Taft and scratch
Hughes.
When it comes to the final test. when
Roosevelt and Taft appeal on the high
ground which Gov. Hughes takes, and
which these voters admit he takes for
the upholding of the governors hands and
a vote of confidence In him and his efforts
don't you think those would be scratchers
are going to fall into line In droves. and
when they get into that shut-in little
polling booth will abandon their dissatis.
lection and vote the straight ticket?
N. O. NJ