Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-12-07
HUGHES AND REFORM
New York Governor Talks
Plainly of Patronage.
PLEASANT FOR POLITICIANS
Does Not Believe the Spells Belong
to the Victors.
ANTE-ELECTION STATEMENT
New Departure in Disposing Of
Places-Fitness. Not Personal
Service, to Count.
PLEASANT FOR POLITICIANS
ANTE-ELECTIoN STATEMENT
EY WILLIAM r.. CURTIS.

EY WILLIAM r.. CURTIS
Special Correspondence of The Star and tbs
Chicago Record Herald.
NEW YORK. December 6, 1905.
The large army of professional poll
ticians in New York state are looking
very detected these days, and with then
1t is serious question whether life Is
worth living. 1t looks very much as il
the most of them, who have been active
members of the republican machine. whe
have held Office continuously and have
been supported by the state would have
10 look for work outside. In a speech
before the Republican Club the other
day Gov. Hughes said: Il desire to
thank most heartily al those who have
labored hard in the last campaign in
support of my candidacy and in support
OF the other candidates on the ticket -
and then he proceeded to say that he
should continue the policy in making ap-
pointments he had followed during his
first term as governor, and that is to
select his subordinate officials from out
SIDE the active party managers on the
unpopular theory that the victors are not
entitled to the spoils.
Cheered at the Pauses.
The banquet hall was filed with the
members Of the republican machine. .
and they cheered Justify every time the
governor paused in his speech. 1t is
always safe to assume virtue if you
nave 1t not. and every old veteran at
the tables doubtless hoped that the gov
ernor would glance his way to see how
much enthusiasm he was exhibiting over
the two more lean years that were prom
ised the faithful. Gov. Hughes has the
courage OF his convictions, and what
Is worse for them, he has no sympathy
with professional politicians. He scourged
them out of the temple at Albany dur
ing his first term and Is not likely to per-
NIT them to return during his second.
AND then Secretary Root is going to be
elected to the United States Senate, and
PRESIDENT Roosevelt will undoubtedly sue
ceed Dr. Depew in 1911. which makes a
hopeless outlook for federal as well as for
state patronage. for neither Of the three
has any feeling for the ward workers and
the boys that sit up nights to organize
failure so far as the latter are concerned
ana most OF them will be looking for jobs
after the first OF January.
Gov. Hughes Nominated Taft.
Gov. Hughes nominated Taft for a sec
ond term. fact that has been strangely
overlooked by the New York newspapers.
although 1t has special significance be-
cause it has been reported that Gov.
hughes would himself be considered an
available candidate in 1912 What he
said was this:
Conndence. like bomb is healing the
wounds OF strife, and We shall be blessed
LOT TOUR years. and trust for eight years
with the wise leadership Of the President
elect. William Howard Taft"
everybody was SO agitated over the
governor remarks about the state patron
age that this pregnant sentence, left no
Nearly $4,000 worth of Offices are to
be filled by Gov. Hughes on the first Of
January or shortly after and until now
tney have always carried with them the
control OF the state machine" The re-
pm9onsan party has been managed by the
omceholders. and the subordinate positions
under the state government until recently
nave peen hlIed by the men who do the
active work of the campaigns. They have
Organized the clubs; they have served as
watchers and workers of the polls: they
have got out the voters: they have col
lecfed campaign subscriptions; they have
done everything that has to be done by a
pontcal party to elect It's candidates, and
office. A majority Of the subordinate
members Of the machine" held over
Gov Hughes first term and are stilI in
once. but the time has now come for
sow.1ag and the attitude Of the
means everything. If he should 10 out
side the Organization in selecting the
men who are to fill these 100000 worth
OF omces 1t will be fatal to the ma
Shine. And therefore the anxiety NAV
be appreciated.
Appointments to Be Made.
The most important appointments to he
MADE soon are four members of the
pubic service commission, who receive
salaries of $4,000 q year, and have auto
cratic control of the corpora tons of the
state. Next in importance are the mem
bers OF the state highway commission,
vii" receive 5000 a year each. They
viii have the appointment of a large
engineering and clerical staff and exercise
q powerful political influence in every
county of the state. because II is their
business to build new and repair old
highways. and keep the roads in order
the cost being divided between the state
and the county treasury. The influence
OF this board will be so great, reaching
every village and hamlet. that 1.-THE or
sanizatiOn is in a terrible state Of mind
concerning the selection of it's members.
OF individual Offices there is a super
intendent of public works. salary 5000:
state architect. $1,000: superint endent OF
insurance. $500; commissioner of health
commissioner of lunacy. commissioner OF
elections. three tax commissioners. two
members of the water board. nine port
wardens. three quarantine commissioners
with salaries of 5000 each, and many
others with smaller pay. and less patron
age. Taken all together the officials who
are TO be selected by Gov. Hughes
during the next few weeks could control
the Republican party and the politics OF
the state IL they are permitted to do so.
Machine Men Not Eligible.
II is very generally assumed that he
will reappoint the present incumbents. so
far as they were selected by him during
HIS first term. 1t is equally probable
that followers will be replaced by men
of his own mind. and il he selects them
from outside ''the organization there
will be utter despair in every corner of
the statehouse. and wherever the men,
bers of the Republican machine" can
be found. Thus far the governor has
ignored the machine entirely in making
appointments. He has again and again
rejected the recommendations Of the state
and county committee. Last winter.
in the appointment OF a surrogate for
the city of New York. perhaps the most
lucrative ONCE in the state, he declined
even to consider one Of his most intimate
friends, a man of unQuestiOned eligibility
who was suggested to him by the state
committee. for the simple reason that his
friend had been manager Of his cam
paign and 1t would look as IL he was
being rewarded for his services
There is every reason to believe that the
xn,flI faka a similar e.,