New-York tribune., 1909-03-29
rHE GnTER3OR,S OPENING.

The Governor Is obviously somewhat al
disadvantage this year IN his appeal 10 tne
people" regarding his direct nominations biii'
for he begins late in the session ana MS tuUJec'
il much more complicated than We're the anu
gambling bills last year and the Pubic service
hill the wear before. On the other hand' MS
experience and his prestige are greater llah
formerly His opening at Buffalo, moreover
must disturb the complacency of those VINO
,rora sure that he could not repeat this year
his achievements Of 1907 and 1905. A large au-
dience appears TO have given him sympatheuc
attention. applauding his best points ana naui'
Testing its general approval The Speech too'
contains the germ of an e1ectFe cahpalsn-
While much of it was necessarily explanatory
for the Governor probably realizes that MS pian
is not yet sufficiently understood to permit hiili
10 omit explanations yet there were iuuica'l"iS
that in due time he would have his dreaded
moral issue" and would re able to contine hlnn-
self to il.
.suro want, he said amid manifestations Of
spnroyaI from his audience, 'to hobble the
selfish boss" And further, ave want to destroy
$50 far as possible the facilities for the cohlrol
..of government by special interests Ihere IS
his issue That is the aim Of his Dill. lie has
no desire to destroy party machinery ne
makes no indiscriminate onslaught on parry
leaders He purposes TO mark out the ooSS
for slaughter. and therefore he Haho0 h' ~
terical attack upon every one who occupies
place of influence in parties for, as he SAID III
his Buffalo speech:
Honorable leadership has, and always viii
have. its place wish to say no @ WoIo ~, VIZ s
could be construed reflection upon ule as
tute sagacious leader who is Zealously anu a.
the same time honorably endeaVor1ng 10 Feple t
sent his party and further its interests 0u1i'
men we need. We want them strong ana EN- EN-,
cIaDt and they will be the stronger ana more
e4icient in honorable endeavor to the extent ina
they are more directly representative ana VOTE
give them the honor that good work deserves
and free them from unjust suspicion
The theory of his modification of the direct
nruaries is that any leader who causes nomi-
nations 10 be made which meet public approval
can continue to exercise his present influence.
Only the boss who makes improper nomina-
+ions need fear the action of the party voters
at large upon his 'slate"
The Governor is sure ground IN all thaI Ne
saws about the present systems placing 100
many hurdles" in the way Of the proper eA-
pression of public sentiment. The convention
system favors the bosses and the selfish inter
ests which they usually represent And the
remedy lies in interesting more members OF the
partfes in party affairs IF you would strike
at the root of political corruption" said the
Governor. destroy the power to dictate nomlna-
+ions" He aims TO do this by compelling those
in possession Of party machinery 10 justify tneir
selections of party candidates before the party
voters at large. His plan is an experiment Dut
IN nrove that il will not "hobble the boss its
opponents will have TO show that the boss has
nothing to fear from submitting his personal
selections for nomination to the party voters
in general.