The Detroit times., 1909-12-23
GOV. HUGHES IS
GAINING POWER
Since McCarrin and Raines Died,
Opposition To His Wishes Weakens
Direct Nominations An Issue.

ALBANY. Dec. 23.-Unexpected
turns OF the wheel OF political chance
have seemingly helped pave the way
Tor the accomplishment OF many. Of
the reforms projected by Gov. Hughes.
The death of McCarren, the Demo
cratic manager. few weeks ago was
one OF them. The passing OF John
Raines. the Republican leader. was
another Both men were consistently
opposed To anything and everything for
which the governor stood in the way
of reforms-political, corporation and
otherwise
OF the "Old Guard" there remains
to continue the fighting only Grady,
the Tammany leader, and he will not
command anything like the influence
he did when he had the cooperation
and support of Raines and McCarren.
Grady will fight on, of course. because
that Is his nature. But he will be
fighting like man in bag.
On the other side there is apparently
no man capable Of taking the place OF
Raines and duplicating his success in
opposing the policies OF the governor
with the same rugged audacity and
success.
Aids In Raines' Place.
lothian p Aids is the most proba-
BILE successor OF the dead Republican
leader OF the senate. and while he
always stood with Raines he does not
possess the initiatice and fighting
ability of the man OF the senate finance
committee. position held by the late
Gov. Higgins for many years. He will
probably have no opposition for the
leadership, though there is little or no
doubt that Gov. Hughes could compel
the selection OF a more friendly ally
II he should take a hand in the game.
Senator Harvey ID. Hinman. OF
Broome county who has always stood
steadfastly by the governor in his con-
tests with the senate, would probably
be the man upon whom the mantle Of
leadership would fall II the interests OF
the governor should be consulted
Woodruff and Parsons. who are in
command OF the tottering Republican
machine. the responsibility for which
none OF the competent managers cares
TO assume. will OF course try TO or
ganize the legislature to suit their in
terests. and the indications are that
they will succeed. because nobody
seems inclined to dispute their wishes,
on the theory that the game is not
worth the effort.
young Jimmie" Wadsworth will un-
doubtedly be reelected speaker for the
same reason. Wadsworth narrowly es-
capped defeat at the hands Of the yeo-
manry on the baronial estates Of his
forebears In the Genesee valley, be-
cause Of his opposition to the direct
nomination plan of the governor last
year. His followers expect that he
will continue the war. but the chances
are that he will wheel into line when
he appreciates the force and extent
of public opinion behind the governor
Some OF the old time bosses like
Gov. Odell have seen the light and
already swung into line. Mr.. Odell.
whose star Is apparently in the
ascendency again. does not altogether
approve of the plan favored by the
governor lastsyear, but he is convinced
that the people want some sort OF a
direct nominations law and thinks
they shrould have what they want.
Direct Primaries Again an Issue.
Senators and assemblymen who were
stubbornly opposed to the governors
reform program last year seem TO he
wavering this time and IL the governor
outlines a bill less radical and more
practical than that OF last year his
chances for success will seem much
more promising. That he will come
back at the legislature with a recon-
mendatlon that the primary and cleo
tion systems be improved, there is not
the slightest doubt. He is expected to