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.-Unexpectcd
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.
Inc death of McCarren, the Demo
cratic manager. few weeks ago was
one or them. The passing OF John
flames. the Republican leader. was
another. Both men were consistently
opposed to anything and everything for
which the governor stood In the way
or reforms-political, corporation and
otherwise
or the "Old Guard" there remains
10 continue the lighting 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 a man in a 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 Ralnes' 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 initiative and fighting abil-
ity OF the latter. He has made an eff
Client chairman OF the senate finance
committee. a 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 hand in the game.
Senator Harvey ID. Human, 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-
many 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
escendency again, does not altogether
approve OF the plan favored by the
governor last year. but he is convinced
that the people want some sort OF a
direct nominations law and thinks
they should 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 be
wavering this time and II the governor
outlines 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 recon-
mendation that the primary and cleo
ton systems be improved. there Is not
the slightest doubt. He is expected to
make direct primaries his most impor-
tant recommendation.
His opponents have no reason to
doubt that he will insist on the entct-
ment OF the public service law recon-
mendations he made last year. These
include the suggestion that the control
Of the telegraph and telephone COM
panies be placed under the Jurisdiction
OF the public service commission. They
are the only public utilities which are
not. The effort to bring them into line
will be vigorously opposed by the tele-
graph and telephone monopoly, which
will come into the fight more strongly
intrenched than ever before with
money to prevent the adoption OF the
governors recommendation.
Kills Three and Self.
LONDON, Ky, Dec. 23.--William