New-York tribune., 1910-06-11

mass meeting and more who had not
gathered at the railroad station for a
| parting cheer.
The Governors Address.
! Governor Hughes said in part:
II have come to speak to you on the
/ subject. of direct nominations. The most
important concern of a free community
! with respect to the administration of gov
ernment is the selection OF public officers
The fundamental matter is 10 make sure
! that the methods of selection shall be
perfected and safeguarded so that the
vii, of the people may haze fair and ap-
propriate expression.
With respect to this. the most serious
question at this time in this state relates
| to the way in which party candidates are
nominated For the most part in selecting
officers state and local, the people sre
| confined virtually to the choice of one or
two party candidates. To find the real test
of our political methods. and the measure
of our liberty in choosing those who are
| 10 make our laws and execute them, we
must go back OF Election Day to the pri-
mary and ascertain to what extent our
hoasted freedom finds expression In the
nanagement of parties. The continuance
! Oh 10 peIihil poAAS
individually or in groups to dictate nomi-
nations and thus TO lay selfish hands upon
legislation and administration is per
nicious and abhorrent thing, and every
citizen Of the state who has pride in his
citizenship and is worthy of place in a
free republic ought to recognize the grav-
! ity Of the evil and do his best TO secure
needed improvement in our laws.
Outrage On American institutions.
/ Administrative work and its instrumen-
taIities necessarily multiply. While the
building is being enlarged must look
to the foundations. Shall our increasing
activities merely measure opportunities for
! intrigue, for favoritism and corruption?
/ What is the aim of the party manager
who is selfish or corrupt? II he can place
his man in office. he will. II Re can make
the public officer do his bidding, he will.
| He needs places; he needs henchmen sup
ported by the public. He wants men In
office upon whom he can rely to favor
| friends, to shield wrongs, to grant indul-
gences. So far as possible he wants per-
sonally to control government for his own
purposes What greater outrage than this
can be perpetrated upon American insti-
| tutions, or what greater violence can be
done to American sentiment?
| II honor the party manager who is a
true political leader and resists the vicious
opportunities of those who want him TO
misuse his power. 1 honor the men who
are endeayoring to do necessary party
work in a patriotic way and TO improve
the methods of party organization. But If
you do not put party managers under
check. If you give to improper practices
@r-o md nTfG haV
now enjoy, then you hobble political lead
ership and place a premium upon the
efforts of those who are constantly seek
ing to dominate party organization either
TO serve their ambition for power or TO fill
their pocketbooks.
IF special interests can write your stat
utes. they will. If they can write IN inno-
cent looking words TO protect privilege at
the public expense and secure little isles
| Of safety for self-interest, they will. Why
is II necessary to examine our statutes
with the eye of a hawk? Why must We be
! constantly on our guard lest the state be
delivered through its own legislation to the
favorites Of power? Why is II that the
fairest plans of impartial administration
in the Just interest of all are so constantly
in danger of coming to grief because Of the
intrusion of those who would manipulate
II they could. every department OIL govern
ment for private purposes?
! "Is IL because of the shortcomings Of
human nature? Undoubtedly so, in large
part Is it because our expanding life
necessarily furnishes opportunity for the
play of seIf-interest? Undoubtedly so. Is
It because so many who have the most
important interests to protect fail 10 real
ize that their ultimate safety must lie in
public confidence and in a sacred regard
for the honor ot our institutions? IS
suredly.
Evil Is Not Partisan.
But these are not all the reasons. There
is also the unnecessary facility that is
afforded by our present political methods.
Give to the party manager the virtual
power to dictate nominations, give to his
control through this power the action Of
elected representatives, place in his hands
the weapon by the skilfuI use of which
he may secure continued ascendency,, and
you have formed the readiest instrument
of political corruption.
"I am glad indeed to recognize the prog
ress that has been made. and the gratify-
ing frequency with which those having
large interests in theiD charge recognize
the wise policy as we'll as the patriotic
duty of seeking protection, where they
think their interests unjustly threat
ened. by fair and candid means. l hope,
and I believe, that this disposition will in
crease, and that We shall have less of that
blghting cynicism which is so great peril
not only to our political life, but also to
all legitimate interests of the business
world.
THE evil which we attack is not parti-
san. Whatever label it's instruments may
bear at given time, they are used for a
common purpose. And ever and anon their
vealed.
"T speak as a citizen, knowing well that
no change in political methods will change
the qualities of the human beings that
use them but I want 70 see shifting of
the fetters. Strike them from the rank
and file and put them on the party boss.
Give the party members a fair chance and
put the party managers under the re-
straints which will bring out the qualities
Of true Ieadership-that IS, the leadership
Of honorable service and of work for the
party and not for themselves.
Now. OF course, any effort which prom
ises real results Is destined TO meet the
most determined and unrelenting opposi-
tiOn. II a measure to this end had not
been vigorously opposed by those whom 1t
was designed TO cripple. 1 should very
much fear that it's effectiveness had been
misconceived. While, of course, the hos
tility Of these cannot be regarded as a