New-York tribune., 1910-01-11
FOR PARTY HEALTH
MR.HUGHES'S THEORY
Tells Yale Men What Political
Leadership Should Be.

New Haven. Jan. 1o.-"It Is important
that the standards of true political leader
ship should be clearly perceived and con-
stantly maintained" said Governor Hughes
Of New York tonight in a lecture
Political Parties" the third lecture in the
Dodge course at Yale University. And.
he added party management on a large
scale should develop political leadership of
a high order. 1t should be. whether the
field be great or small, infused with the
spirit and devoted TO the aims of such
leadership within its sphere" Discussing
this subject at length the Governor said:
The true political leader must be man
not only of integrity, but of sympathy and
quick perception. He should have political
insight and foresight. He must be swift
to detect the movement of public opinion
and the exigencies of conditions. He should
understand how to relate the prior action
M OF his party to the next appropriate step
commend the party to public approval and
justify continued confidence.
Ii. 1 indgnt1o Snpnd not wait to be driven sy pun
.ires or the shaping of issues he should
never forget that the final test will be the
public interest and that while he may
move within the broad limits assigned to
him hm by the traditions of his party, public
must be the highest ss
able stain upon the party record. He must
be good judge of men, that those
party for public place shall exhibit eminent
quailhcat1ons. Able administration is a
party asset of high value. With respect to
the management of campaigns, he must
have not only executive skill and capacity
for the mastery of detail, but he must
also he able to inspire zeal TO exact fidel-
lty and to win confidence in his leader
ship.
He must have precise information as to
conditions within his sphere of work and
exhibit the industry and pertinacity which
are essential 10 success in every effort. 1t
play ali these characteristics. The field
Is wide and the laborers many, but the
ideals of leadership should always be kept
in view.
Above all. the true party leader should
recognize that he Is a leader, and not the
master of his party; He should always he
content to abide by the uncoerced, unintin-
dated and unbought suffrage of the party
members. and should seek to support him
candidates and by honorable management.
and when his appeal to his constituency
fails he should be willing and desirous to
step down.
AS in our colleges to-day are doubtless
many of the political leaders of the fut-
ure, here we should expect, if anywhere,
the standards of public morality and honor
TO be set up, and those who enter political
life should understand that they do not
iquity, but assume obligations of the high
est Importance to the public which the ad-
vantages of training, of broad outlook and
eminent degre qualify them to discharge.
What party a man shall join or whether
he shall join any party, the Governor said
was a matter for his own conscience. He
called attention to the paradox that the in
fluence of the non-partisan who abhors
party must in the main be exercised
through party. In Presidential election
for instance. A voter must cast his ballot
with one of the great parties if his inf1u-
ence is to be felt. It will be the more po-
tent because the more direct. IL 1t is exer-
cised within party, as a recognized party
member.
Taking the ground that often the interest
not simply of the people at large, but OF
the party itself. justifies the party man in
acting independently of 1t, the Governor
said
1t is often the only available means of
rebuke and of party discipline through
more healthful party life The earnest
party man will not find these occa sons in
psrs9ns 1sappontment @ or in slight dis
of party continuity and effectiveness
| have thus far been speaking of ma
tional partie5 in their relation to national
AFFAIRS. But the members OF a national
rarty, within their respective. states, ere
and 10 focus discussion. party action is
advisable, ard state issues separately con-
SluelSu nS"e liOl DeSn SO Sharply QenneQ
as generally to call into existence. much
less TO maintain. great state parties as
distinguished from those In the national
field.
Condemnation of party organization. as
such is absurd. If il be deemed important
that we should have great national parties.
il order to con centrate political discussions.
and to make political controversies suitably
serve their purpose by having decisions
made. near may be, by a. majority
of a vast electorate, it is likewise important
that these parties be properly organized