New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-12-12
DIX AND LEADERSHIP.

Our nei@hbor The World" appears not
SO we'll pleased with the attitude OF GOV
ernor-elect Dix as il was a few days ago,
when it was praising him for restoring
the constitution at one stroke Now IT
would like 10 have Il little leadership
from MI Dix 1t would have him more
like Dr. Woodrow Wilson. apparently.
and il thinks that his influence. with that
Of Manor Gaynor. might save New York
from electing an undesirable Senator.
All this illustrates how natural and IN
evitable is the demand for leadership IN
Il Governor. The World" persuaded
itself tina: Governor-elect DiXs strict
"c0nStitutionalisn' was exactly what the
situation called for and was fam 10 al'-
plaud him fog his determination Ia be
the chief executive of the state and moth
ing else: but already our contemporary
has found il necessary to urge him 20
take a hand in the Senatorship contest.
Others besides The World apparent
~ feel the same WAY We venture 10
say that the better element in the DEM
ocratic party and good citizens generally
would applaud if the Governor-elect
should throw his influence openly in
favor Of the election TO the Senate Of
some Democrat worthy 10 represent the
state at Washington. The instinct 10
turn To the Governor is natural. He has
the power 10 make his voice heard III
the counsels of his party, and it is to his
interest that the party in whatever 1t
does should keep the service of the peo-
ple in mind If he does not interfere the
situation will he wholly in the hands Of
Nurphy. These are the considerations
in the minds of those who would like il
see the Governor-elect cast his influence
openly in favor of some creditabe can
didate for Senator.
Mr. DiX's position that the choice of a
Senator is up to the Legislature" IL
nores the actual facts. COnstitutionaliy
il may he up To the Legislature prac-
fically il is up to- the Democratic
PARTY and the Legislature will do very
little except record a determination
reached elsewhere The people want to
have a voice. and Il powerful voice, i'll
the c0rnsalS where the real selection of a
Tinted States Senator is reached. That
is the explanation of the call for leader
ship. and it applies not only To The choice
of a United States Senator but 10 the
thousand and one questions which Will
arise during Mr. DiX's administration.
and which viii he technically up 10
the LEGISLATURE hut which the LegiS-
lature will haze decided for it by some
one else MI niX's attitude of non-in-
reference will be very difficult one To
maintain and his course. if he does
maintain it, is not likely To prove popu-
lar. Ills predecessors have not kept
their hands off legislation. but most If
them have found il necessary. through
the usp of The veto power. TO control its
course and guard what they deemed the
public interest. And if they have not
spoken openly on questions like the
choice of United States Senator they
have made their voices heard and their
influence felt behind the scenes in their
party Governor Hughes created a de
mand for now kind Of leadership in
Governors by preferring The open eXer-
else of his influence to its private eXer-
else. Goyernor-eiect Dix viii find when
ne gets in office that he is an indispensa-
bic element i'll the American system Of
government by parties. and he will have
ia make his leadership felt either openly
ar behind the scenes. unless he is greatly
to disaDpoiuf the public