The Detroit times., 1910-06-30
HUGHES CALLED
BAD MANAGER
Governors Political Enemies Accuse
Him of 0verworking Moral Issues
and Neglecting Business.

NEW YORK, June ga special
from Albany to the World says: The
extra session OF the legislature. which
will probably wind up next week. is
extraordinary in more senses than
one. Primarily called for the sole
purpose Of compe ling the legislature
to vote for the nth time on a bill
providing for q form OF direct nomina-
tons favored by Gov. Hughes. the
original purpose has been almost en-.
tirely submerged by unexpected
events not contemplated by either the
governor or the regular Republican
leaders who are against him.
The situation has developed a curl
Gus transformation In politics. The
governor and his supporters might
with propriety have been viewed as
insurgents" at the beginning OF his
crusade for political reform, while the
regular organization men represented
exactly the attitude OF the Aldrich-
Cannon forces in the National Con-
gress. But through recent envelop-
gress. But through recent develop
ers, by reason OF having captured the
majority party machinery OF the
state senate. have become regular.
while the regular organization reg
ulsrs" now appear in the light Of 'in-
surgents," since they represent the
minority faction In the senate organi-
cation.
II was the assembly responding to
the direction OF Speaker Wadsworth
and Majority Leader Merritt which re-
fused 10 pass at the regular session
the Cobb compromise bill now favored
by the governor. This bill provides
for a limited application Of the direct
nominations principle. The measure,
which was first rejected by the gov
ernor, provides that the primary sys-
tenn OF direct nominations shall apply
to members Of congress, state senators
and assemblymen and county officers
where practical. The provisions of
the measure apply to New York city.
except In years when a mayor and
city ticket are to be elected.
The Hinman-Green bill, which re-
fiected the views of the governor, pro-
vided for a statewide operation OF the
direct nominations plan without ex-
emption as TO Offices and localities.
This bill was defeated In both houses
at the regular session. Then it was
that the governor. presumably on the
theory that half loaf is better than
no loaf" agreed to accept the cobb
bill, which was framed by the senate
leader for the manifest purpose OF
bridging the chasm existing between
the governors forces and the "reg;i-
H lars"
Stamp Of "Regulsrity."
BY proposing his measure Cobb, who
as senate leader has floundered help.
lessly between the two factions Great
ed by his act, has placed the stamp
OF regularity" upon the governor and
made his own former allies "insur.
gent" Whether the governor has
been helped by this metan1orphosis re-
mains TO be seen. The vote on the
Cobb bill will disclose 1t.
There is always one contingency re-
served by the Republican state bosses
and their representatives in the legis-
flature when yenturing prediction AS
to the issue OF the battle to be fought
out this week. This relates 10 the at
titude OF Col Roosevelt. who is ad.
mittedly the one man upon whose
word and wishes the result depends.
Little doubt Is expressed by the op-
ponents Of Gov. Hughes that Col.
Roosevelt and President Taft. through
their joint influence, can save Gov.
Hughes from defeat.
The injection of the financial NJ
fairs Of the state into the extra SEES
sion was not expected by the politi-
cal leaders and the legislators. Re-
covering from their surprise, they
have taken advantage of the opening
Afforded to attempt to place the re-
sponsibility for the deplorable state
Of things upon the shoulders OF Gov
Hughes. Their argument in support
of this declaration is that the govern
or has been bad business manager;
that while he has been overworking
the moral ISSUE" appealing to the
people for support for his moral re-
forms. ne has neglected the proper
administration Of the state govern
ment."
The increase in the cost of running
the state during the four years OF
Gov. Odells administration was 81
16o,075, which was moro than covered
by the additional sources Of revenue
devised by him. A return to direct
taxation at this time, the Republican
leaders think will be attributed by the
people directly to incapable business
management or GOV. hughes.
| No recent occurrence has given the
Republican leaders so much genuine
qualification as the suggestion from
the governor that the finarces OF the
state be patched up. 1t is their hope
to place the blame for the demoraliza-
ton OF the state exchequer upon his
shoulders.
II the governor were going to re-
main at the head of the state govern
ment 1t Is more than probable that
this plan OF the regular leaders would
fail. but his retirement to take a sea,
on the bench OF the supreme court
OF the United States has unquestion-
ably resulted in the loss OF his old
time prestige and consequently OF de-
tenders who might otherwise take the
time and trouble to show that the
governor is no wise TO be blamed for