The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1916-08-19
Hnrhcs rs Administrator

hughes UN .ANlllllliFNA s'A''S
This country needs executive pre-
paredness man with tendency
toward action.
/ 1t is noticeable thus far in the
campaign that many Of Mr.. Hughes, $
most virulent political enemies ad-
nit his honesty" They damn MS
administrative significance by the,,
faint praise that he is a "Teiormer'
They call TO their aid the firmly en-
trenched popular tallacy that re-
former cannot be an administrator
And yet. working upon simple
lines and primary principles upon
which all great administration pro.
ceeds-Hughes left to the state OF
New York far more clearly de-
fined administrative plan and ideal
than it had ever had before.
He advocated a greater centraliza-
ton Of state government, with a
more definite fixing of power and
of Individual responsibility. He
urged fewer elective and more APP
pointIye executives, directly respons-
ible to the governor and by him re-
movable He recommended for the
chief executive power of investiga-
ton into the various departments.
such a power of investigation meant
more direct responsibility and more
firmly defined control,
He changed the whole conception
of state institutions. In New YORK
as in other states, state control had
become synonym for relaxed ad-
ministration and relaxed RESPONSE
bility, if not actual graft.
Hughes delocalized the manage
ment of these institutions. Directors
were appointed by him in the tradi-
! tional way by his eX ofIicio power.
| The only difference was that if the
directors appointed by Hughes did
not attend the meetings they were
| dropped and their places were flied
by men and women who were genu-
inely interested in filling positions of
responsibility in the institutions OF
the state.
Under Hughes there was never
any question as to whether state in
stitutons were under state admins
tration. They were.
There is no stronger test Of adj
1 ministratiye power than financial
policy, Hughes felt strongly the lack
OF Capitalization and defniteness in
the whole financial plan of New
York state government One Of his
strongest parting messages was a
recommendation for state budget
and for firmly conceived and exc
cuted business management for
state receipts, estimates, and eX-
pcndIturc3.
Hughes is an administrator, He
sees reforms" in terms of admin
istraton. The direct effect of an
experience like the Aids instance
upon him is to make him seek an
administrative means for preventing
its recurrence. At the very time
when he was pushing the direct pri-
mary most strongly he was also
urging a complete Investigation OF
legislative corruption" SO that all
those who have poisoned the spring;
Of government shall be uncovered
and branded"
Intelligence is great power IT
government. But the real guaranty
of vitality, of growth in the form:
of government and of the variou:
bureaus over which a chief executive
presdes rests in administrative
quality.
1t is tremendously needed in tbs
nation now as it was in New YORK.
state at the time OF Hughes gov
ernorship.
Our most important federal bu
reaw now suffer from three grea
ills lack Of appropriations to fulfil
their stated duties; lack of scope
: the possession of merely advisor!
powers; and lack of spirit and init
alive on the part Of federal Office
holders which, it must in justice
be said, may be in part the result o