New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-01-06
At Albany.

ernor. So far as an anxious and greatly
apprehensive public knows, Albany has
nothing Of important lawmaking before
il this year. Even in the matter of
mulcting New York City to drain rural
frog ponds and pave country towns, there
seems the promise Of moderation incident
TO the coming Of an election.
But attention will be fixed upon the
Governor because no one longer doubts
the fact that Mr.. Whitman believes he is
a possible nominee of the Republican Ma
tional Convention and is concentrating his
efforts and his interest upon the pursuit
Ct this attractive prize.
Now. when a Governor Of any state be-
comes a candidate for President certain
Questions naturally arise that require an
swer. Since every Governor of New York
is potentially a candidate for President, 1t
is simple enough to look backward and
see the reasons that led to the nomination
OF several of Mr.. Whitman's predecessors
end the mention of others in the pre-con-
vention discussion.
Colonel Roosevelt, when Governor, was
discussed. not for Presa,ent, since the re
domination of Mckinley was assured, but
for Vice President in 1900. But before
this Colonel Roosevelt had filed the mind
and the Imagination Of men of many
states. He was still the Hero of San
Juan" and no man was better known to
his countrymen than he.
Grover Cleveland, in 1884, was men
toned. championed and nominated, not
merely because he had carried New York
by an unprecedented majority, but be
cause he had made a great Governor. His
courage. intelligence. sturdy honesty had
already been proven and he had given
proof of the qualities which later made
him one of the ablest of the occupants of
the White House.
In 1908 Governor Hughes was sup
rcrted in this state and found followers
outside the boundaries of the state. But
hv 1908 Governor Hughes had, by his
haht against the Republican bosses, by
his courage, by his ability, by his services
in the insurance investigation, and later
in the executive chamber, become one Of
the great figures Of Republican contempt
rary politics.
Now, does any one pretend that Gov
ernor Whitman has at the present time
anv such hold upon the knowledge, ad-
miration or respect Of the country at large
rs Roosevelt, Cleveland or Hughes had, at
the time they were candidates in national
conventions? Does any one fancy that
beyond the limits Of the state ne is better
known than the Governor of Massachu-
sets or Missouri, save only to those who
follow criminal courts news?
But there was another precedent which
is Of present interest, that Of 1912. New
Yord had in John A. Dix Governor who
regarded himself as of Presidential size.
Roughly speaking, his qualifications as
proven by public service in Albany were
Il that time quite as considerable as are
Governor Whitman's to-day. He had
been elected Governor and he continued
in the Office.
What was the history Of the Dix boom?
Tor their own purposes Democratic poll
t.cans seized upon the vanity and the
ambition Of the Governor. They used them
for two purposes: TO obtain such patron
ego and appointments as they desired
curing the year and 70 keep the New
orh State delegation united for trading
purposes in the national convention.
They never took John A. Dix seriously as
Presidential possibility; but they took
their immediate and eventual profit out
Of the fact that Governor Dix did
And this is precisely what the Whit
man candidacy will mean. For the next
five months Governor Whitman will have
the enthusiastic, the unfagging support
Of every Republican politician and boss
who wants a job, an appropriation or a
"piece of local legislation" The number
Of politicians that will rally TO his cause
until the thirty days bills" are signed
cannot be exaggerated.
Again, if, as seems likely, Mr.. Barnes
and his associates desire 20 have a solldly
bound delegation at the next convention
tho Republican machine will support the
Governor at the primaries and use his
candidacy to their own ends. But they
will do this simply 70 serve their own pur-
poses and without any more intention OF
supportinp Whitman in the national con-
veption than Murphy had Of supporting
Pix.
Up to the present time Governor Whit
man has been in all respects mediocre
Governor. lie has made some good ap-
continents and some preposterous blum
A,r.n,A icl1a do