The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1916-11-02
WHERE HUGHES is BEST KNOWN

THE most honest Governor the State
ever had" is the way Mr.. Hughes is
greeted in Central New York, where
they have had opportunity to know the
character of the man. The reference
to the Republican candidates record in
the Gubernatorial chair carries with it
the reflection that memories in repub-
lie are very short if any considerable
part of the public is in doubt as to what
sort of President Mr.. Hughes would
make.
For the tour years Mr.. Hughes was
in Albany the eyes of the country were
centered to an extent rarely witnessed
on the struggle there for reform and
for good government. The exhibition
of courage, force, indefatigable in
dustry, political foresight and execu-
tive capacity displayed earned common
dalton outside of New York and made
Mr.. Hughes one of the nations fore
most figures, a man who was admittedly
of Presidential calber-a reformer
with clear head; neither doctrinaire
nor visionary, but eminently practical.
He fought for direct primary, but
he saw the defects of the system as it
was evolving and strove to safeguard
it against the very criticisms that are
now being brought against it.
In a spectacular contest with the
largest corporations in the United
States he put through the Legislature
plan for the regulation of public
utilities that has become the model for
other States.
He effected reform of the great in
surance companies, work alone that
would have entitled him to the graft
tude of the public.
In labor legislation ne earned the ap-
probation of wage learners by putting
on the statute books more reforms cal
culated to inure to their benefit than
New York had ever seen before.
He gathered about him men of high
character and gave the State new
ideal of public service. The politicians
hated him as foe who could not be de-
tered from doing his duty by intimida-
ton from any source and whose powers
of analysis and clear statement made
him unbeatable on the stump
Last of all, when he had to stand
against the very forces he had been
compelled to arouse and lead and pro-
tect industry and capital from unjust
attack, he did not falter. When the
two-cent rate bill was passed he declar-
ed he would not be party to legisla-
tion first and investigation afterward.
He vetoed the bill and turned the is
sue over to the Public Service Commits
eion, where it properly belonged.
When the labor forces of the State
undertook to make the full train crew
effective and bulldozed the Legislature
into enacting the law, once more Mr..
Hughes stepped into the breach and re-
fused to sanction the act until investiga-
ton disclosed 1t was fair to the rail-
roads.
He did not hesitate at any time to
risk his political fortunes in defying
labor on the one side or capital on the
other when conscience dictated.
No Governor of any State in this
generation has left office with higher
reputation, justly earned, for integrity,
ability, executive capacity and power
of doing things, coupled with rare judg-
ment of how and when to do them. In
consensus of opinion of the country at
large, Mr.. Hughes Gubernatorial
career marked him out as one who
would reach the White House if his
ambition pointed that way. When the
reapproachment of the Republican and
Progressive parties appeared inevitable,
when there was need of a candidate
whom each could support but whom
neither could dominate, who would ap-
peal to independent Democrats dis
satisfied with Mr.. Wilson, there was
never doubt on whom the choice would
fall. And the reasons that dictated the
choice are as conclusive today as they