Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 39, Number 100, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 23 August 1907 — POLITICAL COMMENT, [ARTICLE]

POLITICAL COMMENT,

A Governor Who Govern*. Gov. Hughes’ supervision over legislation has surprised Republicans as well as Democrats. He . has vetoed thirty-seven bills, his threat of a veto induced the Legislature to recall 197 measures, pud he has allowed 250 bills to die unacted on. This shows that New York’s executive is not an eight-hour-a-day man. He works ten or twelve hours every day, and he is doing something throughout all of that time. His readiness with the veto recalls President Cleveland’s activity in that direction, but Cleveland’s veto was directed chifly' against private pension bills, while Hughes’ hits measures of larger importance. This activity has created something like consternation among the politicians. He examines every measure which reaches him. There is nothing perfunctory about his performance. He acts on the assumption that the people of his state put him in office to use all the powers of his post to give them good government. Nothing within the scopfc of his official duties escapes his attention. Many of the Republican politicians have turned against him. He is accused of pernicious meddlesomeness, and the party leaders on both sides are gettnuT-somewhat uncertain as to whether he ought to be called a Republican, a Democrat or a Mugwump. No other New York governor within the memory of anybody now alive has given so much time to the duties of his office. But the people of his state seem to like Gov. Hughes. He Is looming up into national proportions. Already the prophets are beginning to couple his name with the presidential candidacy. If the national convention were to meet to-day he would get many votes in it. Apparently, he is not thinking of the presidency, but is doing the duty which confronts him. That is the sort of an official that the people like. He is making friends all elements of the people, though the politicians are igainst him. As New York’s Legislature meets every year, he will have abundant chances to do many things Before the national convention meets. The country is following Gov. Hughes’ jourse with a good deal of interest. • Misplaced Censure. The Sherman anti-trust law was massed by Congress long before Theoiore Roosevelt was thought of In consection with the Presidency, and it was passed in obedience to a public demand :hat combinations of capital should be restrained from encroaching on the flghts of the people. The Valentine law was passed by the Ohio Legislature also in response to jopular opinion that some measure of restriction was necessary in order to ireserve Individual rights from the exictlons of corporations. There has been no demand for a repeal of either the United States or the Ohio statute, which would seem to (how that the people have not changed ffieir minds concerning these measures. But in spite of the fact that Presllent Roosevelt had nothing to do with the passage of either law, It Is true that he is being held accountable for he prosecutions instituted under both aws. Activities of county prosecutors followed the campaign of the national idministration for law enforcement. If President Roosevelt had not directed lis attorney general to proceed against .'ompanies doing an interstate business 'or violating the Sherman law, it is tontended that local authorities would lave been less aggressive. But why should censure attach to he President?,, He was elected to enforce the laws. He should not be flamed for doing his sworn duty., As ong as the people permit a law to land, it should be obeyed. If it is an injust law, If it works hardships on he Innocent, the people will demand ts repeal, and Congress must heed the '.emand. If Icemen, lumbermen and brick men vho confessed to having violated the Zalentine law have a grievance, it is igainst the people, not against the President. —Toledo Blade. Unfair Tariff Conceaalona. It does seem unfair that Germany, vhich has a tariff system, can, by makng certain concessions, get goods Into he United States on more favorable erms than Great Britain, which has tot such a system and which has alvays been a fine market for American roods. It has been suggested that the ’resident might look upon the action •f Great Britain in making existing aws as a concession, although It was nade before any negotiations were tpened for “concessions” under the Bingley act. The German tariff agreenant has stirred up much criticism pro ind con. The American Protective tariff League criticizes It severely, boldng among other things that the grantng of privileges to Germany was In •onfllct with the administrative sections of the Dingley act. The feature that permits the chambers of commerce »f Germany, which are semi-official In character, to place the valuation on foods exported, is being attacked on (he ground that It will result In an inreasona'bly low valuation. The tarff Issue la very live just now on account of the agreement with Germany. —Tacoma Ledger. ~ Nine hundred and thirty-one British municipalities own gas works, ninetytine tramways and 181 supply electric-