III.

Occasional Addresses.

"If in administration we make the standard efficiency and not partisan advantage, if in executing the laws we deal impartially, if in making the laws there is fair and intelligent action with reference to each exigency, we shall disarm reckless and selfish agitators and take from the enemies of our peace their vantage ground of attack. It is my intention to employ my constitutional powers to this end."From Governor Hughes's Inaugural Address, January I 1907.

I.

Speech at the Banquet of the Albany Republican Organization, February

27, 1907.

We are all interested in the success of the Republican party. I have been a Republican from the time I came of age. I am grateful for the splendid services it has rendered to the country and for the memories of the noble men under whose leadership in repeated crises the party has proved itself equal to the task of preserving and administering the government. There is no political organization in this country which at this time has such an opportunity of serving the people by efficient administration and by wise constructive effort in the correction of known evils. The party has its future in its own keeping, and if it will measure up to its traditions and meet its opportunities it will for many years be invincible both in State and Nation.

I do not condone any public wrong because it is committed by a Republican any more than

I would were it committed by a Democrat. Nor do I think that loyalty to party requires support of anything wrong either in policy or in administration which we would feel free to condemn if the wrongdoing could be charged to those of a different political faith. No one can convince me that he is a loyal Republican, with the interests of the party at heart, who will misuse official position or will be content with anything short of the best service of the people. I count it the highest loyalty to the party to insist that the work done under Republican auspices shall be honestly done and well done, and that our record of administration shall not be smirched by either corruption or inefficiency.

Organization is essential to successful effort, and no sane man would expect any political undertaking to be successful which is not skilfully organized and wisely managed. But the success of political organization, important as is practical management, will depend upon its ideals. No matter how skilfully constructed or astutely led, the people will smash any organization that is devoted to selfish interests. Give the people the idea that the main purpose of organization is to secure control for personal advantage or for favored interests, and sooner

or later they will bring to grief the best-laid plans of the most astute leaders. But, on the other hand, convince them that organization is directed to the purpose of maintaining an honorable party policy and of promoting an administration of government in the interest of the people, and they will rally to its support. The lessons of the day to the Republican party in this State are not hard to learn. In 1894, as a rebuke to an organization that had overreached itself, Governor Morton was elected by over 150,000 majority. This succeeded many years of Democratic rule and Democratic opportunity. In the last three presidential elections the State has given remarkable pluralities for the Republican candidate. McKinley had 268,000 in 1896 and 143,000 in 1900; and Theodore Roosevelt received over 175,000 in 1904. The Republican candidate for Governor in these years, while having the advantage of the sentiment created in favor of the candidates of the national party, fell conspicuously behind the national candidate. While McKinley had 268,000 in 1896, Governor Black received 212,000. Where McKinley had 143,000 in 1900, Governor Odell received 111,000. While Mr. Roosevelt had 175,000 in 1904, Governor Higgins had