Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1906-10-02
pear on the same platform to address
the intelligent voters.
CHARLES e. HUGHES,

GOuncll EiuHS NOnpare1l. -
When a man becomes the nominee
of eithe of the two great political
parties Cor the governorsh;p of New
York, he Is at once national figure.
whatever his status in public affairs
up to that time. Charles E. Hughes,
who has just been nominated by the
republicans of the Empire state to
head their ticket, refused the nomina-
ton for mayor of New York city by
the party after he had been named
October 6, last year. Mr.. Hughes at
that time was the most talked Of man
in New York. He was then in the
midst of his duties as principal coun-
sci for the legislative committee in
vestigating insurance companies, re-
garded as the most famous inquiry
since the famous Lexow investigation
into the New York police force. In
stating his grounds for refusing the
mayoralty nomination which was ten
dered to him by the unanimous vote
Of the republican convention, Mr.
Hughes said:
"In this dilemma have simply to
do my duty as see it. In my judg-
ment | have no right to accept the
nomination. A paramount public duty
forbids it. 1t is not necessary to en-
large upon the Importance of the in
surance investigation. This Is undis-
puted. 1t Is dealing with questions
vital to the interests of millions of
our fellow citizens throughout the
land. 1t presents an opportunity for
public service second to none and in
wolves a co-relative responsibility
This work commands all my energies
1t is imperative that continue 1t. You
have frankly recognized that it must
continue unembarrassed and with IN
impaired efficiency. But 1t is entire
ly clear to me that this cannot be If
accept this nomination"
No one doubtt d then, and no one
has doubted since, that Mr.. Hughes
was then actuated solely by high
sense of duty. His course in this mat
ter demonstrated the high quality of
his character.
Mr.. Hughes was born in Glen Falls,
N. Y, and is "A years old His father
was Baptist minister, and up to the
time the boy was 10 years old neither
Of his parents doubted that he was
destined for the pulpit. When Charles
was very young the Rev. Mr. Hughes
moved to Newark, N. j.. where young
Hughes entered the public school,
from which he was graduated in
1873. That fall he entered the high
school, but before many months the
family moved to New York City. He
was graduated from Brown univer-
sity in 1881 and Columbia law school
in 1884.
AS a candidate for governor of New
York, Mr.. Hughes has a difficult task
ahead of him, to say the least. The
success of the republican party in gen.
eral, which is confldentially expected
will doubtless be a large factor in his
favor But New York politics, always
subject to confusion in party lines, is
more confused mass at this time
than ever before. The Hearst follow
ing, for example, Is almost wholly per-
sonal, or Independent, and doubtless
makes inroads upon the republican
vote as well as upon the democratic
There Is no telling how the campaign
will shape up before the end is reach
ed, but it looks as though Hearst and
Hughes were at the antipodes, maybe
too much SO for the good Of Hughes at
the polls. AS candidates for the Of
fee, they are not to be spoken Of in
the some breath, so superior is
Hughes, but as vote getters in this
compaign it looks as though Hearst
might have many advantages. While
Hughes lead the inquiry into the rot
tenness of the insurance companies, he
did so as the paid attorney of the state,
and he is, and for a long time has been,
prominent as attorney for interests, al
lance with which is not a good thing
for candidate for elective Office just
at this time. 1t affords Hearst double
opportunity to run fo- all 1t is worth
the gamut of his sociaHstfc harp. The
hope of success for MT. Hughes must,
1t seems, be predicted 6n the hope of
reversion Of sentiment between now
and election day in the chaotic realm
Of New York politics. The reaction,
If 1t comes, must, to do any good, carry
back to Hughes and away from Hearst
substantial democratic vote, because,
as stated, the Hearst following is re-
cruited from all parties.