New-York tribune., 1906-10-02
SOME QUESTIONS ANSWERED.

SOME QUESTIONS ANSWERED.
Mr. Hearst's newspapers, with the good taste
TO be expected of such a candidate, have begun
tercely TO attack Mr.. Hughes on the ground that
he did not do his duty in the insurance lnvesu-
cation. A few days ago they propOunded with
ali the emphasis of advertising type series of
sophistically framed questions for the purpose
of suggesting that his present nomination was
the result of undue favors TO Republican polti-
clans They asked why he did not put Mr..
Bliss and others on the stand and make them
tell what they did with the campaign contribu-
tiOns received from insurance companies.
Several answers might be made to those ques-
tions. One perfectly satisfactory answer was
made long before they were asked by Senator
Armstrong the chairman of the investigating
committee. At the beginning of the work he
announced that the duty imposed was to investi-
gate the management of insurance, not TO make
political sensations conduct prosecutions. If
insurance money should appear to have been
improperly expended the committee would al
low nothing To divert il from finding out in
what direction and for what purpose it had
been expended. II would trace money TO the
political party the lobby or the speculatOr for
private accounts. Thus il would establish
everything that was necessary 10 suggest RENE
dial measures. 1t could not attempt 10 trace
the expenditure 10y a political party or show
his Ill gotten gains. whether on country houses
or racehOrses. That programme was generally
accepted thoroughly fulfilling the duty of
the committee. 1t was followed exactly. When
insurance money was traced into the hands of
Mr. Bliss and Mr.. Platt all that concerned the
committee made known. The money went
for political purposes. There was no mystery
about it. 1t used for campaign expenses.
Whether the particular dollars went TO hire
I,,ITc ofr LOT afIIra or
man the polls. probably nobody could tell and
If anybody could it is not Of the slightest inn
portance The insurance abuse fully re-
vealed and the remedy has been applied. The
duty which Mr. Hughes undertook has been
performed. He did not promise TO turn the
investigation into a mere instrument for yellow
sensations. Another answer to Mr.. HearstS
questions is given by Mr.. Hearst himself. Now.
when Mr. Hughes suddenly stands IN the way of
his yaulting ambition he as suddenly discovers
that Mr.. Hughes unfaithful investigator
and tool Of Mr.. Ryan On October 16 last Mr..
Hearst in The American" thus characterized
Mr.. Hughess independence Of Mr.. Ryan:
And what was the first act Of the Republican
boss after deserting the fusion so feared of
Ryan?
To reach down into the tribunal now investi-
eating the infamies Of the insurance companies
and strive to take away the brilliant and un-
path OF financial perfdy and crime that may
lead finally 10 Ryan's door.
II is to the everlasting honor of Charles Evans
Hughes that he saw through this Intrigue and
refused to be the 6upe Of Ryan and Odell
On December 80 last when the investigation
had been finished. Mr. Hearst in The Amer
lean" thus summed up its work and paid tribute
TO Mr.. Hughes:
No in New York State will question the
excellence of the work done by the counsel for
the people, Mr.. Charles E. Hughes He has
drawn from the management Of the companies
under litigation admissions which have damned
them in the eyes Of the public.
He has done perhaps everything that could be
done during the time at his disposal. II there
should be no extension OF time, Mr.. Hughes can
retire with the perfect certainty that his work
has had the approval and aroused the commen-
dation OF the people
Every fact concerning the inQuisition and its
limitations which Mr.. Hearst knows now he
knew then-eKcept that the inquisitor was TO
be his rival for the Governorship. Then he
gave Mr.. Hughes the most glowing praise. The
change in circumstances easily explains but
cannot excuse the altered tone. Mr.. Hearst's
present questions about Mr.. Hughes are too
plainly insincere and based on envy and malice
10 influence any honest and Intelligent man.
They are OF piece with bis present friendship
for Murphy, whom a few months ago he was
calling 'the chief criminal of them all" man
whose praise and blame are both so evidently
directed entirely by his own selfish interests
carries no weight, matter how loud his pro-
tests of patriotism and high morality.