East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1907-12-21

William E. Curtis, the widely
known writer of the Chicago Record
Herald. in a recent issue of that pa
per. gives a remarkable close-range
sketch of Governor Hughes of New
York, who is looming large on the
presidential horizon.
Mr.. Curtis writes:
"Some people have honors thrust
upon them, and that is the case with
Governor Hughes. He did not want
to be governor of the state He was
nominated against his will and ac-
cepted from a sense of duty. If he is
nominated for president, it will be in
the same way. and he will accept for
the same reasons.
HIS ambition does not lie along po-
litical or official lines. He would
rather be recognized as the head of
the New York bar than be president
of the United States, not because he
does not appreciate the honor and
the fame that attach to the office
but because he has no taste for poll
tics or for executive responsibility.
His education. his career and his am
bitions all lead in the other direction.
The retirement of Mr.. Choate, the
death of Mr. Carter and the appoint
ment of Mr.. Root as secretary of state
left a vacancy at the head of the New
York bar which Mr.. Hughes was anx-
ious to fill, and his admiring friends
are confident that he hight have been
so recognized II the governorship had
not been thrust upon him.
They have a sublime confidence in
his ability and in his destiny also. and
sympathize with his Indifference to-
ward the presidency, which, If he
should be nominated, will forever
prevent him from attaining the partic-
ular distinction he covets. They ad-
nit that any ordinary man would es-
timate the presidency Of the United
States as greater distinction than the
Leadership of the New York bar, but
assert that Governor Hughes Is not
an ordinary man and that he natur-
ally is disinclined to be diverted from
the paths of distinctin which his am
bition has marked out for him.
Hughes Not Cold Blooded.
It Is the prevailing impression that
Governor Hughes is a cold-blooded
keen, tireless lawyer, without much
grace or consciousness. But those
who are intimately associated with
him here and have known him close
ly in New York give him very diff
ferent reputation. They insist that
he is affectionate, genial and gener-
Gus, always considerate and thought
full Of the happiness and welfare of
others, and that his code of personal
and professional honor is very strict
and very high.
He has very few cronies, however;
he is not given to condolences. He
is reserved and unde monstrative; has
perfect self-contro1 iand never shows
either joy, grief or temper.
He has a keen sen sc of humor and
tells a good story, bu he never laughs
at his own jokes and expresses his ap-
probation of the jokes of others with
smile only He ever laughs loud.
He has no fads. IIe has no sports
He does not ride horseback or play
golf or tennis or tai re long walks over
muddy roads in tn rain. He never
volunteers an opin Jon on any sub
ject. He acquired that habit in his
law office, where his opinions were
sold at rather hitSh prices, although
he has never had. the reputation OF
charging large fees.
Is Not a Greedy Man.
He had large and important prac-
tice, but it is sal d his professional in
come was only about $4,000 a year.
Other lawyers say that Hughes never
charged anybody as much as his SER
vices were wor tn. He received a $1O,-
900 fee for h Is work with the legis-
tive insuranc' committee last year,
although very few men of his profess
sional stand ng would have been sat-
isfied with ess than $4,000.
He is man of tireless industry.