The Washington herald., 1909-02-23

with firm and positive enuneiation Of
belief in George washingtOn's trust in
the American people. Hon Charles Evans
Hughes, Ii. D. governor Of the State
Of New York, stood before the president
faculty. and students Of George wash
ington University at the BeIasco Theater
yesterday morning and delivered a speech
remarkable for its power and clarity;
its sterling and honest eloquence; its high
ideals. and its magnificent verify.
It was the winter convocation Of the
university. the occasion Of conferring
degrees in course and the cOnferring Of
the honorary degree Of doctors Of laws
upon President Roosevelt. Gov. Hughes.
and Bishop Harding. Of Washington
First speech Here.
But the principal event-so far as the
public was concerned. and the public
thronged the theater-was the speech Of
Gov. Hughes. the first speech that this
man, so prominently in the public eye
has ever made il the nations Capital
Even # one did not know from his oft
published portrait who Gov. Hughes was
you could not help knowing him for one
Of the elect Six feet in height. with a
powerful frame. IS erect as a soldier
and carrying himself with the ease Of
conscious strength, he appears the very
embodiment Of physical and mental
energy-a typical American.
There IS about him that air OF pre-
paredness for an emergency that so often
marks the hard worker the man Of solid
education Perhaps II is not altogether
fancy that reads into his physical pres
anCe some trait Of his mother the school
teacher. and his father. the clergyman:
nor does one need 10 know his history
TO see in him that fine cOmmingling Of
many racial types that Is so characteristic
Of tie men who typify the t7se American
spirit.
Very Type of Worker
He Is the very type Of WORKER worker
tor the works sake; a man who conf
IDENTIFY rests the result OF his Iabors With
the people That note you could read
through al his speech. and one recalled
that historic utterance Of his:
IF I fail here I shall appeal to the
people. Let the people judge"
Which was the note he sounded IN
that memorable campaign that sent him
20 Albany on January I, 1917, as the
avowed champion Of the people.
We have heard much about the coidness
Of Gov. Hughes. his being enwrapped in
dignity but no one who sees him with
understanding eyes could be SO mistaken.
He has a face that IS GTecfan in its
purity OF outline, and Il Is open, frank
Ingenious
The eyes are remarkable They are set
deep. as is the case with most thinkers.
but under the Over-aTching brows you get
a glimpse Of a humorous and kindly light:
a generous twinkle that procIairns better
than any speech the intense humanity
and sympathy Of the man
Feeling Of Youth.
And with it all one gets. too. a feeling
Of the youth Of Cow Hughes he Is only
thirty-seven, one Of the youngest OF
Americas prominent men: and though he
is already slightly bald that fact does
not az al eliminate the intense vitality
and viTility OF the man
In the face Of a great audience: back Of
him the faculty Of George Washington
university. Gov Hughes sat unmoved
during The invocation by the Rev. Richard
D. Harlan. D. D.. Ii. D. whose father.
the justice Of the Supreme Court sat
hard BY, and when President Needham.
Of the university, introduced him sn words
Of eulogy. he looked smilinglv into the
faces Of the people.
He was greeted with thunders Of an
piause when lie rose. a dominant figure.
event such company. He was entirely
at his ease. and throughout his long
speech the only notes he used were tran
scriptions from the savings Of George
Washington. which from time 10 time he
quoted He spoke in a clear and resonant
voice, with something Of the accent OF
New England. and he used few gestures.
standing for the most part with his hands
clasped behind his hack There was no
hesitation, no feeling for the right word.
bus calmly and deliberately he spoke to
the end interrupted only by the applause.
al which times he waited patiently. smil-
ins.
TeStefuIIy Decorated.
-i-O A'C-c-7Np -AAFdA6E nEQ Deen TASTE
fully and artisticaIIy decorated for the
occasion. Around the galleries and boxes
the national coiors were draDed. The
stage was set IN a woodland scene and
Al front. in the center. stood a gil5ed
column, from which garlands Of laurel
were suspended. Back OF the people on
the stage there was a tall pedestal. on
which was a marble bust Of Gen. wash
ington. with the seal Of the university
beneath il, while back OF It the Stars and
Stripes and the flag OF the university
were crossed
Following the speech Of Gov. Hughes
there came the presentation OF candidates
for degrees in Columbian College. Ulysses
Grant Baker Pierce and James Owens
Wrightson were awarded the degree OF
bachelor of arts. and Titus Ulke the de-
gree of bachelor Of science. Then candi-
dates for degrees in the department Of
law were presented by Dean Vance.
Degrees Conferred.
John Edward Briscow. Bruce Kendall
kester. and Harry Earl Leach were pre-
sented for bachelors Of Law; Ralph Mar
shall HatteTsley was presented for mas
ter Of laws. and Carl A Richmond for
Continued on Page 3, Column 8.
Enough Inaugural Lumber for whole city.