The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1910-04-27
HUGHES FOR JUSTICE.


We are sorry TO see that Governor
Hughes accepts the appointment on the
United States Supreme Bench, rendered
him by President Taft. to fill the va
cancy caused by the death of Jus
tice Brewer Al the same fine. it is
natural that he should accept, from
the professional legal standpoint: and
he Will materially strengthen the
court To occupy a seat on the Supreme
Bench is n laudablc ambition for any
man. As reasons for accepting, Gov
crnor Hughes gives the straitcned con
ditlon of his finances, the salary Of
the Governor Of Now York ($l0,000 a
year, being insufficient TO pay his .ex
penscs while in that office He also
notes the alternative of gong back
TO his profession or accepting seat
IN the United States Senate. If he
were Senator, his position financially
would be even worse than as Governor
Of the State, To take up his profes.
sion again at his time of lfc, after so
many years of being out of the prac-
tice, would be practically to begin anew,
and would require a comparatively slow
building TO remuncrative practice.
He had definitely decided not 10 accept
n denomination for Governor; the u, $.
Senatorship was out of the question
for reasons stated, and rcsuming prac-
tlce as q lawyer was distasteful. There.
fore, all things conceded in detcrmin~
ing him TO accept the Associate Jus.
ticeship of the United States Supreme
Court which President Taft rendered,
Doubtless, Governor Hughes will re-
sign his GovcrDorsbip soon and assume
his judicial duties.
There is further reason which
doubtless had much to do with Gov
ernor Hughes S determination to get
out of political life. There is no ques-
ton but that he is tremendous force
in New York politics for honesty for
purity. and for honorable, business
like methods in the transaction and
is equally evident that this position,
so forccfully and consistently main
tanned by him, has made him desperate
foes IN his own party by the tens Of
thousands. He was elected Governor
of New York at the November cleo
tions. 1908, but it was by such shock
ing decrease in his vote as compared
with the vote for President Taft, as
TO he discouraging to anyone who seeks
to purify the politics Of that State
His former term as Governor had ap-
prjsed the political bosses, plotters, and
grafters what sort Of man he is They
had nothing to hope from him, because
he stood for absolute purity in poll
tics and the control by the people of
all their public affairs He held that
wherever there was a doubtful aues-
ton direct appeal to the people was
due and would settle the point Alright
This did not suit the old gang, either
the Republican gang or the Democratic
gang IN New York City. Mr.. Taft
received a plurality OF ,602 IN New
York State for President, and the plu-
rality of Governor Hughes was only
59,462, loss compared with the vote
for President Of 1888 ,l40. The politi-
cal conditions in an ordinary year would
make the candidacy of Governor Hughes
for Governor of New York hopeless
The loss of such tremendous number
of votes would ordinarily be decisive.
Nothing but the immense majority of
Mr.. Taft pulled him through the last
time. Politically, therefore, in New
York State, Governor Hughes was down
and ont. Unquestionably he understood
this fully, and while his plea that the
Govcrnorship was impossible of accept
ancc by him for financial reasons, he
also knew that 1t was impossible nor
mally for political reasons.
We should have been glad TO see
Governor Hughes maintain his great
fight in New York 1t made him a flg-
urc of National prominence and he
would have been something a good deal
more than a Presidential possibility III
1912; but he has decided the matter
for himself, as he had "a perfect right
to do, apd now he is in position which
will be congenial to him, which be can
occupy for life, and be out of the dis.
tress Of political turmoil