The Washington herald., 1911-01-12
SENATOR HUGHES
ILLNESS Is FATAL

Continued from PAGE One.
| by overwork His friends hoped that rest
from business would in time restore his
health and strength and that he would be
able to take up his work again.
Born in Missouri.
Senator Hughes was born In Kingston
| Caldwell County. Mo-, in 1853. and resided
| there until his removal to Denver, Colo
| in 1879. He was educated in the public
! schools Of hts home and was graduated
from Richmond College. Missouri, in 1871.
After graduation he began the study OF
law at the University of Missouri and pur-
sued the course to the degree of doctor
OF laws, entering upon the practice OF
his profession in 1871
In 1874. Senator Hughes married Miss
Lucy S. Menefee, who is we'll known So
cially IN Washington. After two years
practice in Missouri he went to Derver.
where he laid the foundations of a legal
career that soon made him one of the
best known lawyers of the State.
His connection as a professor of law
with the University of Denver gave him
a reputation that extended far beyond
the limits of his State. For many years
he delivered lectures on mining law. and
in recognition of his great ability, he was
granted the honorary degree Of doctor
OF Laws from the University of Denver.
Authority On Mining.
In his private practice Senator Hughes
specialized on mining and irrigation sub
jects and was regarded rs an eminent
authority on this branch of law. When
the American Bar Association met in
Denver in August. 1901. he delivered an
address before that body on the evolution
Of the mining law that attracted wide
attention.
He will be remembered by former law
students at Harvard Law School for the
courses of lectures which he delivered
at that institution upon mining and irri-
CATION law. In the recent great develop
ment of irrigation projects in the West
Senator Hughes played a large part, and
the recognition of his knowledge of the
subject imposed duties upon him and
made calls upon his strength that
played a large part in the breakdown
that preceded his death.
Senator Hughes began his political ca
reer in 1883. when he was Democratic
candidate for Presidential elector in Col
orado. In this candidacy he was not
successful. and it was not until 1900 that
he was elected to this position. In 1904
he was again a candidate, but was de-
feated. though he was a Democratic
delegate to the national convention in
1904 and again in 1908.
When. in September. 1905. the State
Democratic convention assembled at
Pueblo to select a successor to Hon.
Henry NJ. Teller to the Senate of the
United States, the unanimous choice of
the convention fell upon Charles j.
Hughes, jr. When his name was placed
in nomination before tpe legislature of
Colorado he was unanimously chosen by
Democratic senators and representatives,
and was elected by % out of the 100 votes
of the legislature on January 20. 1909.
Valuable as COmmi mitteeman
Senator Hughes was easily a leading |
political force in Colorado. as is>further |
evidenced by the fact that on two occa-
sions he was rendered the Democratic |
nomination for governor Of the State but |
would never consent to become a candi-
date.
Though his political life in Washington
was comparatively short one, he left a
decided impress upon the Senate and upon
he social life of the city. He was essen
tally committeeman and was assigned
o no fewer than eleven important COM
to the service upon which he
brought to bear a knowledge of the sub
ect that was surpassed only by his con-
cientious discharge Of duty.
His Washington home was the old Dear
nS house. that was previously the resi-
lence of William Barret Ridgely, former
of the Currency, at the inter-
section of Connecticut avenue, Q, and
Twentieth streets. During the two years
# occupancy by Senator Hughes. this
esidence was notable for the brilliant
inner parties and for the refinement and
ospitality of it's social entertainments.
Senator Hughes was most highly es-
eemed by his colleagues in the Senate,
nd many were the expressions of re-
ret heard at the Capitol yesterday when
he news of his death came. Members of
he Senate recalled the zeal with which
enator Hughes had thrown himself into
he work that confronted him when he
anne to the Senate at the beginning of
he arduous tariff session, which, with it's
ummer work, followed by the long ses-
ion that year, were most exacting to one
his energetic and nervous disposition.
here was no doubt. ii is said, that the
eviction which he gave to the work in
le Senate, coupled with the demands of :
is profession, was the direct cause of
Is death.