New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-06-21
Rabbi Wise, After Personal In
tervieW with Justice, Says
He Would Reject Presi-
Dental Nomination.
DECISION IS IRREV0CABLE
Judiciary Should Not Be Dragged
Into Politics-This the Real
Reason Why Jurist Would
Refuse to Stand If
Named.

Lake Placid, y. Y, June 20.-Basing
what he has TO say upon a personal in
terview he had with Justice Charles Z.
Hughes Of the United States Supreme
Court. Rabbi Stephen S. Wise, Of New
York, who is a close personal friend Of
the Justice and whose summer camp
here is near the Hughes camp, to-day
issued a signed statement setting forth
the real reasons, he says, why Justice
Hughes cannot allow his name to be con-
sidered by the Republican convention at
Chicago The statement follows:
have lust come from a visit to JUS
tice Hughes at Camp Abenaki, Lake
Placid, and deem it of Importance TO set
forth the reasons, as l understand them,
which have led him TO refuse to permit
his name to be considered in connection
with the nomination for President at
the convention Of the Republican party
in Chicago.
OF these reasons il may be said that
they prove his own position TO be unas-
sailabe and at the same time serve 10
explain why Justice hughes has within
less than a decade Of public service at
tanned 10 a unique place in the respect
and confidence Of the American people.
II appears to one who is not unac-
ouainted with men and motives that
Justice Hughes has succeeded in doing
the extraordinary thing Ct viewing the
whole question in an impersonal and de-
tached way. He seems to have asked
and, 10 his own satisfaction, TO have an
swered one question: rs II right that l
should permit my name TO be used?'
His answer has been No" and as far
as another may Judge that answer has
been reached without regret and repin-
ing. This NO is the reasoned and
unalterable decision Of an unbending
conscience, a decision as honoring 10
him as has been every hour Of his note
worthy public career.
Would Refuse Nomination.
The decision is not to be recalled II
extraordinary circumstances arise or un-
foreseen contingencies come 10 pass
But II will be reafflrmed as final and
rrevocable even in the event Of the Chi
cago convention now assembled nomi-
mating Justice Hughes for the Presi-
dency. 1t is no little thing TO say, but
may say that he would decline the NOM
nation If rendered him. Why? The
Supreme Court must not be dragged into
politics. A Judge Of the Supreme Court
should not be available. though he be
nomtnally eligible for elective office.
The moment he assumes the judicial
Office ne ceases to be a partisan, and
obligation. The moment he accepts a
party nomination one or more things
happen, and happen explicably.
First, a political party may undertake
TO capitalize the judicial decisions OF its
candidate, than which nothing could be
more deeply violative Of the spirit Of the
judicial institution. His decisions would.
moreover, become subject to the parti-
san and passionate review Of partisan
strife. Worst Of all, II is not inconceiv-
able that II men are to step from the
bench to elective Office, decisions may
ultimately be rendered with q view to
the contingency Of such public and nee
essarily partisan review.
Such a situation would be certain to
lessen the independence Of rhe judiciary,
as II would inevitably impair the ma
tion's confidence in the answering In
tegrity Of the courts OF what real and
permanent value were the decisions OF
a Judge to-day who on the morrow may
choose, or be chosen, to sue for the
favor and suffrage Of the electorate?
Shows Personal Ambition.
More important than the outcome Of
the present political contest, however
large II looms at the present, is the
perpetuating Of the organic institutions
of sovereignty Of the republic. One such
institution. coordinate with the execu-
tive and legislative, is the judicial. The
people rightly believe in the integrity
and incorruptibility Of the Supreme
bench. The justices of the Supreme
Court Of the United States are privl-
legged by virtue Of their Office TO render
service Of the highest order 10 the ma
lion. The performance Of that service
and the maintenance Of the dignity Of
that office depend in largest part upon
the will Of the members Of that court to
suffer no personal ambition for elective
once, however great their gifts, and
though their fitness be in every other re-
fpect beyond question, TO influence their
judgment or 10 affect the attitude Of the
nation 70 the Supreme Court, as a
tribunal, which, without personal aims
and above private ambitions, seeks to
interpret the law upon the basis Of the
Constitution Of the United States.
In all Of this have studiously re-
trained from exact quotation Of Justice
Hughess words, though perhaps II has
been possible 10 reproduce his thought
with measurable accuracy AS we part
cd / turned TO him and asked the final
question:
DO you not conceive that an extraor-
binary crisis might make Il your duty
70 accept the nomination for President
ih order TO render a great public SER
vice?"
Cnhesitating and unequivocal was the
answer:
j hope that, as a justice Of the su-
Ireme Court, I am rendering public SER
vice and may continue to do so for some
years, but the Supreme Court must not
ne dragged into politics. and no man 's
az essential TO his country's wellbeing
as Is the unstained integrity OF the
courts"
The answer was the measure OF the
mar. Though he declined TO be con-
tlcCTcd for the Presidency by the Repub-
hcan Eerty Justice Hughes remains a
mosai "fset Cf the renuhlic.