Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-06-21
TELLS WHY HUGHES
|. WOULD NOT ACCEPT
Rabbi Wise, in Statement,
Says Justice Will Positively
Refuse Nomination.


LAKE PLACID. y. Y. June 2l.- Basins
what he has 10 say on a personal inter-
view had with United States Supreme
court Justice Charles r. Hughes. Rabbi
stephen S. Wise 81 Nev York. close
personal friend OF the justice. whose sum-
mer camp here IS near the Hughes camp.
has. issued a signed staepent. settips
forth the real reasons. he says why jus
tice Hughes cannot allow his name to he
considered by the republican convention
al Chicago Hts statement is:
Il have just come from visit to Justice
Hughes at Camp Abenaki. Lake Placid.
and deem It OF Importance To set forth
the reasons. I understand them. which
have led him to refuse TO permit hs
name to he considered In connection with
the nomination for President at the con-
vention of the republican party In Chi
cago
'Of these reasons II may be said lhat
they prove his own position to be unas-
salable, and at the same time serve 10
explain why Justice Hughes has. within
less than a decade Of public service. at
tanned to unique place in the respect
and confidence OF the American people.
His Views on Subject.
auainted with men and motives that jus
tice Hughes has succeeded i'm doing the
extraordinary thing of viewing the who.e
question in an unpersonal and detached
way. He seems 10 have asked and TO
his own satisfaction to have answered
one question. Is II right that ] should
permit my name TO be used" His an
swer has beer no. and. as far as another
may Judge. that answer has been reach
ist ,s..s,, III
no is the reasoned and unatlerabIe de-
cision Of an ,inbending conscience. a de-
cision as honoring 10 him as has been
every hour OF his noteworthy public ca
reer.
The decision lis rot to be recalled IL ,
extraordinary circumstances arise or un-
foreseen contingencies come to pass. But
it will be reaffrmed as hnal and irrevoca-
ble even in the event OF the Chicago con-
vention now assembled nominating Jus
tice Hughes for the presidency. II Ia no
little thing to say. but l may say that
he would decline the nomination IL ten
dered him.
"Why? The Supreme Court must not
be dragged into politics. A judge OF tibet
Supreme Court should not. be available.
though he be nom.naliy eligible for cleo
tive Office. The moment he assumes the
judicial Office he ceases to be a partisan
obligation. The moment he accepts .
party nomination one or more things
happen. and happen explicably.
Might influence Decisions.
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 or the
judicial institution. His decisions would.
moreover. become subject to the partisan
and passionate review Of partisan strife.
Worst Of all. 1t is not Uncomfortable that
III men are to step from the bench TO cleo
tive office. decisions may ultimately be
rendered with q view TO the CONTINGENCY
Of such public and necessarily partisan
review.
Such a situation would be certain To
lessen the independence Of the judiciary.
as 1t would inevitably impair the nations
confidence In the unswerving integrity OF
the courts. or what real and permanent
value were the VIEWS Of a judge TODAY
who on the morrow may choose. or be
chosen. to she for the favor and suffrage
OF the electorate? More important than
the outcome OF the present political con-
test. however large II looms at the pres
ent. is the perpetuating Of the organic I'm
situations or sovereignty of the republic.
One such institution. coordinate with tbs
executive and legislative. is the judicial.
The people rightly believe in the integ-
rity and incorruptibility OF the Supreme
bench.
"he Justices of the Supreme Court OF
the United States are privileged by viz
tue of their office to render service OF the
highest order to the nation. The per-
Torrance of that service and the main.
tenance OF the dignity of that office de-
pend In largest part upon the viii OF tho
members OF. that court TO suffer no per-
sonal ambition for elective ONCE. how
ever great their gifts and though their
fitness be in every other respect beyond
question to influence their Judgment or to
affect the attitude of the nation to the
Supreme Court as a tribunal which. with
out personal aims and above private am
billions. seeks to interpret the law upon
the basis OF the Constitution of the United
States.
Answer Is Final.
in all this / have studiously refrained
from exact quotation OF Justice Hughes
words, though perhaps II has been pos
sible to reproduce his thought with
measurable accuracy. As We parted, I
turned to him and asked the final ques-
ton:
do you not conceive that an extra
ordinary crisis might make it, your duty
to accept the nomina ton for President, in
order to render great public sersire?'
"Enhesitating and uneauivocai was the
answer.
~ hnpe that as a Justice of the SUI
preme Court | am rendering public -serN-
ice. and may continue to do SO for some
years. but the Supreme Court must not
be dragged into politics. and no man is as
essential TO his country's well-being Is Is
the unstained Integrity or the courts
THE answer was the measure Of the
man. What though he declined to be
considered for the presidency by the re-
publican party. Justice Hughes remains a
moral asset OF the republic.
(signed) STEPHEN s, WISE