Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-07-21

sire to re-enter politics. but because "as
member of the Supreme Court he is not
available"
This protest was issued on May 4. At about
the same date in 1919 he issued a similar
refusal to have his name considered. Presi-
dent Taft, who had appointed him to the Su-
preme Court, was candidate for renomi-
nation, and Justice Hughes, with the delicacy
behttlng a gentleman and a Judge, declined
to enter the race against him.
He was in the running, however, all the
previous winter In the autumn of 1911 there
was a conference of Republican leaders at
the Union League Club in New York for the
purpose of discussing possible candidates. 1t
was admitted that Mr.. Taft could not be re-
elected. Whatever his genius may be. it is
not political He had made so many political
enemies that he was one of the weakest can
didates who could be nominated. He had
scarcely a friend among the big leaders. So
1t was important that something should be
done IL the Republicans were to win. The
conferees at the Union League Club talked
about the qualifications and strength of a
number of men. When they had all had their
say, William Barnes, who had listened in
silence. arose in his place and spoke substan-
TALLY as follows:
"It may surprise you gentlemen" said he.
"but my candidate is Justice Hughes. We
want to nominate man who can win and
Hughes has better chance OF winning than
any other, You know do not like him and
that fought him when he was Governor;
but we are not seeking to crafty personal
grudges. We want victory
During the succeeding months there We're
atI, -
was active. and it was understood that he
favored Hughes. President Taft was con-
suited. and an effort was made to get him to
let It be known that he was willing to stand
aside for stronger man. The negotiations
were proceeding so satisfactorily that a mem
ber Of Justice Hughes family Is said 10 have
told his friends that the Justice would be the
candidate of the party. Then Taft actively
entered the race with the determination that
he should not be the only Republican Presi-
dent TO whom nomination was refused 1t
was not refused to Hayes, for he declined to
become a candidate for a second term so
long before the plans for his successor
were made that there were no complications
growing out Of his claims When the position
of Taft became definitely known Justice
Hughes issued his historical withdrawal and
the fight was on.
Hughes Never Candidate for Anything
The mental attitude OF Hughes toward Do
ltieal ONCE Is unique He has never been a
candidate for any oniee, in the sense that he
sought it. When he was conducting the in
surance investigation In New York and
astonishing the lawyers BY the thoroughness
Of his knowledge and delghting the people bv
his fearless pursuit OF erookedness. wherever
the trail led there was an attempt to eapi-
talize his popularity By making him a eanst-
date for the mayoralty; but he quickly
stopped it. He said that there was nothing
| political In the investigation IN which he vas
engaged ana that any attempt to mako IL
appear that 1t was z Republican attack upon
graft would destroy whatever value h had
he was 50 positive about It that there was
40 more tax about nominating him Tor any
once az tnaf time. But be was soon drafted
i iaso the service oi be party e Fun lor ths