The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1915-08-23
HUGHES ON
| CANDIDACY
Text Of His Letter in Regard
to Possible Presiden-
tial Nomination
SAYS HE HAS NO RIGHT
TO BE A CANDIDATE
Jurist Asks That No Steps
Be Taken to Bring Name
Before Convention

New York, Aug. 23.Neither openl,
nor tacitly will Justice Charles E
Hughes of the supreme court allow hi
| name to be used in connection with thu
presidential nomination of 1915.
| The exact text OF the letter of thu
justice in reply to ex-Goy. Stokes of New
Jersey declining the support offered him
| is published to-day with the approval OF
the Justice. Justice Hughes in response
to an inquiry telegraphed from Range.
ley, Me-, that he thought it best in view
of published statements in the past few
days that the letter should be made pub
lie. The letter follows:
Washington, May 20, 1915.
"My dear Governor: Your letter of
Nav IL has been received. | think that
my recent statement covers the ground.
1t seems to me very clear that as a
member Of the supreme court | have no
right to be a candidate either openly or
tacitly. / cannot do my work here and
hold an equiyocal position before the
country. must, therefore, ask that no
steps be taken to bring my name before
the convention. With cordial regard,
am, very sincerely yours.
Charles Z. Hughes.
"The Hon. Edward G. Stokes,
Mechanics National Bank,
Trenton, N. J.'
Justice Hughes announcement con
veyed in this letter comes as decided
disappointment to the Republican lead
ers, some of whom have entertained the
hope that in view of Theodore Roosevelt's
to cooperate with IMAM
like Hughes" the justice would solve the
Republican difficulty of 1916. The
Hughes movement is under considerable
in some parts of the coun-
try, and II is reported that the party
leaders have been working at scheme
to offer him a unanimous nomination,
which, IL is felt, the justice would not
be able to decline.
The explicit refusal of Justice Hughes
s believed to mark an epoch in the rela-
tons of the members of the supreme
,ourt TO political preferment In the
history Of that great tribunal there have
been men notably fitted TO be the ma
ions chief executive and they have not |
Explicitly refused TO have their names |
,efore the country in connection with I
he presidency Among historians there |
las always been the feeling that mem |
,ers of the supreme court should feel
themselves cut off from any political ac
iyity. There have been notable ex-
implies of presidential ambitions among
he members of that tribunal Chief |
Justice Chase had long aspired TO the
Presidency and did not relinquish the am.
ition after he became head of the bench.
udge Stephen Field did not hesitate TO
i've some encouragement TO the Demo
ratio leaders.
Some friends of Justice Hughes declare
bat his letter ends the expectation on
he part OF the Republican leaders that
e would accept a nomination II the con.
ention appealed 20 him unanimously.
"The justice is a candid man." said ex-
ov. Stokes, "and ] take IL 10 mean that
e couldn't accept nomination from
he convention il il came TO him with.
nj his having consented TO efforts 10
ring the event about"
The letter Of Justice Hughes was sent
response TO one from Mr.. Stokes tell.
Il OF the earnestness with which many
ew Jersey citizens desired his nomina-
on. The justice was appealed TO in the .
ght Of his duty to the country and the
the people have in him.