Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-06-10
JUSTICE HUGHES
IRON-WILLED AND
INCORRUPTIBLE
Career of Man Chosen to Eff
feet Republican
Restoration
INVESTIGATOR

Charles Evans Hughes fame rests 2rin-
cipally on his conduct of the insurance IN.
vestigation and his career MS Governor OF
New York State.
An iron will. incorruptibe character and
remarkable reasoning ability are character
istics commonly attributed to him.
Mr.. Hughes was born at Glen Falls, N.
" April IL, 1862, the son of Welshman
who had come to this country in 1855,
became n teacher of languages and after
wards n Baptist clergyman.
AS the slow methods of the ordinary
school irked the brilliant boy, his mother
took charge of his education until he was
10 years old Then he entered New York
City grammar school. and at the age of IA
began his studies in Madison nov Colgate)
University. at Hamilton, n. Y. Two years
later he entered the sophomore class at
Brown University, where he was graduated
with many honors in 1881.
His parents intended him for the min
istry, but the young man had a strong pen
chant for the law. He obtained a posi-
tion at Delaware Academy, Delhi. n. Y, as
instructor in Greek, Latin and mathematics
and at the same time read Blackstone every
afternoon In the office of local judge.
In 1882 he entered Columbia Law School.
New York city. He was graduated two
years later at the head of his class and be-
came member of the New York bar.
LAWYER AND TUTOR.
FOR tne nfSt lnTee years he pTaCtlCeu ne
served as prize tutor at Columbia also
and added to his income further by conduct.
ing a private quiz" two nights every week
for law students who desired his aid.
In 1883 he entered the law firm OF Car
ter. Hughes & Cravath and about the same
time married Miss Antolnette Carter,
daughter of Walter s. Carter senior mem
ber OF the Arm In 1891 Mr.. Hughes took
a professorship at Cornell University, which
he held for two years. He did this partly
to recover his health, damaged by over
work. He then entered New York city law
practice again.
He first attracted newspaper attention In
1905, when he became counsel for the
Stephens Gas Investigating Committee. Mr..
Hughes uncovered the ramfications of the
gas and electric light monopoly of the
metropolis and later assisted in framing
several legislative bills to bring relief to
bad conditions he had discovered.
In the same year started the famous life
insurance investigation, beginning in a
quarrel among the officers OF the Equitable
Life Assurance Company and extending to
several other large companies
When asked to take up the work of
counsel to the Investigating Committee Mr..
Hughes declined. except on condition that
he be given free rein and allowed to handle
the probe thoroughly, The investigation
lasted four months and resulted In revo-
luton in insurance methods Mr. Hughes
uneartneQ gross lTTeBuldTltltS III tne lnSur-
ance business and recommended the impor-
tant legislation which has since corrected
most of these evils. Later as Governor, he
furthered this legislation. In the course of
the Investigation Mr., Hughes was offered
the Republican nomination for Mayor OF
New York, but refused, desiring TO continue
his probe.
GOVERNOR OF NEW YORK
In the autumn of 1906 Mr.. Hughes was
of lot latr ha
Republlcans. Here, although his training
and mental habits might have been ex
pacted to make him conservative, he took
ihe leadership in somewhat radical legisla-
tion He was very successful in getting
,yhat ne wanted from the hostile Legisla-
t',rs whenever he found difficulties thrown
Sn hts way he went out and talked to the
,annla and he usually soon found the
T'saIsIature yielding He was elected for a
second term ofstwo years In 1908
some OF the fruits OF the Hughes admin.
istration were the public utilities bill, new
Insurance code, Reorganization OF the bank
Ins system registration OF lobbyists" an
employers' liability law, suppression OF race
trael rambling the eightcent gas Bill and
graduated inheritance tax
SUPREME COURT JUSTICE.
In 1sio President Taft appointed Mr.
Hughes an Associate Justice OF the su-
preine Court and he took Office on October
/ OF that year. Since then his services,
though notable. have not been of spec
tacuiaf nature. and have been involved IN
the proceedings Of the court as whole SO
ihat ID Is dlifieult to tell just what part
Mr.. hughes has played.
Two remarks Of Mr.. Hughes have at
tfaeted much attention. In 1907 he said I
hfIufnah society cannot be stable Unless ID
a progressive" and the neat year: THE
eofnfnon welfare must be the supreme law. %
Mr. Hughes IS deyout, but broad Ia his
religious views He helped John b. Rock
efeiler, Jr., organise his famous Sunday
school
He Is an "out-of-doors man and likes
10 spend his summers In the Alps or the
Adlrohdaeks- His children are Charles r.,
ana Catherine.