Omaha daily bee., 1916-06-11
Charles Evams Hughes, Nominee of the
Republican Party, IN Limehght Ten Years

Charles Evans Hughes was born
in Glenn Falls, N. Y, April II, 1862.
He obtained his education at Colgate
university, not far from his home, and
at Brown university, where he also
studied law. He received the degree
OF LID. from Columbia, Knox and
Lafayette.
Aside from his career in the prac-
lice OF law, Judge Hughes did not
become a national figure until about
ten years ago, when he became the
attorney for the Armstrong commit
tee of the New York legislature, then
investigating the relations of corpora
tons, insurance companies in particu-
lar, to the law-making powers OF the
state. Previous to that time New
York had been governed politically, it
had been said, by group OF grand
dukes" who ruled their various prov
inces and the state with satisfaction
to themselves and devotion to the
great interests that considered prac-
teal attention to political matters es-
sential to their continued success.
These interests were, more than any
others, the transportation and insur-
ance companies. The public was be-
ing exploited by these corporations,
and these corporations were, in turn,
being exploited by the few individuals
who held strategic corporate positions.
They regarded the public only as a
gold mine to be worked; the legisla-
ture as a convenient source OF increas-
ing rights, and administrative and
executive officers only as servants to
do their bidding.
Big Interests Exposed.
But they coulG not still the dissatis-
faction OF the public. Each of the
three great interests was in turn sub
jected to the proper exposure, chas-
tisement and curb that an aroused
public can and will administer.
Charles E. Hughes was the instru-
ment that fittingly did the work of
the public.
His Investigations and his guberna-
torial administrations put all end alike
to the combined corporate and politi-
cal monarchy that ruled the state for
its own benefit. The people came
back to their own, both in the con-
troll Of the corporations, to which they
had given life, and in the political con-
troll Of the state. He was denounced
by leaders OF that day of even his own
party, but subsequent realization OF
his worth and work made his official
record the standard and light house.
Politically, it is sufficient to point out
that Governor Whitman and other re-
publican party leaders are now his
warmest advocates.
1t was in 1905 that the legislature
appointed a joint committee to in
vestigate the price charged for gas
and electricity in New York City, con-
trolled by the great Consolidated Ga,
company. This committee, after care
full thought, chose as its counsel Mr..
Hughes. Under his lead the commit
tee made painstaking study of the
conditions controlling the lighting in
dustry. The results of the commit
tees work were expressed in bills re-
ducing the prices for gas and cleo
tricity, specifically the "80-cent" gas
bill. In 1905 this bill failed under
circumstances that so aroused public
indignation that its passage the fol-
owing year was made inevitable.
Investigate Insurance Companies.
In 1905 the legislature also ap-
pointed joint committee to investi-
gate life insurance companies. Chosen
BY this second committee as Its coun-
lel, Mr.. Hughes brought to bear all
Of his great devotion, concentration,
training and experience. He plunged
into the work, mastering details of
accounting and insurance problems,
and revealed the entire explorations
q insurance. The disclosures startled
the community and the country and
resulted in the passage by the legis-
lature, without amendment, OF the
remedial bills drawn by Mr.. Hughes,
The gas and insurance Investigations
stand as striking examples Of the
value Of speedy and thorough legisla-
tive inquiries.
During the course Of the investi-
cations Mr.. Hughes was offered the