The Washington herald., 1916-04-25
Hughes and the Presidency.

If there is any possibility of Justice Hughes
being Presidential candidate, the public ought
to know what he thinks. 1t is time to digest
his ideas and form opinion of them. But of
course explanation of his ideas is direct bid
for the nomination, and Justice of the Supreme
Court cannot with propriety seek Presidential
nomination. In other words, Justice Hughes
owes it to the Supreme Court and to the public
to decide whether he wishes to remain, JUS
tce or whether he would prefer to try for
the Republican nomination for the Presidency.
If he decides to stay the bench, he make
that known by saying that even if he were
nominated he would not run. If he prefers to
re-enter politics he can resign from the bench
and begin his race in the open so that we all
will know what he thinks about the vital prob
lens that the nation now faces.
But his statement has been that he would
not seek the nomination. So long as he re-
mains mains on the Supreme bench, Justice Hughes
nomination. So much he owes to the court Of
which he is member.
But the other hand, he owes a duty
to the public If he is willing to take the
Republican, nomination and is, therefore, pas
slve candidate, he owes it to the public to tell
them what he believes about preparedness, about
the Monroe Doctrine, Filipino independence
etc. The present time represents crisis in the
nations history, and, as such, it is the one time
in the last half century when the nation can
not deal with silent candidates. Who can i'm
Iagine the Presidential aspirants of 1860 con-
cealing their views the slavery question?
The issues at stak ke in 1915 will be just as
definite as were those of 1860. They will be
preparedness and foreign policy. Domestic mat
tiers will hgure less conspicuously than at any
time within the memory of this generation. What
would Justice Hughes, if President, do with
titude toward Mexico? What does he think
of the German submarine policy? What are
his convictions on the shipment Of arms and
ammunition? What does he think of that small
minority of our foreign-born citizens who would
like to destroy American neutrality in the interest
OF Germany? What would he do about the
English blockade? These are the points upon
which we must hear from any Presidential can
didate. The danger of a policy of silence is
already apparent, for the conductors of the pro-
tice Hughes man Satisfactory" to them
selves. No sensible person, Of course, regards
him as a man who, in the event, would please
the German propagandists any more than Mr.
ton compels him to refrain from discussing
issues which fill every American mind, he will
be made the victim of such misconcepton;
And his position undoubtedly does seal Jus
tice Hughess lips He cannot actively appear
as candidate without resigning from the
bench. There seems not the slightest likelihood
that he will resign; consequently he will not
give his views public questions. Just as
logically, the Republican convention ought not
to nominate him.
1t looks, therefore, as though circumstances
we're rapidly making Mr.. Roosevelt the Repub-
lican candidate. Such a development would be
startling one, even in American politics. 1t
50 far as the Republican party is concerned, is
whom the LEADERS" would choose so reluctant
Iy. But, American public opinion, is now sharp
ly divided about President Wilson's foreign
policy and his method Of reconstructing the
national defense The admnstratTp @ str %3;, side can
self while that element that demands more
action naturally aligns itself: with Col, Roosse-
welt. Probably most Americans would prefer
"a less noisy and abusive spokesman Of pre-
paredness than Col. Roosevelt, and man less
tempcramenta and less subject to the winds of
cxpediency, which is the reason why Justice
Hughes has so great following. But unless
the Justice resigns and openly appears as a
candidate-as he may possibly dot is hard
to sec how even Mr. Roosevelts bitterest enc
mics can fail to recognize the logic of the sit
uation and nominate him. And if Justice
Hughes maintains his present attitude, the Re
publican convention cannot properly nominate
a man for President and find out afterward
what he thinks about the conduct of the, ma
ton and of national affairs-Words Work.