The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-06-13
ATTACK ON HUGHES
ISSUED BY STONE
NOl Id WAKE IT ILLEGAL

81 Io'is. ~. 1uuc i2.--Scna,or
william I Stur~. head 81 tho Foreign
Relations Committee OF the Senate. who
~ slated for chairman of the platform
commitisc. Issued u lengthy statement
to-day attacking the Republican plat
form and clsrlo. =. Hughes and c1-
pressing pity for the rrosrcssfves whom
Theolorc Roosevelt, had deserted. In
rart Il s,r7
The Chicago platform rs largely de-
voted 80 q rtbid partisan criticism Of
the President THIS Indictment, how.
ever. vs. general iu terms. carefully
avoiding particular specifications. AS u
pleading D.. could I've demurred ont Of
court ls np' dieting q cause of action.
II merely "harges the President with
t'fnidltt. oscillation. lack of courage
and as h'ing unpstrioiir and un-Amcri-
can
After wrapping this blue flame Of
wrath around the Presidents head and
seeking 70 make " him = ,icarious sac
rince the distinguished gentlemen who
framed this wonderful document stultify
thrmseiNcs y" practically indorsiny All
tho things accomplished and 10 he ac-
'omplish"d under IN" Wilson Admins
tsuon, ana M - far AS they venture
to declare any affirmative programme Of
their own that prugramme Is practically
along tho line ~ that hitherto followed
and nov being followed by the Ireei-
dent and the Democratic Congress. This
platform is indeed tho most wonderful
production Of it, kind known to our
history.
Hughes OF Good character.
As 10 the candidates. I have only ~
say that Judge hughes IL a gentleman
or good ability and good character. He
~ 20 reserved and exclusive as IN leave
the impression that he emana,ed from
the north pole and came 10 the Temper
ate Zone with frost in his whiskers. not
yet by any means dissolved. His only
pubic service prior to his appointment to
the supreme bench is confined to gas
and insurance frauds ~ tho city OF New
York. which brought him into such prom
inence as 10 make him the Republican
candidate for Governor.
NJ objection to the nomination OF
Mr.. Hughes lies IN the fact that I regard
u as bad IN every way, even vicious, for
= great political party, hard pressed and
on its uppers. invading the supreme
Court Of the United States and taking
down from that bench one Of its justices
10 make OF him a party candidate for
u political Office to meet and serve a
party e~xigency.
The experiment is full OF menace and
Danger Hereafter II IL more than prob
able that men appointed to the Supreme
Court will begin TO regard II not as the
honorable and final goal OF their ambi-
lions, but as a stepping stone to what
they will. as Mr.. Hughes does, regard
as a political advancement beyond the
judic!a! position they hold. rn that view
OF things II will follow that the decisions
of Judges of that great tribunal will be-
come NOR" or less the subject Of sus-
ricion. People will begin to surmiss
whether decisions on questions of wide
or general interest rave tehin them
some mister political design. The ten
den"v will be to undermine public conf
denct In that great court-a thing that
would lie fun Of evil consequ. noes. II
not disastrous.
WOuld Amend Constitution,
"Soime State Constitutions. 7 AIN old,
contain provisions which make the
Judges OF their Suprem. Courts Ineligible
to a political Office during the term for
which they were elected or appointed. I
am inclined 10 the opinion that II would
DE wise TO so amend tn. Constitution OF
the United States as TO make n Justice
OF the supreme o ineligible 10 any
political offtce while a member OF that
court or tor a period Of five years follow.
ing his retirement or separation there.
from"
Senator Stone say. the Progressives In
their platform made the issue centre
about one man. He adds:
81 will not now upon this re.
narkable declaration I am content
merely TO call attention to it. Four years
ago this same man called his countrymei
to rally around the flag he lifted. They
came swarming by hundreds Of thou
sands. singing Tramp, Tramp. Tramp
the BOYS Are Marching"
This year this same rallying host, In
stinct with the spirit Of Americanism,
has called for this same man 20 CONF
forth n lead them again. But he suiks
IN his tent AZ Oyster Bay While his loyal
following waits uncertain and dispirited
WIN he respond and lead them. singing
Onward. Christian Soldi.rs.' or will he
shrink before the uplifted words OF the
Old Guard and thus leave his ready and
stalwart adherentA victims Of one Of the
most pitiful and tragic betrayal evel
recorded in American history? II will IN
most interesting TO await tho outcome"