The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1916-02-18
AN INTIMATE VIEW OF
JUSTICE CHAS. {.
HUGHES
(Boston Transcript

If it was sought to describe in a
single word the most striking charac-
teristic of Charles E. Hughes. the
very sincerity of whose preference
for his place ON the Supreme Court
of the United States seems to
strengthen the probability of his nomi
nation against his will for the presi-
dency next June, that word would
probably be clarity. A man of positive
convictions, he does not have to think
twice of the subtleties of phraseology
he will need in putting them forth.
Every idea he has on the great issues
of the day would as we'll bear instan-
taneus photographing as does his face,
which the camera can portray without
the loss of phase of its expression.
People who have heard him speak
comment on his wonderful vocabulary.
But this is only half the story; the
clearness of his presentation of sub
ject is due primarily to the clearness
of his thinking on it, and its effective
ness is doubled by the clearness of
his enunciation, which makes every
word stand out at its full value. Even
the luxuriant whiskers, which have
given some of his foes much deep
concern, are kept under such discip-
line that they never get in the way OF
his vocal organs
The rise in the world of Justice
Hughes has left him owing no man
anything. From his father, Welsh
man by birth and a Baptist clergy
man of modest income, he doubtless
inherited his basic gift of seIf-expres-
sion. while from his mother. an
American of Dutch stock. he drew his
natural aptitude for mathematics. This
hereditary combination, fitting him for
the Interpretation of problems which
puzzled others, found its first outlet
when, as mere boy, he decided that
the methods of the school he attended
were improbable for him, and laid
before his parents a diagram for
course of study which would do him
more good. Examination convinced
them that he had hit upon most SEN
sible plan, and they consented to his
following it.
He was of delicate physique in those
days. and the simple habits and fare
at the parsonage proved the making of
him. AS he grew in stature he in
creased in robustness, till he was able
to compete successfully with the clev-
crest of his classmates at Brown uni
versity without undermining his
strength, asd today, midway of his
ffty-fourth year, he has an elasticity
of step, a vitality of manner and a
mental altertness which many man of
forty would envy. The only visible
mark that time has laid upon him is a
telltale sparseness of the hair above
his temples, where it once grew BUSH
The self-confdence of his youth
kept pace with his manhood, so that
he did not hesitate to take charge OF
the two great investigations which
made his name household word all
over the countryside probing OF the
gas trust which was holding New
York City by the tioat, and the rip
ping up of the abuses which had made
life insurance by-word and mock
cry in business circles-and to main
tain throughout these overhaulings
calmness of temper that was at once
the admiration and the despair of his
adversaries. And it came to view
again when, after he had made his
great reputation in these cases. and
the Republicans had turned to him to
lead for1orn hope for their party in
the approaching state election of l9Oo
he accepted their proposal only on
condition that he should enter office
free of any pledge or obligation to any
man or organization of any sort what.
ever. He was taken at his word and
as he was the only candidate on the
ticket, as far as known, who had ex-
acted any such concession, so he was
also the only one who pulled through
at the polls.
His administration as governor
made good the portent with which il
was ushered in, his acts being free
from all faint of boss-interference
and even his mistakes. such as they
were, being obviously due to an effor
to be too independent rather than toe
easily persuaded. Insurance and bank
ing reforms, the creation Of an efhci
ent system of state control for pubic
utilities, the enforcement. OF the con,
stiutional prohibition of race-tracl
gambling. and the prompt conven,lnt
of the legislature in extra session wheI
it had shirked its duty at the regular
session-these were few items in thu
program he had made out for himsel
before entering on his task. III
lodged none of them, however ap
parently unpopular, and if he fount
the legislature refractory he wen.
| straight to the people with his appeal
which uniformly met with cordia
response. Once during Legislative
recess he even descended from the ex
ecutive chair and went to the western
end of the state to conduct alone thu
| campaign for reelection of membe
of the upper chamber who had mad'
enemies Of the local machine" b,
standing firmly for the. right.
A second term was matter Q
course. Even the most time-tried poll
ticians dared not oppose him openly
for fear of the vengeance OF the peo
pie, and to run again was an obliga
Il ton laid upon him by the fact tha.
some parts Of his program still
lacked fulfllment. His triumph wa
equally a matter of course, but Presi
dent Taft cut the second term trif
4 W0Rn FIR MOTHERS