New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-01-25
Senator Says Justice Can
Win Undying Fame by
Refusing Office.
NATION WOULD GEL
LESSON IN FIDELITY
Harm Seen Even in Resignation
from the Court After
Nomination.
Iron tho Trihun. Bureau

Washington, Jan. 24.--Justice Hughes
WAS placed on pedestal from which he
could not stoop to grasp the nomina-
ton for the Presidency, even II 1t were
offered to him without effort on his
part. In remarkable statement writ
ten tonight by Senator John D. Works
Of California.
This statement is more than n mere
attempt 10 "smoke out" Justice Hughes,
although it is calculated to do that, too.
10 is declaration OF war by senator
Works against the whole idea OF taking
candidate for the Presidency from
the Supreme bench.
Senator Works declared that the OIL
flee of the Presidency, through the
drift toward partisanship and politics,
had been reduced 10 level below that
of a Justice Of the Supreme Court IN
dignity. fairness and impartialty.
Senator Works has been afliating
with the Progressive group of the party
in Congress. and recently attended the
meeting Of the Progressive members or
the Senate and House called with the
view 10 prevent contests for state dele
cations between Progressives which
might tend TO throw the delegations IN
contested states To some reacuonary
candidate.
His statement in full follows:
Il have great faith and trust in jus
tice Hughes, of the Supreme Court OF
the United States. as | have in all the
members of that body. II he were not
already a member Of that court should
be glad 10 see him nominated and
elected President Of the United States.
But as he Is a justice Of the Supreme
Court, | hope and believe he will not
disappoint my faith IN him by allowing
himself 10 be made "a candidate FOR q
political Office, however exalted the Of
fee may be.
THE Office Of judge. whether Of high
or low degree. with great or small lu-
riSdicticn, knows no politics, no relig-
ion, no race or color. no station or
position IN life, no class distinction
nothing hut cyen-handed and equal
justice TO all men The man who Ellis
the Office Of judge should be alike blind
TO all these things.
Purity Of Court Vital.
"The Supreme Court Of the United
States Is regarded rs the greatest judi
cial tribunal on earth. Its members
should be and arc men Of the highest
ideals. The position ia for life. The
acceptance OF 10 should be taken as a
surrender Of all future political as
piratious. The preservation Of the
Turity OF the judicial robes and the
freedom Of the court from the faint
Of all outside Influences are of vastly
more Importance than the election Of
any man 70 the Presidency, no matter
how well fitted he may be to tll the
Office or how important his candidacy
may be in a political sense.
ION his own account, 4 member OF
that exalted tribunal should not desire
10 step down from his high position
To accep, any political Office. But. far
above that. he should respect the court
If which he is member and aid IN
maintaining its integrity and high
standing by putting away the tempta-
ton 20 accept such an Office.
without knowing what his views
are, but knowing what he Is and what
he has stood for, / am sure Justice
Hughes Will appreciate the importance
Of his nigh Office and the necessity Of
maintaining it free from the suspicion
of political influences directed at even
one Of its members as much as any
one could"