The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-06-01
HIS OWN WORDS
MAKE HUGHES AN
IMPOSSIBLE MAN
He's Opposed to Electing Court
Judges to Office.
His Statement to Rabbi Wise
Made Public in Chicago.
A KNOCKOUT TO CAUSE
Many Think 1t Waste of Time
to Nominate Justice.
Roosevelt Looks Strongest in
Battle Royal Bout.
Many Think 1t Waste of Time
to Nominate Justice.
Roosevelt Looks Strongest in a
Battle Royal Bout.
BY JAMES j. MONTAGUE.

BY JAMES j. MONTAGUE.
Chicago, Ill, June Torn by con-
flictine emotions, the Republican ma
tic nal committee met today to make
o frantic effort to determine whether
they want Roosevelt, Hughes or
dark horse as their candidate for the
presidency.
The conflicting emotions consist of
a desire to win the election on the one
hand and on the other the fear of
getting a candidate who will steam
roll them the minute he is elected n
making up the temporary roll they
will tighten their grip on the dele
gates. They hope also to be able 10
reach some decision as to the man
they want nominated. But that job
doesn't look half so easy as it did
few days ago A sudden and violent
offensive against Hughes has muddled
the situation.
T. X. and Allies.
This offensive comes from both the
Roosevelt people and the allies" who
are supporting the small fry candl-
dates for the nomination. 1t is ex-
tremely hard for the Hughes support
ers TO controvert. In the first place,
the high dignity of their candidate
precludes the usual rough house
methods of booming him In the sec
ond there is not a single Hughes sup
porter who can say that of his own
personal knowledge the justice will
him.
How do we know he will run?"
say the delegates, solicited for votes,
and the Hughes boomers have no an
sWer
In support of the assertion of the
Justices opponents that it would be a
waste of time to nominate him, an
interview he accorded to Rabbi Steph-
en- $. Wise, June 2, 1912, has been put
into circulation. The statement is
neither evasive nor dubious. 1t is
straight out assertion that the SUI
preme court must not be dragged into
politics Here it is;
The Statement.
"A judge of the supreme court
should not be available, although he
NAV be noninaIly eligible for elective
office The moment he assumes the
judicial office he ceases to be par
tisan and knows or should know, no
partisan obligation. The moment he
accepts the party nomination several
things happen, and happen explicably-
First, a political party may under
take to capitalize the judicial decisions
of its candidates, than which nothing
could be more violative or the spirit
of the judicial institution His deci-
sion would, moreover, become subject
to the partisan and passionate review
of partisan strife. Worst of all. 1t is
not inconceivable that if men are to
step from the bench to elective office,
with the view to the contingency of
such public and necessarily partisan
review.
More important than the present
contest, however large it looms at
present is the perpetuating of the or
ganic institutions of the republic
DR.. Wise asked: DO you not con-
ceive that an extraordinary crisis
might make it your duty to accept the
nomination for president. in order to
render a great public service2"
To this, Justice Hughes replied:
AS He Felt Then.
II hope that as justice of the su-
preme court, 1 am rendering public
service and may continue to do so for
some time, but the supreme court
must not be dragged into politics. And
no man is essential to his country's
we'll being as is the unstained dignity
of the COURTS
The circulation of this statement in
furiated the Hughes supporters, hut it
left them powerless to reply. Neither
William Hayward who is booming
Hughes for New York, or Frank
Hitchcock. who is booming him in the
name of so or less southern delegates
of assorted compilations, could answer
it with any statement ever made by
their candidate.
The Roosevelt supporters. as we'll as
the allies. contend that as this is the
subject it must stand. If he did not
believe in dragging the supreme court
into politics four years ago, they cor
tend. he does not believe in dragging it
into politics now. Consequently, what
is the use of giving him votes that he
is bound to refuse?
As Battle Royal.
Indications today were that the
chances of the minor candidates are
dwindling. They are still in the ring
but the ring is like the old fashioned
battle royal" In that entertaining
sport a dozen contestants are enter
tanned. The little fellows get together
and hammer the two big fellows, and
when the first big fellow is out, the
best man left Usually wins.
George Won L. Meyer, former sec
rotary of the navy and leader of the
Taft Republicans, who are now out for
Roosevelt, came in today. Mr. Meyer
was very confident and happy.
Mr.. Meyer was very confident and
happy He said he had heard from
delegates all over the country and that |
he was sure that Roosevelt would win |
after the first few ballots.
The Fairbanks leaders, augmented |
by Jim Watson, of Indiana, are as
usual the most conspicuous of the |
boom promoters in the hotel corridors. |
They have the best organization and |
are the ablest politicians now working |
the loobieS. They are such able poll |
ticians, in fact, that it is pretty gem
orally believed they would not hesitate |
to make dicker to get the vice presi-
dency for their candidate and support |
somebody else for the first place.
T. r. and Fairbanks?
Inasmuch as Mr.. Fairbanks was Mr..
Roosevelts vice presidential candi- |
date, most of the delegates are guess
ing that the somebody else may mean
Roosevelt. much as Watson .KeaIins-