The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-06-11

lie warmly commended Theodore
Roosevelt, ito whom tho country IL under
lasting obligation for his vigorous oppo-
si,ion to abuses and for the strong i'm
pulse he has given to movements for
their correction"
These were the main announcements
OF his personal platform upon which his
friends urged his nomination for Pres
dent in that year,
Subsequently. at Chicago. he repeated
the main points OF his Republican Club
speech.
He was strongly opposed 10 the in
come tax constitutional amendment n
asked the Legislature to reject 1t in the
last year OF his Governorship. 1910, on
posing the stand taken by Mr.. Taft, Mr..
Root n other leaders OF the Republic
can party.
In 1912. as every one recalls. he was
deaf to all suggestions that he consent
to appear as a compromise candidate
before the Republican national conven-
t,on at Chicago. At that time, as inter-
preted by the Rev. DR.. stephen S. Wise.
who went to see him at Lake Placid, he
stated that he would decline even II
nominated. A resurvey of his views at
that time is not lacking in interest.
81 have Just come from a visit to
Justice Hughes" said DIR, Wise.
. . "IIe seems to have asked n
to his own satisfaction answered one
question: is it right that l should per-
init my name to be used" Ills answer
has been NO and AS far as another may
Judge that answer has been reached
without regret and repining.
This NO Ia tho reasoned and un-
alterable decision Of an u~nbending con
science. . The decision is not to
be recalled II extraordinary circum-
stances arise or unforeseen contingencies
come to pass. But II will be reafiirmed
az Anal and irrevocable even In the event
Of the Chicago convention now as
sembling nominating Justice Hughes for
the Presidency.
II may say that he would decline the
nomination II rendered to him. .
Why? A political party may undertake
TO capitalize tho judicial decisions of its
candidate. than which nothing could be
more deeply violative OF the spirit OF
the judicial institution. His decisions
would, moreover. become subject 10 the
partisan and passionate review Of parti-
San strife.
worst of all. Il 10 not inconce!vable
that, IL men are to step from the bench
to elective office, decisions may ulti-
mately be rendered with a view to the
contingency of such public M unnec-
essarily partisan review, Such a s!tua-
ton would be certain to lessen the In
dependence OF the judiciary. $50 In
all this ! have studiously refrained from
exact quotation Of Justice Hughes's
words, though perhaps 1t has been pos
sible to reproduce his thought with meas
urable accuracy. As we
parted turned to him n asked the
final question:
"sDo you not conceive that an extraor-
binary crisis might make It your duty
TO accept the nomination for President,
In order to render a great public SER
viceT
"'Unhcsitating and unequivocai.' was
the answer:
"I hope that ms a Justice OF the Su-
preme Court I am rendering public SER
vice and may continue to do so for
some years but the Supreme Court
must mot be dragged into politics. and
no man In as essential to his country's
we'll being as Is the unstained integrity
Of tho courts"
A word or two remains to he said
about Mrs. Hughes. probably the only
confidant the Justice has over had.
He nAssr took u one wholly into his