The Watertown weekly leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1912-1917, 1916-09-27
RECORD OF CHARLES E. HUGHES,

When the gas Investigation began in
New York City, Hughes, unknown TO
the public and unheard of in politics,
was the one great lawyer whose free
dom from corporation entanglements
made it possible for him to perform
brilliant service for the people.
In the insurance investigation, by
sheer intellectual power he mastered
intricate technicalities, fought his way
through the confusing defenses of ex-
perts and, almost single-handed,
brought the gigantic insurance COM
panies to justice and reform.
Public admiration of his fearless
ness as an investigator brought him
the Republican nomination for mayor
of New York which he instantly waved
aside because it might impair his un-
completed insurance work.
Elected governor, he put new life
into every branch of government, and
brought into office great group of the
strongest and most expert admin
strators that had ever served the state.
When he dared to attack race-track
gambling, he risked his whole politi-
cal future in an enterprise which his
political advisers told him was hope
less. He won. Race-track gambling
was suppressed. He was reelected.
He battled with the bosses for di-
rect primaries, ballot reform and the
short ballot
He devised and created the great
public service commissions which took
the railroads out of politics and drove
the BLACK Horse Cavalry" out of AL
bany. His idea Of public service con-
troll has since been followed by many
other states.
He advocated and helped to bring
about the enactment of a Workmen's
Compensation Law, the first of its
type in the Union.
This law has been the basis for sub
sequent legislation in New York and
other states.
He did not fear popular clamor His
veto of the unsound but popular 2c-a-
mile railroad rate bill shows that
Finally, he never made a deal. He
never traded. appointments for meas
ures. He appointed men to office for
merit only. He never removed d man
from Office for political or personal
reasons. Had he stopped even occa-
sionally to the use of patronage to re-
ward friends and to punish enemies,
his victories would have been quick
and easy-but lie never stopped He
could have easily undermined the
power of his political arch enemy by
a single threat to the unprotected
state capitol employees, yet every
secure in his job. He never appoint
ed Republican because he was de
serving" in Bryan's sense of the word
Politicians of both parties sneered
fought, called him cold" ''impracti-
cal' and "theorist," and succumbed to
him. Here was a new type of man.
They did not understand him. APP
parently the people did, for they trust
ed him.
Thus did the magic name of Hughes
become a name to conjure with in
New York state politics for years
thereafter. To say man was
Hughes man" has had a special mean
ing in New York state; to say that
measure favored by Hughes has given
it at once standing that nothing else
could. Democrats, Progressives and
Republicans have used the name of
Hughes to win support for men and
measures.
Today, Hughes is saying:
Il propose that every man put
in charge of an important depart
ment shall be a man eminently fit to
discharge the duties of that depart
ment"
Il don't care, if I'm elected pre-
sident, what becomes of my perso-
nal political fortunes"
This is the same Hughes who made
his performances tally with his prom
ises when he was governor of New
York state. Can there be any doubt
that he will do likewise when he be-
comes president of the United States