New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-05-19
Mr.. HUGHES'S WEAKNESS
As Candidate He Would Have to Defend
Nomination While Judge.
To the Editor of The Tribune.

To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: II is not difficult TO understand the
controlling factors directing the thought OF
a not inconsiderablc number Of Republicans
to the consideration Of Justice Hughes as
suitable candidate for their Presidential
nomination in June.
His splendid political record as Governor
OF New York, his freedom from all entangle-
ment with the rupture OF the party in 1912,
the fact that his views on all questions like
ly to create division are unknown, make his
selection one requiring the minimum OF sur
render of past prejudice.
While this reasoning holds good with re-
spect TO the June convention it does not re-
quirc much reflection to discover that prob
ably no candidate prominently considered
would be so weak before the people in No
vcmber.
There is undoubtedly a widespread feeling
that an appointment TO the Supreme bench
should separate the judge definitely and per
manenty from further political activity, and
If nominated Justice Hughes would have to
defend through the whole campaign the pro
priety Of his candidacy.
The objections to the nomination Of a
member OF the Supreme Court for President
are founded upon sound reasoning. Once let
n judge Of tho court be nominated and
elected President there will be permanent
danger of the judges writing opinions with
the hope that they will pave the way to
similar honors and the still greater danger
II
even oftener than they exist.
One has only to recall the fate OF an ad
miral in recent years who fell from the
highest pinnacle OF acclaim almost 70 OBJ
security for an unimportant act Of bad taste
to realize how the dstaste of the public for
judges in politics might easily Of itself de-
stroy what would otherwise be good pros
poets Of success.
To nominate Justice Hughes, aside from
establishing an improper and dangerous
precedent. would be like buying pig in
poke" The issues at stake are new issues.
and they are vital issues. The people real
ize, since Mr.. Wilson's Administration. how
unimportant platform declarations may be-
and to arouse winning support the csndi-
date must himself in himself stand for the
policies the voters wish TO put into effect.
The Republicans and Progressves would
alike discredit their earnestness Of purpose
and declare themselves rank opportunists if
they nominated candidate whose views on
sIl the striking issues of the day are as ut
terly unknown are those of Justice Hughes.
candidate may possibly "pussyfoot" into
the nomination for President in June, but no
party can 'pussyfoot" into the Presidency
in this November election.
For these reasons it seems to me quite
certain that the Republican convention will,
in the spirit typified by The Tribune. put
the past behind and, looking TO the present
and the future, select the candidate who
measures up to the needs Of the hour-who
can command a million votes uncontrolled
by party ties-who can be elected and who
probably is the only candidate that can be /
elected. This language can apply 10 no
other than Colonel Roosevelt.
LESLIE COMBS.
Lexington, KY, May g. 1916.