Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1916-06-15
DRAFTED.

DRAFTED.
The country has just seen the MOST
extraordinary spectacle OF a great
party drafting man to make the race
for the presidency Of the United
States. With dozen able and well
known candidates in the field for the
privilege of leading the party, the re-
publicans in their national convention
at Chicago turned to man who not
by word, look nor action even so much
az signified willingness to make the
run. Charles Evans Hughes, asso-
ciate Justice of the supreme court OF
the United States, has been drafted 10
go before the people of the nation on
a republican platform and ask them
for the presidency and the control OF
the government. He has accepted.
It is a most striking instance OF a
case where the job is seeking the man.
It cannot be said by anyone that the
man sought the job. 1t is the more
remarkable in the face of the keen
competition among numerous note
worthy applicants for the nomination:
Astute observers could not but see
that the hundreds of delegates ana
alternates and visitors to the Chicago
convention were gathering to nomin-
ate Hughes. With the exception OF a
few near insiders and the enthus-
iastic hackers Of Roosevelt and of the
favorite sons, there were very few
people at the convention but what ad-
smitted right at the start that lit looks
like Hughes" This attitude was due
to but one thing. The sentiment
among the republicans of the country
was for Hughes. 1t was believed
and rightly so-that Hughes is a real
" big man, that he is an able and
energetic leader, wonderful cam
paixner and with political and priv
ate record that is without a blemish.
And 80, the delegates gathered and
went quietly and soberly about the
task OF naming the man who was de-
manded by the people, man who had
not sought the job but who was fitted
for 1t.
Hughes was drafted for the job.
It is but natural to ask what brought
about this great demand for Hughes.
The answer is not hard to get. 1t is
because he has proved that in addition
to marked ability, he has attributes
not credited to many men.
He has poise. . ~
You never heard of Mr.. Hughes go
ing off on tangent after some ism"
or other. He is not excitable. He is
not the kind that acts first and thinks
about 1t afterwards. He goes along
in the even tenor of his ways, able to
see what is going on about him and
able to keep to his selected path.
He has good judgment.
Hughes has not made many mistakes
in his political life, nor in his private
life. He Is right on the fundamentals
Of life both as regards the business of
living and as regards governing. He
did not swell up when mentioned FOR
the presidency and he preserved his
integrity as a member Of the supreme
court by quietly pursuing his duties as
a 1urist while the country was clamor-
ing for him to be candidate.
He has decision.
The nominee has more than once
demonstrated his ability to carry out
his carefully prepared plans, even in
the face of opposition. When he de-
cides to do thing, he does il. He is
not hampered by vacillating nature.
He is a doer OF deeds as he evidenced
while governor Of New York.
He Is no mans puppet
1t is certainty as near as anything
earthly can be certain, that Mr..
Hughes will be president in fact as
well as in name il he is. elected in
November He takes orders only
from right and justice. When he be-
came governor Of New York, the politi.
cal leaders at once sought back room
conferences to outline their desires
and wishes. That had always been
the practice. 1t. was thought neces-
sary for governor to cater to more
or less extent to the wishes of the
men who controlled the vote. But
Mr.. Hughes was not that, kind of a
governor. When the bosses presented
themselves, he opened the door to the
waiting room where numerous people
were always stationed for the purpose
Of seeing the executive, and he invited