The Idaho Republican., 1916-06-16
HUGHES THE
MAN

The faCt that CnarIeS evans
Hughes has grown so immensely pop.
ular everywhere In the United States
points to one of the most evident
/. characteristics of a true democracy
The people read, they watch public
/. events, they criticise the acts Of their
representatives, they know. 1t was
impossible that any other man should
receive the Republican nomination
when Justice Hughes was available
The people had spoken. He was ask.
ed to run for the presidency even
before it was at all certain that he
would accept. His immediate re-
sponse to the call shows the sort OF
public spirit all peoples should re.
quire of their chief men. No one
knows better than great men the ter
rible and trying nature of the task
of chief executive.
II this unboosted and unsung juror
shall make successful run for the
presidency it will be partly due to the
foresight of Theodore Roosevelt. For
It is certain the chief Bull Moose
could have again kept the great party
he once fostered in two separate and
futile camps during an important
presidential campaign. He has per-
haps the largest personal following
of all recent American leaders, and
so strong is his hold upon them that
he can practically do anything he
likes with their support. He will find
hughes not wanting and If he gives
the word there will be complete,
united Republican party behind the
new candidate. He has almost back
ed Hughes already with his indorse-
ment when he suggested to the Pro-
gressives that his refusal to run is
final unless the Republican standard
bearer shall recede from the princi-
pies for which he was chosen. Mr..
Hughes will not do that. He will
enlarge those principles until it
would be even less possible for Roose-
velt to head an opposing ticket.
It was in the troublous times of
1905 and 1906 that Mr.. Hughes first
rose into public distinction. The
times were disturbed because great
organized industries had gone wild
with their too sudden development
A legislative committee had been Sc
lected to investigate the affairs of the
gas companies, and they in turn
chose Mr.. Hughes. a young lawyer,
to be their counsel He was so fair
and so successful that his local repu-
tation was made Next he was pick
ed to handle the big insurance in
vestigation, and before he was thru
with it he had become a national
figure. His constructive work in that
probe placed New York state in the
model class for insurance legislation,
upon whose laws many other states
have since based their own. No soon
er had he cleaned up and polished
the clogged financial machinery of
the insurance business than the peo-
pie of New York wanted him for
governor, and against the combined
forces of Democrats and the indie
pendent league he was the only Re-
publican on the ticket to win. At
the end fthat term he was re-elect-
ed. In 1908 he loomed up in the
presidential field, and had not Roose-
welt thrown all his influence to Mr..
Taft, he might have been the Re-
publican CdHuludL0. III uOlpIuS W
elect Taft in that campaign Hughes
set. the seal upon his reputation as
a brilliant public speaker. Soon
thereafter he was placed upon the
supreme bench, and made not an
other political move until last Satur-
day, when he once again answered
the summons of his party, resigned
high judicial position and entered
into the race for president, with his
characteristic force and decision.
Hughes stands for progressivism
and Republicanism, two great ram
parts of Americanism. Re publicans
were never so united and determined.
Progressives are free to rejoip their
old comrades with heart and hand.
In this time of indecision and inter
national peril the American people
must look to their leaders, and they
know it One huge body of them
have settled upon man to steer
the ship. 1t is impossible to say if
they comprise a majority of voting
citizens, but if we are not deceived,
the White House beckons to Charles
Evans Hughes.