Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-06-15
REJOINDER MADE
BY "CHARLIE" HUGHES TO FATHER
Philadelphia Minister,
Friend of Nominees Late
Parent, Gives Reminis-
cences of Candidates
Youth

In years gone by, long before Charles
| Evans Hughes, then known as Attorney
| Charlie" Hughes ever though of being a
| candidate for the presidency of the United
| States long before he had any political
| press agents and when he never said things
| ito get the votes" he made n speech to his
| father which has stood the test of years.
| 1t was speech which showed that honesty
Is the best policy" and that, in spite of state
| ments to the contrary, the old maxim of our
grandparents was the best
That little speech by man who had no
political ambitions, no desire for fame, but
only the desire to do right by his fellow
men, by man talking to his father in the
privacy of his home.
And now for the speech and the clrcum-
stances under which it was made.
1t was a decade or two ago, when
Charlie" Hughes was talking to his IA
ther the late Rev. David Charles Hughes, a
Baptist pastor Charlie and father were
having a heart-to.heart talk about their
respective professions.
The good minister could not understand
how his son could possibly reconcile him
self to the legal profession. In the discus
sion the father said to his son. then a
struggling young attorney. But Charlie,
tell me, how can you consistently accept q
case when you know 1t is not honorable,
when you know your client is gulty?"
Then II was that the present Republican
presidential nominee showed the metal
Wnlcn STANDS the test or time.
The father of Charlie" Hughes not Jus
tice Hughes, not the presidential candidate,
but the man, Charles Evans Hughes told |
of the incident years ago. He told II to |
DR. John Gordon, dean emeritus of the |
theological department of the Temple Uni |
versity
THE LAWYERS REPLY.
And this is what the struggling young
lawyer said. with surprise in his eyes and
even a note of sadness in his voice: why,
father, 1 am surprised that you would even
ask me such a question. Never in all my
life have l accepted any case when l had
he least doubt that It was honorable, and
never will"
THAT the spirit of the man." said
Doctor Gordon today. HE is absolutely
lined up with the cause he thinks
s the right. No politicians can bulge him
IN inch. He will do what he considers
light and just. He may be considered n
title cool because he does not do much
discussion. He talks little for publication |
'ut he has big heart. He is fine Chris |
ian gentleman. He is a true son of his | ,
ather. knew the father well. He has /
ften visited at my home here in Philadel- ,
hia also know the son.
A TRUE CHRISTIAN /
''The son is a true Christian, too He is
rue to his church obligations" added the
lev. Doctor Gordon, "And his wife too :
J fine Christian woman. You cannot say
DO kind things about her. She Is a woman
Tho would grace the White House with her
cry presence"
Doctor Gordon gave another interesting
lcident In the boyhood OF Charlie Hughes
day. when he told how the youth dlsiked
} go to the public schools; not because
3 was snobbish, but because he did not
iel that he was making as much progress
) he could II he studied alone at home
oetor Gordon said in this connection:
The young man pleaded with his father
let him study at home and leave school.
lnally he succeeded, and the father agreed
give him chance 10 work out his own
'oblems. And he succeeded He was
aduated from Brown and he swept eyery-
ing before him. He was a brilliant
udent At one time when his health
I'VE out he took place on Cornell Jni-
rsity faculty, and he made good too.
Il remember that Charlie ana his father
are always the best OF friends ana re0u
: ehums," added Doctor Gordon when
king OF the relationship OF the minister
ther and the lawyer-son, the father who
! not live TO see the son nominated as
candidate by the Republican ,
rty, and the son who had and stilI mas
2 courage Of his convictions. The attach
mt between the father and son was q
ily beautiful thing 10 see
This picture which you are using IN the