Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-06-11
STEPS FROM BENCH
TO LEAD HIS PARTY
Hughes Resigns as Associate
Justice and Accepts Repub-
lican Nomination.
NO PLANS MADE FOR SUMNER
Telegrams by Hundreds Pour In,
and Many Callers Leave
Their Cards.
NO PLANS MADE FOR SUMMER

WASHINGTON, June lo.--Charles
Evans Hughes stepped down to-day
from the Supreme Bench. and accepted
the Republican nomination for Presi-
dent. In telegram denouncing the
ADMINISTRATORS foreign policies and
declaring for dominant. thorough
going Americanism." he gave his de-
c!sion to Chairman Harding. of the
Republican National Convention, and
broke the long silence which had kept
the leaders of his part" in the dark
to his attitude on what they term
ed the great issues of the dag.
II have not desired the nomination."
the telegram said, II have wished to
remain on the bench. Bu, in this
critical period of our national history,
recognize that it is your right to
summon and that II is my paramount
duty TO respond"
Within AN hour after Chairman
harding had notified him Of his nomi-
nation. Mr. Hughes had accepted the
call. His resignation. a scant two-l!ne
letter without superf1uous word. was
on its way TO the White House from
the Hughes home before the nominee
had dispatched the message OF ac-
ccptance and called the waiting group
OF newspaper men into his study TO tell
them OF his decision. President Will
son accepted the resignation in a re-
ply almost as brief.
Il hereby resign the office OF asso-
ciate justice Of the Supreme Court Of
the United States" Mr.. Hughes wrote.
To which the President replied, Il am
in receipt of your letter of resignation
and feel constrained to yield TO your
. 4.
nation s justice of the Supreme Cour:
of the United States 10 take effect at
crce.'
TAKES HIS CUSTOMARY
AFTERNOON WALK
When copies OF both the telegram to
ChicaEo and the letter of resignation
hnd hcen made public. Mr.. Hughes
left hts home for his customary af-
te-noon walk. Soon after his return
Lawrence Green. his private secretary
| told him Of Colonel Rooseveits con-
oi,ion;.l dcclination of the Progressive
nomination. MIR. Hughes sent word
Ia inquirers that he had no,h.ns tc
say concerning it, His friends. how
ever, were cutspoken in ;heir satisfac-
ton over Colonel Roosevelt's attitude.
No plans have been made by the
n n)miuce for the Pummer. The family
had ;.racti.ally dismant!ei the SIN
teenth Sif"ct residence he'c. intending
TO return II Maine for the hot months,
BIZ; those plans have been abandoned.
Whether Mr. hughes will 80 on the
stump or who he Will select 10 man.
age his campaign are questions that
have not been considered SO far.
Events transpirtd with dramatic sud
denness AT the Hughes home to-day
as climax TO monotonous weeks OF
waiting II had been thought that
things would move swiftly. but few of
the candidates closest friends believed
the dny's Developments would crowd
his resignation from the bench. his ac-
declaration OF principles into the space
of little more than an hour
Throughout the preconvention cam
paign, Justice Hughes had insisted that
he would not be nominated. Not until
last night after the balloting began did
he admit 20 his intimates that he
might be drafted to lead his party.
Even then he MADE no statement as to
what action he would take. but his
silence was interpreted rs meaning he
WOULD accept, certainly if the action of
| the convention were practically unani-
nous.
HUGHES HOUSEHOLD
GOES ALONG AS USUAL.
As the balloting was resumed to.
day the Hughes. household went along
almost AS usual. Only the justice mad
abandoned his office on the first floor
and retired to the privacy of the third
! hoor. with Mrs. Hughes and their lit
! tie daughter. Elizabeth, The eldest
daughter Miss Catherine. had gone 10
take q lesson from a tutor, and Miss
Helen was in New York preparatory to
leaving on Young Women's Christian
Association camping trip The only
| son. Charles f. Hughes. Jr. n lawyer
in New York City, was a: the platts-
burg military camp.
There was no news from Chicago cx-
cept such as filtered in with the ar
| rival of newspaper men or was tele-
phoned by local newspaper Offices Even
as to that Mr.. Hughes left worl with
his secretary that he did not care to he
inform cd OF the vote by States, but
wanted only the summary
Before the halloting began. tele-
grams began to arrive, predicting the
nomination and extending congrau-
lations. AT l o'clock lunch was an.
nounced for the family, and n little
later came the dispatch announcing the
nomination. Mr.. Green. tie secretary,
mounted the stairs three at a time.
II simply told the justice he had
been nominated and turned my back"
he remarked later
Newspaper men crowded into the
Justices office seeking an audience. Mr.
Hughes came down to the reception
l,a t,l, ,