Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1916-02-17

nation. That attitude was thoroughly
typical OF Mr.. Hughes. who is very fai
from being an opportunist in the ma tier
of friendships.
The sincerity Of his latest statement on
the subject. which becomes public in 81
letter to Chairman Slemp of the Virginia
republican State committee. will not be
questioned by those who know MIR.
Hughes, but it's meaning will he distorted
by those politicians in the Republican
party who fear him as much as they fear
Mr.. Roosevelt. because as governor %
New York he refused to be dominated by
them. Mr.. Hughes makes his meaning
entirely clear to those who wish in good
faith to know it, lie is entirely out of
politics" and lis totally opposed" to thu.
use Of his name in connection with the
presidential nomination. directly or re
motely," but he does not say, his friends
and associates ON the supreme court do
not wish him to say. and those who know
him best declare ne will not say. that
nomination for the presidency coming to
him unsolicited as a free will offering Of
his fellow citizens would he refused.
NOTHING OF THE COMPROMISES
Indeed the desire Of a multitude of cit
liens refuses to go unsatislied. The mon
who are clamoring for Hughes insist that
the present situation has nothing in com
mon with the cases which might ne cited
as presidents. Chase and Davis, for en-
ample. made no secret OF thei, ambition
to exchange the bench for the chief mag
istracy, and Field and Harlan we're al
ways suspected Of a sdewise glance In
that direction. But here is a man who
has declared that he is content where
he is and entertains no outside aspirations
and who has made the assertion in so I'M
cquivocal a manner that not his sevcrc5t
critic could assail his attitude
If the Republican nartv j. looking for 4
| compromise" candidate. ii will have to
pass over Hughes in it's search. He has
. nothing OF tho compromiscr about him.
In 1872 the flatternS ovcitures he rcccv-
cd from mon prominent In both IN "tions
did not prevent his publicity avowing his
loyalty TO his old party and its candi-
date. President taft Whether the pro-
! grcssives would he willing 70 forgive aud
! forget this ignoring OF their wrongs
there is no prophcsying. Ru. It wou,i
make no difference in tho end: ror any
party that takes him for it's candidate
assuming that he consents TO he taken
by any-must take him, rot on its terms
but on his own.
AS President, Hughes could be trustod
to have a well-ballasted opinion ON every
important public question: to he cour-
teous in its expression, and patient
though by no means mcaly- mouthed, il
discussing it with whoever held = DIFF
ferent one: and. having made ,inpwr
what he intended to do. to hold fast ia
that purpose. through good and through
evil report, after he was once satisfied
that II had the endorsement Of the poo
pie.
HAS NEVER BECOMF; INCIDENT
Ills standing as lawyer is hiChsr. nj
the elements being taken into account
than that of any President Of our genera
ton. His executive experience prior t,
entering the presidency would be greater
and what il far from being a last con
sideration-though he has had iudcia
experience also, ne has never let the
Judge swallow up the administrator o
lapsed into the habit of Incidence wnicl
has become the curse &c many abi'
lawyers after donning Tho ernlino. lie is
in brief. a man Of to-day and to-morroT
mot n reluctant lingerer over the grca
things of yesterday.
II you do not believe this. watch hin
the next time he speaks i'm public. Will
his thumb in his waistcoat pocket an,
his conversational tone and air. and sa,
frankly whether there is anything abou
him that Is no. stamped with tho sea
of candor, energy and common-sonsc
How he is regarded IN the scholasti
world is evidenced by the fact that las
summer he received his tenth degree q
LII. D.. the donors OF the long list in
Guiding some of the universities OF high
est rank I'm the country.
In Washington he lives simply hut We,
in dgnified house in upper Sixtoentl
street. II he is In A hurry--a rare thini
with man whose hours of work an,
play are well regulated as his h
rides To and from the supreme Cour
chambers at the Capitol. but when h
can do just what he likes. he seems 7
have a strong fancy for walking Hi
stride, his swing, and the look in hi
eyes show, moreover. that this eXercis
is not for the purpose Of expcndME $
much surplus vitality, az with Roosevelt,
or in order TO reduce mis- muscles an
drinking in the fresh a-.
MODESTN.