Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1920-12-31
Hughes rs Hardins's Premier

8CHARLES EVANS UGHES is nearer
- now TO the Secretaryship of State than
Il heswas to the presidency back in the good
asoIds days of 1916. when he missed the White
SSIiouse by only the proverbiul squeak. Re-
ports from Marion indicate that he is the
"a Anal choice OF Senator Harding for premier
lnEthe new Cabinet, and the gossip has
taken q form SO definite as To leave little
SAd0ubt that MIR. Hughes has at least tenta-
E$ytyely agreed to accept the appointment. It
b&hAy be taken for granted that aay seem
SAng reluctance on the part Of Mr.. Hughes
arises not from aversion TO rc-entering the
1Spnbli service, but from the more material
sefSfGerdtion of income. lie is no stranger
EStoSthe sacrifices involved in such service.
MfHe abandoned n profitable practice to take
fa3sseat on the Supreme Court bench, and
he quit that assured position of honor
EERhd small profit to lead his party in the
fhlem presidential race that ended in
hisHdefeat. Since that time it is common
4sd9ort that he has built zip an immensely
MErative- law business, his annual income
wing variously estimated at more than ST.
fEEI0 5000. If this be true, then il is no mean
FgErihce his acceptance OF Il place in the
q sAbinet will entail. But if he has been able
asxa3the last few years To put by a COM
&4&S$Ience, it may not be doubted that he will
E$eel II his patriotic duty to enter tho Cab
q Eet with its rarsimonious salary. which.
Il farhaps, will not suffice 10 pay his Wash
H}lgton rent.
Hughes shoulds. make AN admirable
and definite announcement of his
ss$ME& sceptance will be favofably received by
SS8bem ocrats as we'll as Republicans. There
one man in the Republican party who
sAE.sS as well or better fitted for the discharge
its onerous and delicate duties. That
&sanan is Philander c. Knox, but his elevation
StSh barred on two points. His extreme stand
the league OF nations has been too ON
1Nahatic, and Senator Penrose is said to de
esfmand his retention III the Senate as a
Hsffatnmbling-bloc to the politically ambitious
Sproul, OF Pennsylvania.
#3 not recognized as an authority on
Mathematician law, Mr.. Hughes has the
@y,road vision, the judicial temperament and
ERIC, wide experience that should make him
Ny4Aa ideal Secretary of State. His attitude to-
Est4ard the league of nations. perhaps the
Utmost important problem IL foreign rela-
&Aions with which his Office will have 10 deal,
has been such as to leave him room for any
broad and definite action upon which the in
roming administration may determine.
sGsever an ardent proleaguer, nor one of the
" feconcilablcs, he has taken a middle
n Hround. He has stood for the safeguarding
Hi American sovereignty, the while rccog-
5y3izing the league as an effective instrument
&A6r world peace. Several OF his suggestions
Here Incorporated in the league covenant,
Find recent Developments would seem to
H. removed other objections which he in
3A&embsed. particularly those relating to
ie Y.
$Sf# Yo things are reasonably sure. One is
H4k@ssS the present league is the only one that
@s&Hs any hope along the lines OF intcrna-
%HSSS5 II ASSOCIATION; the other. that Europe is
Efdbared TO accept any modification of the
&tSfSnant that will assure American partici-
ea44on. No one is better fitted to negotiate
53fziv this line than MI. Eiugics and his