The Washington herald., 1921-06-26

'hAhico EVANS hOIdEo uau nos
been Secretary Of State more than two
weeks when a fiery Latin American con-
troversy so agitated the republics OF Panama
and Costa Rica that their armed forces
fought along the border and the passion
of war quite consumed their capitals
The position Of the United States was
peculiar as to Panama because OF the
necessity of keeping things quiet along
certain big ditch. Then there was the tact
that these two countries had, few years
ago, asked Chief Justice White. Of our
Supreme Court, to arbitrate this same
boundary dispute, which he did. His ind
ings were disresarded in the recent contro-
versy.
So the Secretary Of State studied the
situation carefully and set forth the position
of this country as being In strict observance
of the White award.
The Latin Americans sputtered for 4 while
and then settled down right there to the
White boundary, and they will undoubtedly
remain right there to the end Of time. The
position Of Mr.. Hughes was thus quite
easily crystaIlized into geography because It
was obviously right
At about the same time there was new
thing under the sun known as a mandatory
that was visibly agitating the nation. The
problem of whether we should have one OF
these mandatories over a little piece of land
known. like the country boy, as Yap, or
whether We should have any say in the
distribution of other mandatories, was very
much to the fore. As matter of fact, the
countries of Europe, already in the League
of Nations, were distributing mandatories
without so much as q ''by your leave to
US. The viewpoint at home and abroad
seemed to be that we had no voice in these
distributions.
Mr.. Hughes studied this situation pains
takingly. Then he stated the position Of
This nation II was that we had participated
in the war with the Allies; that We had
earned certain rights; that We had in no
way relinquished those rights that the fact
that We were not in the League did not
deprive US of those rights. We had as
much to say about mandatories as anybody
else
The whole thing seemed 50 simple as he
put it, was so obviously right, 50 in accord
with common sense and fair play, that.
Gmost overnight it was accepted all around
TIE world as a fact.
EHFTEEN years ago this same NAV
hes was in charge Of an insuranc,
inye ;igatiOn in New York. Its purpose wa
to show where the money policyholders pair
into these public service corporations went
1t examined into the expenditures of insur
anee companies.
There was an item on the books Of on,
Of these companies which amounted =
$4,000. Mr.. Hughes knew, from an M,
side source, to whom It had gone. and
determined to force the president :,
the insurance company to admit the fac,
on the witness stand. Eventually he ,I
Just this. 1t had been contributed to H.
Republican campaign fund. Mr.. Hugb.
was a lifelong Republican, but he knou
ingly dragged this fact into the lrbt !.
IS the Hughes way.
Already a good deal is known ot m
Hughes methods; be has served the n,,hf.
long enough for that. But the HunL
methods applied to international sfsi-s
tie most important moment In the hist
of the world-just how would the tbin.
work out? That is a question the answer 70
which is beginning to develop. Realizing
the importance of its answering, there has
been no man in Washington, aside from
the President himself, who has been so nm.
vayeringly watched as the Secretary Of
State. He is the one member of the Cabinet
who may not be quoted directly. He gives
TO interviews. But have seen much Of
Mr.. Hughes. I have heard him talk to a
gathering of international lawyers. 1 have
often attended his conferences with news
papermen. / have sat with him in his inner
sanctum and talked long. I am full Of
facts about him and impressions of him.
] will write them as freely as I may under
the circumstances.