Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1922-01-07
Woodrow Wilson
AS KNOW HIM
BY JOSEPH P. TUMULTY.
AS | KNOW HIM
BY JOSEPH P. TUMULTY.

1OT0lBu pOWGIs we CIldI sc ILl1L
such conspiracies among a linn
tied number exist and have been
instigated for the purpose Of
advancing the interests of for
eign countries, to the prejudice
and detriment of our own coun-
try. We condemn any politi-
cal party which in view of the
activity of such conspirators
surrenders it's integrity or modi-
fies it's policy.
There is no doubt that for a while
after convention at Chicago which
nominated Mr.. Hughes there was
deep depression in the ranks of our
party throughout the country, the
opinion being that he was an in
vincibIe foe. I had engaged in
sharp controversies and many Of
my friends, expressing the view
that Mr.. Hughes would not
only be a sad disappointment to
the Republican managers, but that
in his campaigning methods would
fall far short of the expectations
of many Republican friends.
Wilson and Hughes.
Previous to the nomination Of Mr..
Hughes, the president was his cor
dial admirer and often spoke to me
in warm and generous terms of the
work of Mr.. Hughes as governor OF
New York, which he admired because
of it's progressive, liberal character.
Previous to the Republican conven-
ZION he and I had often, in an init
mate wy, discussed the possible,
nominee of the Republican conven
ton. The president, for some rea-
hn Y1orSnoh06 that
Mr.. Justice Hughes was serious
contender for the nomination and
often expressed the opinion that the
idea Of nomination for the presi-
dency was not even remotely in the
thoughts of the then justice of the
supreme. court. Frankly, I did not
share this view. Although the news
paper men who conferred with Mr..
Justice Hughes from day to day at
his home in Washington informed me
Of the judges feelings toward the
nomination for the presidency. I was
always strongly of the opinion that
| the justice was in no way j. diff
ferent to the nomination and that
he was not inclined to go out of his
way publicly to resent the efforts
that his friends were making tc
land it for him. When expressed
| the opinion to the president, that
as a matter of fact Mr.. Justice
Hughes was q candidate d was
doing nothing outwardly to express
his disapproval of the efforts being
made by his friends, the president
resented my statements.
There was a warm feeling OF
friendship on the part of all the
members of the presidents family
toward Mr.. Justice Hughes, and al
.he Sayre wedding, held in the White
House, enc of Justice Hughes sons
had played a prominent part. Owing
to the personal feelings of friend
ship of the whole Wilson family Cor
Mr.. Hughes, the curt character OF
the Justices letter of resignation tC
the president deeply wounded the
president and the members Of his
family who had been his stout de
tenders and supporters.
I recall that on the day Mr.
Hughes was nominated, and after
the news of his nomination was pub
lished throughout the country, there
came to the executive office a col
ored messenger, bearing the follow
ing abrupt note to the president
from Justice Hughes:
Supreme Court of the United
States,
Washington, D. G.
June 10, 1915.
To the President:
T hereby resign the office Of
associate justice of the supreme
court of the United States.
I am, Sir, respectfully yours,
CHARLES E. HUGHES.
When I brought this letter of res
| ignation to the White House, the
president was in conference with
| that sturdy Democrat from Ken
lucky, Senator Ollie M. James. When
| the president read the letter and
| observed it's rather harsh character
he was deeply wounded and disap.
pointed. When he showed it tc
Senator James, the senator read it
and advised that by reason of its
character the president ought not
to dignity it by any acknowledg
| nent. The president turned quickly
| to Senator James and said: mo, my
| dear senator, the president of the
United States must always do the
| gentlemanly thing"
The president replied to Mr.
Hughes in the following note:
The White House, Washington
June 10, 1915.
| Dear Mr.. Justice Hughes:
I am in receipt Of your letter
of resignation and feel constrain-
| ed to yield to your desire. /,
| therefore, accept your resigna-
ton as Justice of the supreme
court of the United States to
take effect at once.
Sincerely yours,
WOODROW WILSON,
Hon. Charles E. Hughes, Wash
ington, D. G.
Tumulty's Memorandum
On the first of August, 1915,
prepared the following memorandum
which explained my feelings regard
| ing the campaign of 1915 and What
appeared to me the weakness of the
Republican party and the strength
of our own candidacy:
zone of the principal arguments
upon which the Republican manag
ers lay great stress in favor OF
| Hughes candidacy is his strength as
campaigner as evidenced in his
Youngstown speech delivered years
ago in a campaign in which Mr.
Bryan was the leader Of the Demo
cratic hosts. The strength Of that
speech lies in it's cool analysis Of
the attitude of a great emotiona
orator Bryan on public questions al
time when the democracy was ad
vocating economic principles OF
| doubtful strength and virtue. In
other words. the position of Justice
Hughes that campaign was that OF
| attacking an economic principle
which had cut the Democratic party
| in two.
1.-THE position of Hughes as can
d1date in this (the 1910 campaign
will be radically different, for he will
have to face q candidate renreSenting