Evening star., 1924-09-14
MEN AND AFFAIRS
BY ROBERT T. SMALL

Americans who were in Europe this
Summer and who were in a position to
observe most of the international moves
that were made, are unanimous in the
statement that proper credit never has
been given and may never be given to
Secretary of State Charles Evans
Hughes for the part he played In get
ting the Dawes plan across.
Officially, Mr. Hughes was in Europe
as a member of the American Bar
Association, which was the guest of the
British legal fraternity. But Mr..
Hughes was far more than the imper-
sonal barrister which served as his in
cognito. He was. in fact, the American
Secretary Of State-the second officer
of the powerful American government
and he spoke IN the sacred sanctums of
the chanceleries of Europe as such.
Mr.. Hughes Is not the type OF man
to preserve an incognito. He does not
believe in the adage that he also
serves who merely stands and waits
Mr.. Hughes saw there was work to do
in Europe Ii the Dawes plan was
to be put through and he took off his
coat and went to work.
In London, in Brussels, in Berlin. and
particularly in Paris. he spoke to the
statesmen OF England, OF Belgium, of
Germany and France in a manner which
was unmistakable. Mr.. Hughes told the
premiers of the four powers that the
government OF the United States stood
squarely behind the Dawes plan. He
also told them that IL this plan were
defeated for political or purely selfish
purposes, II would be an exceptionally
cool day in mid July before the United
States would extend another helping
hand across the broad Atlantic.
Mr.. Hughes was both eloquent and
argumentative. His language was not
that Of the diplomat, for he was not
on a diplomatic mission. He was talk
ing turkey-Vermont turkey. If you will,
but turkey none the less. The Amer
lean Secretary of State, thinly dis
guised behind his newly clipped beard
as an American counselor at law. talk
ed not only with government officials
in the European capitals, but with the
opposition politicians as we'll He told
them that their one chance had come
that they were being weighed in the
balance OF American public opinion.
The returning travellers give Mr..
Hughes particular credit for what
they term the spiking of NJ. Poin-
cares guns After the London con-
ference 1t was reported that Poin-
care, who was out of Office, would
attack Premier Herriot hip and thigh
for accepting the Dawes plan and
| would endanger the acceptance OF
that plan by the French Senate. Mr
Hughes had a few kind but burning
words with NJ. Poincare. The happy
result every one knows.
Black Jack" Pershing, known as
| the handsomest soldier in the World
War, has served his allotted time in
| the Army. and, according to reports
is going in now for a business ca
reer. If ever a man seemed fit at 81
| to begin life anew" 1t is this COM
| manding general of the armies. The
general will not give up his military
| duties altogether, however, for he
will be military adviser to the Presi-
dent and In some respects will have
as much power as ever, although the
official acts will not be his.
Gen. Pershing's place in history
! is yet to be defined. Not affecting his
capacity as a commander, but his
| Judgment on what might be termed
the political features of his job in
France. Certain it is that no one
man in all the war took greater re-
sponsibilities on his shoulders. Gen