Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-02-23

sums OF money were DCltlB pdtQ 10 pOl~
| ticians for favors granted; that money
and property which should have been
| held in trust for the aged and for
widows and orphans were being dissi-
pated for the private gain OF trusted
individuals.
Example Of His Methods Cited.
Some of the transactions were so
| shielded by concealing book entries that
| even those who made the entries were
unable to explain their import On one
occasion, for instance, when a minor
official who had charge of the books
and was obviously honest and willing to
give whatever information he possessed,
was unable to explain certain entries,
Hughes himself took charge of the
books during the noon recess of the
investigating committee. At the end of
the hour he put the witness on the
stand again and by a series Of questions
enclted information that revealed clear
~ not only to the committee, but to
the witness himself, what disposition
had been made of money and securities
that belonged to policyholders but had
been diverted to officers private pur-
poses.
Mr.. Hughes capacity to 'see through"
complicated situations and transactions
to grasp essentials quickly and as quick
ly discard from consideration nonessen-
tlalS and the immaterial, is a never
railing source of amazement. This Quail
lty was never more clearly revealed
than on the morning in 1920 when he
appeared in Indianapolis to represent in
Federal District Court scores Of oficials
and members Of the United Mine Work
ers OF America, including John Lewis
ana William Green. They had been in
olcteo, together with q number of mine
operators, some Of whom I represented.
on charges OF conspiracy to violate the
Lever act by calling strike, refusing to
furnish coal, closing down coal mines,
etc.
Mr.. Hughes, Up to the time of his
arrival in Indianapolis. had not seen the
amended pleadings. They were long
and involved. Scores Of pages charged
violation OF the law, couched in the
usual intricate, dif1cut legal verbiaQe
ANY ordinary lawyer would have desired
several days at least to examine these
pleadings before venturing to make an
argument upon them In court.
Quotes Numerous Decisions,
Mr.. Hughes sat down and in the half
nour or so before court convened he
rapidly glanced through the document,
turning over page after page with
methodical regularity and amazing con-
centration. Then, when court opened.
Mr.. Hughes rose and made an argument
lasting four hours, in which he attacked
the validity OF the indictment on q
number OF grounds. He cited case after
case, as decided by the Supreme Court
Of the United States and various other
courts, In subStantiation Of his conten-
ton. AS he proceeded, he called by
volume, number and page for the re-
ports OF the cases he cited, and when
the volumes were brought he read the
cogent parts Of the decisions. His argu-
ments evoked the ardent admiration of
not only every lawyer in the court room.
put OF the judge, q jurist of long and
Wloe experience, who said that it was
the most marvellous exhibition Of legal
knowledge and skill that he had ever
witnessed.
So great is Mr. Hughes legal talent.
so apparent the depth Of his knowledge.
so dignihed and commanding his APP
pearance and manner that there evolved
quite naturally what might be termed
,I the Hughes myth" It Is not dissimi-
myths-that they were not ordinary
mortals, but either oddities or demi-
gods; that they were totally lacking in
human" qualities.
For years in New York State Mr..
Hughes was referred to as O human
icicle." 1t was said that he realized his
aloofness and separation from the af-
fairs OF ordinary" men and had ex-
pressed the plaintive wish that some
one would slap him on the back and
call him Charlie" Similarly, news
papers referred p his banning austerity
and dignity"
His Life Conducted on Principle.
There probably never was a sound
basis in fact for these illusions Mr..
Hughes is naturally different; he always
has been a busy. fully occupied man,
engaged in important affairs. He has
had little time to be "backslapper'
and "gladhander" himself His is q life
OF purpose, conducted on principle. Yet
there is not and never has been any
"holier than thou" attitude about him.
! have known Mr. Hughes for Is
years, and during the last 10 years
have had the good fortune to be as
ISOLATED with him in the work of the
American Bar Association and profess
sionaly in number Of cases. say
good fortune" advisedly. No lawyer,
whatever his attachments. would con-
slider it to be good fortune" to have
Mr.. Hughes as his opponenti And,
like all who have had any degree of
personal contact with him, / have
found one Of his outstanding charac-
teristics to be a respect for and toll
erance of the opinions and judgments
Of others.
There is never any effort on the part
Of Mr.. Hughes to impress others with
his superiority of intellect. He mani
tests no desire to occupy the middle
Of the stage. Nevertheless, he usually
is the center Of interest In any gath
ering of men or women, simply because
Of his lucidity Of statement, clarity Of
vision and depth Of knowledge based
on q vast experience. His law cases,
for instance. have touched almost every
field Of human endeavor-vaudevill
billing, railroad operation, representa-
ton Of the Boy Scouts Of America, the
pottery business, patent litigation, radio
broadcasting.
Chased High as Dinner Guest.
Mr.. Hughes is both interesting and
congenial. There is no suggestion of
excess ego, nothing Of the oracle"
about him. He is q delightful dinner
guest. He has q sense Of humor and
a fund Of stories. He seldom, If ever,
talks about himself. He even has
human tastes In food, for the chances
are about so to that If he accepts
ones invitation to luncheon his order
will be scrambled eggs and ice cream!
From very early days he has been
pOoococco "a . QuLSA wa bAAak AlaS nAucO
| him in his legal work. During the
insurance investigation of rs years ago,
| for instance, his examination Of a GER
tain witness elected the statement that
THE early promoters of our company,
sir, had a pure spirit of philanthropy
and benevolence to start company
which they believed TO be q missionary
/ enterprise, 50 to speak"
! Mr.. Hughes gravely listened to that
| tribute to the witness company and
then, when he had finished, quietly said
| to the official:
well, you have made o very full
i tln.. ArnaknA ~ r,aie-