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About Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922 | View Entire Issue (June 11, 1916)
10 A THE OMAHA SUNDAY BEE: JUNE 11, 1916 Charles Evans Hughes, Nominee of the . Republican Party, in Limelight Ten Years then y Charles Evans Hughes was born in Glenn Falls, N. Y., April 11, 1862. He obtained his education at Colgate university, not far from his home, and at Brown university, where he also ' studied law. He received the degree of LL.D. from Columbia, Knox and Lafayette. - Aside from his career in the prac tice of law. Judge Hughes did not become a national figure until about ten years ago. when he became the attorney for the Armstrong coimnit- - tec of the New York legislature, investigating the relations of corpora - bona, insurance companies in particu lar, to the law-making powers of the state. Previous to that time New . York had been governed politically, it had been said, by a group of "grand dukes," -who ruled their various prov inces and the state with satisfaction to themselves and demotion to the great interests that consideied prac tical attention to political matters es sential to their continued success. These interests were, more than any others, the transportation and insur ance companies. The public was be ing exploited by these corporations, and these corporations were, in turn, being exploited by the few individuals who held strategic corporate positions. They regarded the public only as a gold mine to be worked; the legisla ture as a convenient source of increas ing riglus, and administrative and executive officers only as servants to do their bidding. Big Interests Exposed. But tliey coulc not still the dissatis faction of the public. Each of the three great interests was in turn sub jected to the proper exposure, chas tisement and curb that an aroused public can and will administer. ' Charles E. Hughes was the instru ment that fittingly did the work of the public. His investigations and his guberna torial administrations pnt an end alike to the combined corporate and politi cal monarchy that ruled the state for its own benefit. The people came back to their own, both in the con trol of the corporations, to which they bad given life, and in the political con trol of the state. He was denounced by leaders of that day of even his own party, but subsequent realization of his worth and work made his official record the standard and light house. Politically, it is sufficient to point out that Governor Whitman and other re publican party leaders are now his warmest advocates. , -.. It was in 1905 that the legislature ppointed a joint' "o.nmittee to in vestigate the price charged for gas and electricity in New York City, con trolled by the great Consolidated Ga company, This committee, after care ful thought, chose as its counsel Mr. Hughes. Under his lead the conimit- tee made a painstaking study of the conditions controlling the lighting in dustry. The results of the commit tee's work were expressed in bills re ducing the prices for gas and elec tricity, specifically the "80-cent" gas bill. In 1905 this hill failed under circumstances that so aroused public indignation that its passage the fol 'owing year was made inevitable. . Investigate Insurance Companies. In 1905 the legislature also IP s' pointed a joint committee to investi gate life insurance companies. Chosen by this second committee as Its coun lel, Mr. Hughes brought to bear all of his great devotion, concentration, training and experience. He plunged ", into the work, mastering details of accounting and insurance problems, and revealed the entire exploitations c' insurance. The disclosure startled the community and the country and - resulted in the passage by the legis ' lature, without amendment, of the remedial bills drawn by Mr, Hughes inc gas aim insurance iiivciiigaiioni stand as striking examples of the value of speedy and thorough legisla tive inquiries, . During the course of the investi gations Mr. Hughes was offered the j, ft ifim 1 " , I; ' ' '' "' ' 1 t ,i ' ypi f l'l 'I'" '' ',' ' ''I fj.1t 'Mr, iff (h EJU2JM V 4 tff I CHARLES EVANS HUGHES. republican nomination for mayor of New York Xity. This he declined, saying:- f'In my judgment I have no right to accept the nomination. A paramount public duty forbids it. It is not nec essary to enlarge upon the import ance of the insurance investigation. 1 hat is undisputed. It is dealing with questions vital to the interests of mil lions of our fellow citizens through out the land, it presents an oppor tunity for public service second to none, and involves a correlative responsbility. I have devoted my self undeservedly to . this work. It commands all my energies. It is im perative that I continue it." In the;, following summer in 1906, the republican convention nominated Mr. Hughes for governor by acclama tion. His work in the insurance mat ters was at that time at an end, and he accepted. He made an effective campaign, covering the whole state. He was elected in November, run ning against William Randolph Hearst although the rest of the re publican ticket went down to defeat. The legislature, however, was repub lican. - ' The acceptance and inaugural speeches of Mr. Hughes and his talk in the .'campaign expressed promises with respect to reforms in law and administration which were unique in meaning, though not in form. Such promises had been made before by candidates for public office, but they differed in this: Mr, Hughes not only meant the promises when he volun tarily made them, but he carried them out, after the flection was over, in letter and in spirit In this respect it may be said that his promise and performance uniquely coincided. As a New Yorker said: '"We know Mr. Hughes has his convictions and does not hesitate to express them and carry them out. Therefore we com mend to the country the expressions of belief and conviction found in the speeches and papers of Governor Hughes.", In his first legislative session he recommended a law creating a com mission to regulate public service corporations, because he believed that such corporations existed, not for ex ploitation by a few, but to render safe adequate service at just and rea sonable rates, with proper equipment, capitalized under proper regulations, and with accounts uniformly kept and access:lle. War Against Interests. . This, in New York, was a declara tion of war on the control by vested interests over legislative and admini strative action. The legislature had passed the Hughes bills on gas and electricity and i,isurance,v but here was a proposal that fixed restrictions and regulations, on all great utilities. It meant the end of "strike" legisla tion. It even prohibited passes. Legis lators began discussing the principles involved in a struggle between the executive and the legislative, and de nounced the efforts of the governor to "impose" legislation on the law making body. It looked like real trouble, but Governor Hughes settled it in a characteristic way. , The governor appealed to the "peopl., setting forth in plain, vigorous English his understanding of the law needed to protect the public interests. The people responded and their representatives in the legislature were glad to pass' a public service commi.jion law, which ' has since come to be a model for enactmet by ether-states. To an observer of the day it was interesting to see the anger of the legislators and politicians, be cause the governor did not attempt to gain the legislation he wished by the accepted methods, namely log rolling and patronage. They objected to this new-fangled idea of bringing the peo ple in, Hughes was breaking up the game nd introducing rew ana un tried rules, the workings of which they could not foresee. Gains Radical Reforms. Hughes had - thus,-, in less than three years, gained for the public as the result of his work as counsel and 1 -" ' at Tht Beit-lihtd Car in the Country' You've Something New in Store When You Ride in This Briscoe Eight VOTJ dent need to worry as you approach a hill, no matter how bad It may look. And you can take with you a party of the most accomplished "Klddert" in the country. For even they will have nothing but praise to offer a the car take the hill on high with never an effort, .. ., There' an Irresistible thrill, too, at you pick up and pull away first at the trajfle officer's signal; or creep through the crowded street at snail's pace on high, amid the clash of the changing gears on your neighbor' - YouH And the whole ear In harmony with It smooth.1 nets of operation. The graceful, distinctive body line f for which Benjamin Briscoe 1 famous ; a full canti lever rear spring suspension which levels road Inequali ties; plenty of seat and leg-room; and complete equipment of every motoring accessory. BRISCOE NEBRASKA CAR CO., 2429 Farn&m St.. Omaha, Neb. PhoneDouglas 100. De Luxe Eight-38 fully tautppmd no! ' with may J conecnasnca 985 . f.o.b. factory Arrange for ridm In m BriMee lit ht-urtn at your.frvic any tfme goernor, radical reforms in insur ance and utility management and control, and specific laws so reducing lighting rates as to save millions of dollars to consumers in New York City. Policy holders knew they had security, and utility patrons knew they were to have more immediate avenues of relief than by laborious efforts to gain legislative action on local or specific evils. The influence of these reforms was nation-wide. They have been the outposts of sound standards for constructive re forms and legislation throughout the country. In spite of the wishes of theparty bosses. Governor Hugiies .was re nominated and re-elected in '908 In that camoaiun it was fe.. by his sup porters that while republican organi zation would devote itseit to tne usual campaign .work of a combined state and national election, additional em phasis should be placed on the re election of Governor Hughes. Con sequently the Hughes alliance was formed, made up largely of men from professional and business life who had not formerly been interested in poli tics, that organization was a most striking illustration of a fact which was not realized and which seems not enough to have been realized at the present crisis. This was the extraor dinary appeal Hughes had to that great mass of voters, who for some reason the political leaders are not able tc appreciate. They are the ones who read and think, and vote as they think. They are not reached by party machinery, and their views are in consequence, not obtainable by party captains and leaders. They were and are for Hughes. From every quarter the Hughes alliance received aid. Eager to do its work were men who had never before thought about campaign. Money came in until there was more than sufficient. Every where among the thinking voters ex isted then and now an abiding faith in Hughes. Refused Patronage Offers. The governor had not used patron age for his own or anyone else's bene fit, and he refused the benefits of patronage distributable by others. The appeal rested upon a deep-seated belief that he was thoroughly trained, thoroughly honest and sincere, and completely devoted to the interests of hi great client the public. His methods of campaigning were most effective. It has been said that no other man is his equal. One of the strong speeches of that campaign was that of Governor Hughes in Youngstown, O., where the eloquence and cogent arguments of the great New Yorker did much to turn the tide in the middle western states away from Bryan. This speech fixed in the mind of the public the fact that a statesman had arrived. Thousands of votes for the ticket were made in his own state by the governor's clever answers to queries propounded to hjm by his democratic opponent, L. S. Chanler, They were upon special and local issues of such a nature that they might have em barrassed a less able or honest a cam paigner. The result stamped his methods of high strategic quality. The governor had no fear of any Questioner, and it may be added they iffered but little from those that now confront the country. , Believes in Preparedness. Governor Hughes believed in pre paredness and was an earnest ad vocate of an adequate army and navy. No man has a migher conception of true , Americanism. In one of his speeches he said: "We are devoted to the interests oi peace and we cherish no policy of aggression. The maintenance of our ideals is our greatest protection. It is our constant aim to live in friend ship with all nations, and to realize the aims of a free government, secure from the interruptions of strife and the wastes of war. It is entirely con sistent with these aims, and it is our duty to make adequate ,rovision for our defense a.id to maintain the effi ciency of our army and navy. This I favor." " At Youngstown Governor Hughes declared that in the absence of for mal written platforms the antecedents of candidates became their plat forms." In 1881, when he was graduated from Brown university, he was as signed one of two p.izes annually awarded to the two members of the graduating class,' who shall in the judgment of the faculty unite in the i degiee ability, character and attainment. As a practicing lawyer, as . j, .. ajx as jiiuEt ie h?s alwavs earned confidence and loyalty. His engaging personality, his great ability as a cogent speaker, belief in the people, all aided him in attaining the mark reached before the present conflict. He has had varied and exacting experience in the draft ing f legislation, in the administra tion and execution of laws, and also :.n their interpretation. Never Committed Himself. It was in the early administration of President Taft that Mr. Hughes was named for the supreme bench. Since that time he has had a large part in the deciding of many import ant questibns. He refused through out the long preliminary contest tc commit himself in any way. And he took care, too, not to say that if the burdens of party leadeiship werr laid upon him, without the slightest effort on his part, he would decline to take the honor. Some forget the human side of Judge Hughes. He has been des cribed as a political iceberg. Nothing could be more untrue. His public achievements have obscured the per sonal side of his character, but it is sufficient to say he has intense1 human nature, keen luve for his fellows, con sideration for the rights of others, and all those other attributes that go to make the great man To him public office is a public trust, and those chosen to be the servants of the people are not mere tools of political bosses. "They are public trustees, charged with tlie high duty of administering their off'ces to the best interests of all classes of the people Dangeroun Bronchial Cough. Dr. King'. New Discovery will give quick relief In bronchial irritation and bronchial asthma; allays Inflammation, eases sore spota. All druggists. Advertisement. Answer Given to Anti-Saloonists On Bond Question Mayor Dahlman and the Omaffa city council have responded 'to the petition of F. A. High, superintend ent of the Anti-Saloon league, who asked that the bonds furnished to sa loon keepers be declared void and that the licenses be revoked. The reply states that at the tin-e the licenses were granted there was nothing against the Illinois Surety company: that there should be no necessity of getting new bonds and that the li censes ought not to be revoked. It was also stated that, in the belief of the respondents, although the com pany is in the hands of a receiver, it is solvent Wide Fluctuation In Prices on Corn While wheat on the Omaha market touched $1.02for the best grades, gen erally prices were 1 to 2 cents lower than Friday. There were sixty-seven carloads on th market and prices ruled from 87 cents to $1.02 per uuauci. - Tuere was : mide fluctuatibn in the price of corn, ranging from 65 to 71 cents per bus'.eL The cereal sold & up to 2 cents lelow the prices of Frid.'.y. . There were sixtj -five cars on the mar' et. Oats were '4 cent off, selling at 37'i3Sy2 cents per bushel. Receipts were sixteen carloatU. 4 YEARS AT 1324 FARNAM ST. TEETH SFEClMT I v We Please You or Refund Your Money DR. McKENNEY SAYS: "You understand what 'guarantee' means; it isn't a promise; it covers the test of wear. You'll find a liberal 'make-good' spirit, the best you ever heard of. Try us and be convinced." Best Silver CA. PlUing .....WW Best 22k Gold Crown. $4 Wonder Plates C CO J tlli 125.. VV, aim flV worth $15 to $2 Heaviest Bridge Work, per tooth. $4 Honrs 8:30 A. K. to F. Jf. WodBMdaya and Batoraayv Tin a km r. m. Not Opon Bandar. UENNEY DENTISTS 14TH AND FARNAM STS. 1324 FARNAM STREET. Phone Douglas 2872. NOTICE Out-of-town patrons can get Plates, Crowns, Bridges and Fillings Completed in One Day. Free No Students. Lady Attendants, CHANDLER SIX The Chandler Leads in Price and Style and Certainty of Service s- . ' .' " ': NEVER b'efore has the Chandler leadership been so, obvious to so many people as it is now, at the height of the 1916 season. At a time when so many cars are "marked up" a hundred dollars or more, the Chandler leads with the same low price established eighteen months ago. In the midst of a horde of new types and styles of engines, "The Mar- -velous Motor" leads in certainty of service. Built in the Chandler factory eVer since the first Chandler car was marketed this famous motor, refined, more powerful, more flexible, still leads most distinctly because free from any hint of experimentation or uncertain theory. And Chandler leads .quite as clearly in beauty of body design, refine ment of finish in every detail and luxury of upholstering. It is not surprising that many thousands of new owners have joined the Chandler ranks this year. Yon will be delighted with your Chandler 'Seven-Passenger Touring Car $1295 Four-Passenger Roadster - - $1295 Of. 0. B. Cleveland) Hons. Offka, lsav O St, Lincoln, Nab. Phom, B 4701.' Omaha Warahoasa, ao S. istk St, CARD-ADAMS MOTOR CO. . Distributor! for Nebraska, Western Iowa and South Dakota. v DEALERS Soma food territory opan for Uv. daalara on a 1 1 v I a proposition. OMAHA ratal! con n oet Ian not yat doMd. CHANDLER MOTOR CAR COMPANY, CLEVELAND, OHIO 1H