IN THE PUBLIC EYE.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17329, 18 November 1916, Page 12

IN THE PUBLIC EYE.

PROMINENT PEOPLE OF THE PERIOD. A few months ago when Mr Charles Evans Hughes had been selected as the Republican nominee for the American Presidency, when Mr William Hughes, of Australia, was attracting great attention in London, and when Sir Sam Hughes, of Canada, was at the height of his popularity, it seemed indeed that the Hugheses li#d the world at their feet. But the Hughes stocks have slumped materially during the past week or so, and all three of these distinguished men have, been encountering difficulties. First of all came tho announcement that Mr C. E. Hughes had been elected to the Presidency, and all the world accepted the announcement as dofinito. Probably Mr Hughes’s own supporters thought the election was assured, and all the signs must have pointed that wo.y. But. for once the shrewd election fudges were wrong. They had assumed that the western and middlo western States would not change more than usual and that the east would doeide the issue, and it happeued that the west and the middle west declined to fulfil the expectations of tho east. Instead of being first Mr Hughes was second.

As for Mr Hughes, of Australia, no one now seems to call him “ Billy,” whereas a month or two ago that affectionate abbreviation was on everyone’s lips. . Possibly, probably, if his health holds good, Mr Hughes will again bo “Billy "' to the multitude, because he is a. great fighter and he is sucking to his colours, but for tho moment, having broken with the caucus, he leads a minority and his path ,is all thorns. Incidentally, the situation that has developed in Commonwealth politics will perhaps explain to dull doubters why Mr Hughes did not try to carry conscription without taking a, referendum. His Parliament would simply have turned the proposition down, because even if . the Bill could have been forced through the lower House it would have been held up in the Senate. Mr Hughes had counted bhads before he acted, and-his own Cabinet must have been hostile to conscription by direct. Act of Parliament;.

The Commonwealth Prime Minister is not a strong man physically. He was almost a wreck when" ho returned from the Mother Country and his health Ims always been indifferent. His hearing is defectivc-—a grave disability in a parliamentarian. But he. has triumphed over physical weakness, and his career is a wonderful revelation of what can be achieved by moral courage, enthusiasm and high mental capacity in face of bodily weakness. He has obvious limitations, imposed, of course, by his training, but one forgets these in admiration of the man and its work. Sympathetic observers, who knew that he was the soul of the Labour movement in Australian politics, used to say That it would be a bad day for Labour if ever he became Prime Minister, because his - energy would consume him. and his frail body would collapse under the strain of leadership. And possibly the prophecy was sc/und. But if his health permits him to continue his wojk Mr Hughes will remain, the greatest figure in the Commonwealth, whether he is head or the Government or not. His fate will not be decided until the end of the month, when his new administration will meet Parliament.' in session.,-v. •>

As for the Canadian Hughes, his career was sketched in Hus column Borne little time ago. The incidents that led up to his retirement from the Canadian Ministry have been mentioned briefly in the coble messages from time to time, but it is opportune to recall that he returned to Canada from Europe some . little time ago .to meet allegations of corruption against the Ministry of Militia, of which he is. or wrs then, the head. “ The charges of corruption against Sir Sam Hughes have not been established,” wrote the Toronto correspondent of “The Times" a few weeks ago. “ Even many of his opponents do not question his integrity. The findings of the Royal Commission were a substantial vindication of the Minister. Colonel J. Wesley Allison, ’m whom Sir Sam Hughes had often expressed .complete confidence, was found to have concealed the fact that he was interested in shell contracts. To this extent he abused the confidence of the Minister on whose behalf he was acting. Sir Sam never fails in fierce loyalty to friends, just as he gives no quarter to foes. By Qrder-in-Council Colonel Allison has been deprived of his Tank of honorary colonel, and in this action apparently the- Minister of Militia has acquiesced. “Sir Sam Hughes was an uncompromising champion of the Ross rifle, which has been discarded. It has to be remembered, however' that lie was by no means alone in his defence rtf the weapon. The Canadian Forces were equipped with the Ross rifle when Sir Sam became Minister of Militia. The factory for its manufacture was established by a Liberal Government. It is true that he defended the rifle even when it was attacked by Conservative colleagues in Parliament, but that is characteristic of the naan once he IN committed to an opinion or a policy; He is naturally aggressive and impulsive. He has none of the qualities of a courtier, and he has at least adequate confidence in himself. Restless, confident, of tireless energy, and not without resource in defence, he does nothing to conciliate opponents, and seldom concerns himself with the anxieties of less aggressive colleagues.

“Tt is too soon to forecast the judgment of history on the Canadian Minister of Militia. He is the type of man who gets either more or less than justice from his contemporaries. •At the beginning of the war he had great popularity. Undoubtedly his position has been affected by the sustained and unrestrained attacks of opponents. But he has genius for recovery and a considerable command of the artifices of political strategy. Besides, he was greatly instrumental in organising the Canadian Army, and must for ever be associated with its sacrifices and achievements. For the report that the Minister may take over the command of the Canadian Forces in the field there is no foundation. There is no evidence that he has cherished any such ambition. It is certain that no such suggestion lias been entertained by thrt Government.’ *