The Argus of Albany on January 4, 1906, offered its readers a nugget of political wit. “The insurance office boy who receives your card is likely to reply, nowadays, ‘The boss can’t see nobody. He is busy writing his resignation.’” New York City lawyer Charles Evans Hughes had just completed his investigation of the life insurance industry on behalf of the State Legislature.
Hughes, born in Glens Falls, was eager to get as far from the Albany quagmire as possible. “Charles E. Hughes, counsel to the legislative investigating committee, plans to sail for Europe about Feb. 1,” the Argus reported on January 17th. “Mr. Hughes, it is said, intends to rest for a month or more before resuming his law practice.”
There was already speculation that Hughes might run for Governor of New York State…