Bill Taft, Jolly Good Fellow
(Copyright, 10CI3, by T. C. McClure.)
tO. burly Mill Taft. nix feet tall. In
B I 'weight 800 pounds, In manner
I dAmocr&tlc. In rmlltlcs atralirht rn-
publican,' jurist and statesman,
will take up the war - portfolio
which Ellhu Root will lay down next Janu
ary. '
' It would perhaps be more dignified to
Write "Hon. Wlluam II. Taft," but to the
thousands who have 'grasped his hand,
heard his hearty laugh and felt the Infec
tion of his genial "I'm mighty glad to see
you," ho is "Rill',' Taft At Yale he was
sometimes called "Bull" Taft, on account
of his big frame and the determined way;
In which he broke down obstructing bar
riers. He has, however, no difficulty In establish
ing his title to "Hon." A glance at his
biography is enough. Assistant prosecutor
(or Hamilton county, Ohio; collector of In
ternal revenue at Cincinnati, Judge of the
supreme court of Ohio, solicitor general of
the United States, J;e of the Sixth United
States circuit court, member of the circuit
court of appeals, president of the Philip
pine commission and first civil governor of
the Philippines, besides twice refusing a
place on the supreme court bench, make a
list of honorable positions that needs not
the addition of secretary of war to guar
antee the title.
Judge Taft fs of fair complexion, and
some people think he looks like ex-President
Cleveland. He is taller than tha
Sage of Princeton, weighs more and has a
little more hair, although there has been a
decided thinning out of his light brown
locks in the last few years. He wears a
light brown mustache, somewhat long. His
face Is full and Indicative of geniality, but a
pair 6f steel gray eyes, that usually twinkle
with good nature, can give warning that
bis geniality Is not to be trespassed. He
can get mad, but never without reason, and
heaven pity the poor mortal who provokes
bis wrath.
In one respect Judge Taft is much like
ex-President Cleveland. He dislikes to d lo
ta te to a stenographer, and does a great
deal of his own writing by hand. Like the
writing of Mr. Cleveland, that of Judge
Taft is In a small, feminine hand that
would suggest anything but the big man
behind It. His autograph Is in as great de
mand as that of any other public man, and
he is Immensely good-natured about giving
One result of Judge Taft's residence in
the Philippines has been the introduction
of the "glad hand" In those Islands. No
better proof is needed of his democracy
and his success as a mixer. As he traveled
from Manila to the uttermost provinces
of the archipelago, establishing local civil
government, his loud hearty laughter and
magnetic handshake dispelled centuries of
Spanish dignity and reserve, and left a
democracy that would delight the most en
thusiasts spellbinder. As an example of
bis Influence In this direction on the Fili
pinos the following will serve:
He went into the province of Bulacan to
Inaugurate a local civil government.
Naturally, he Inquired for the most promi
nent citizen of the place, who was pro
duced in the person of Senator Jose Serapto,
an ex-captain of Spanish volunteer and
prestdente of Malolos. The gallant captain
was stiff with dignity, and on his uniform
coat hung half a dozen gaudy decoratlcns
received in his military and civil career,
lie was prepared for some grand cere
mony and all the people expected to tea
the new American governor appear In gold
bullion, glittering stars, shining bells and
all the blazonry of military pomp. Instead
Taft came along In a. suit of llght'llncn,
and when presented to the foremost citizen
grabbed the little fellow's hand with a
hearty "How d'ye do? Glad to see you."
and a chuckle that startled the captain out'
f his dream.
Two weeks later Captain Serapto received
his commission as governor of that prov
ince. When he appeared to take office tha
natives were surprised to see him In plain
white clothes. The fine uniform and hand
some decorations were. gone.
"How is thlsT" was the cry.
"It Is no longer customary," replied the
captain, as he shook hands and greeted his
people In imitation of Taft's democracy.
The Filipinos caught on, and a class of
"glad hand" politicians has arisen in the
wake of the governor general.
"You have described Billy' Taft." said
ox-Secretary of State Day to the late
President McKlnley one day In 1&9. The
two were traveling on a railroad train to
Canton, O., and earnestly discussing the
most absorbing administration problem at
.that time the government of the Philip
pines. "I want a man to head the Philippine
commission," said Mr. McKlnley, "who Is
strong, honest and tactful. A man of edu
cation and executive ability. A man
(earless, but conservative, and one who will
s;et along with the military authorities."
President McKlnley's schedule of the
Qualities desired in the head of the com
mission immediately brought Judge Taft to
the mind of Mr. Day, and the choice was
then determined.
How Taft would regard such a propo
rtion was another question. He was
tJJ- Varssx.-'-". "Tv
V
WILLIAM IL TAFT, NEXT
asked to Washington, and In President .
McKlnley's private office there occurred a
conference that showed the stuff the fu
ture governor of the Philippines was made .
of. There was then looming up a probable .
vacancy on the supreme ' court bench, ' to
which Judge Taft would be appointed if
he so elected. At this conference there ,'.
were present President McKlnley, Secretary
of War Root and Judge Taft- The presl- .
dent and secretary of war wanted Taft
to go to the Philippines, and It was left
to Mr. Root to put the matter before the
judge. Mr. Root had only a short personal
acquaintance with Mr. Taft. but sufficient
to enable him to read so open a character.
"Judge," he said, "we need you in the '
Philippines. You are now confronted with
two propositions an easy one and a hard
one. You are now occupying an honorable
life position on the federal bench with a
prospect In the near future of reaching a
seat on the supreme court bench, the goal
of every lawyer's ambition who puts repu
tation above dollars. You have money
enough with your salary to live comfort
ably. You can remain upon the supreme
bench for life. That is the easy proposi
tion. "On the other hand we need you In the
Philippines. . You may be prostrated and
wrecked physically by the diseases Incident
to that climate. You may die at your post.
You have the opportunity of being the
savior of the little brown men, advancing
them centuries in civilization and still be
damned by the public for your work.
You may administer affairs with great
success and still have to feel the Bting
of Ingratitude. You will have to resign
your circuit Judgeship. The chance of
going upon the supreme court bench may
never again come to you. That Is the
hard proposition. Which will you ac
cept?" Several hundred of his old college mates
who have seen "Bull" Taft take hard
knocks at Talo and tackle the most un
promising prrp-f.lt! ma could have an3wored
for him as he did for himself, "I go to the
Philippines."
Jucge Taft Is not a man of fads or fan
cies exc.pt en?. He Is an Intens?. enthml-
aatle, loyal, uncompromising Yale man. If
you want to see l is steel gray eyes snap
,and flash Just reflect upon the glory or
prestige of "Old E:i." All the honors and
achievements of his life since graduating
in 1878 are nothing to him compared with
his triumphs In his four college years.
Away out in the Phi:ipp!nes it has been
no unusual thing to hear his voice raised
In the tongs of Yalen?la Just as he used
to ring when fitting on the college fence
with his classmates about him.
There are a hundred or' more of Judge
Taft's old classmates, men prominent in
business, church and politics throughout
the country, who would taka off their coats
at any time to fight for him. . A quarter of
a century has not lessened their loyalty,
and their devotion Illustrates the esteem he '
commanded in Yale from the time he en
tered until graduation.
Young Taft went into Yale from Andover
with a choice lot of boys who formed a
clique that ruled their old class and to a
SECRETARY OS" WAR.
groat extent the- whole college. Of this
party the athletio Taft was facile prlncopa.
Formed by nature for victories in the ath
letic field. Taft denied his inclination and
entered the sphere of mental achievements.
He rowed, played foot ball and practiced in
the gymnasium only enough '. to keep his
body . In trim.;. He was 'not so devoted to
Ms books, however, that he failed to re
spond when hla" class "was in a rush, row
or contest of any kind.' He was always in
the forefront of the fray.
His father, . Alphonso Taft, secretary of
war and attorney general under Grant and
In the diplomatic service under Arthur, was
a Yale graduate, and he wanted his son to
taka high honors from his alma mater. Bill
did not disappoint his parent. He gradu
ated second in a class of 120 and was sa
lutatorlan and class orator.
"I'll never be content until I throw Bill
Taft again," laughingly said Herbert W.
Bowen, minister to Venezuela, one evening
while in Washington conducting negotia
tions for the settlement of the Venezuelan
Imbroglio. Mr. Bowen was a member of
the same class with Taft at Yale. They
were the two biggest fellows In the col
lege and a friendly rivalry existed be
tween them as to strength and ability to
wrestle. Bowen was a little taller, but
Taft was the heavier of the two. They
were pretty evenly matched In wrestling.
"Up to our last year it was about a
stand-off let ween us," said Minister Bowen,
"but I think I had Just a shade the better
of him. In the last week of the com
mencement of 1S78 we had two or three
rounds and Taft threw me. I will never
be satisfied until I have another go at
him."
Mr. Bowen's wish may be gratified..
When-Judge Taft gets settled as secretary
of war and Minister Bowen comes to
Washington on a leave of absence there Is
nothing to prevent their having an old
fashioned wrestling bout. President Roose
velt can take them up to hla gymnasium in
the attic of the White House and act as
umpire while the pair have it out on the
mat used by the president in his wrestling
exereires. It would be safe money to bet
on Bowen. Taft has laid on flesh of recent
years, and now tips the beam at S10.
8lnce Judge Taft's residence in the
Philippines physical bulk has become a
badge of rank among the Filipinos. They
Imagine that every big man must be a
high official. Judge Taft la their hero.
Another man they have respect for on ac
count of his avoirdupois is Mr. Ferguson,
the disbursing officer of the Philippine
commission. He rivals Governor Taft In
weight, and he Is respected accordingly by
the natives. It Is said that should
Ferguson be a candidate for appointment
to the vacancy that will be created when
Taft leaves the commission, his large size
will be a recommendation. He will remind
the Filipinos of Taft. who has so
thoroughly commanded their obedience and
respect.
In all the positions he has held Judge
Taft has never changed In his manner. Ills
.characteristics have remained the same,
and when he reaches Washington as sec
retary of war the thousands who know
htm predict that his laugh will be Jiu.4
loud, his handshake as hearty, his good
humor as infectious as they were in college,
in court circles or away off In the Philip
pines. He will throw himself back in his
chair and enjoy a good story with as much
est as he ever did. Taft is not much of
a story teller himself, but he la at all times
bubbling over with good humor; so that
While his narratives may not always be
pointed and witty, they are bound to create
a laugh by the very force of his good
humor. He likes to chaff those. who are
disposed to put on official airs and dignity.
Ills associates on the Philippine commis
sion have frequently been the object of his
Jokes, and he has the faculty of infecting
those about him with his own manners
and good spirits.
"I was not a month with Judge Taft
until I was shaking hands with everyone
I met and greeting them with a laugh,"
said Rutherford Corbln, eon of Major
General Corbln, who was Governor Taft's
secretary for some two years In the Philip
pines. "I never saw anyone who could so
thoroughly dominate everybody about him
and saturate them, as it were, with his
own geniality."
Governor Taft Is as strong In his dislikes
as he Is In his likes. Soon after reaching
the Philippines he came In conflict with
General MacArthur. A bitter feeling grew
up and. as Judge Taft felt he was In the
right, the coolness still prevails. He had a
difference also with General Chaffee, but It
was altogether good-natured. They argued
their points with each other and were on
the most intimate terms during the whole
controversy, always addressing each other
by their first names. The trouble grew out
of a conflict between the civil and military
governments, and each considered himself
In the right. JOHN E. IIIGGINS.
He Couldn't Forget
"I'll never forget my 32d birthday la
New York," said an old resident medita
tively. "Was it a Joyful one?" asked the young;
man who was lounging about the club as
If time hung heavy on his hands.
"Joyful!" exclaimed the old resident
"That's no name for It. at all. : It was
downright lively. I think my wife realised
afterward that she tather overdid the
matter."
"Tried to surprise you, did she?"
"She not only tried to, but she succeeded.
You see, she always was an enthusiast la
eve-yth!ng the undertook."
"Bankrupted you In g t lng you presents
I suppore," suggested the young man.
"Well, not exactly,"xreturned the old res
ident reflectively, 'but her presents came
very near bankrupting me later. However,
they are a good deal of comfort to me now,
so that I can't say I regret It."
"Now!" ejaculated the young man. "bo
you mean to say that you still have
them?"
"Certainly."
"And how long ago was this 32d birth
day?" "Twenty years ago."
"Twenty years! Heavens! That's a long
time to keep a birthday present."
"Two of them," corrected the old resi
dent quietly. i
"May I ask what they were?" Inquired
the young man after a pause.
"Certainly twins, both girls," replied the
old resident. New York Times.
Pointed Paragraph;
- Only the man who understands women
admits that he doesn't.
Some live men remind us of dead ones
who forgot to get buried.
Heed the teachings of adversity If you
would avoid a second lesson.
Many a good woman can see where she
might have been better looking.
An act of heroism Is but temporary, while
an act of charity is everlasting.
It's impossible to convince a lazy man
that there Js such a thing as easy work.
A woman's education Is never completed
until she acquires the title of grandmother.
Awe Is the feeling with which one woman
regards another who wears imported gowns.
Fortunate is the man who doesn't have
one-half the troubles that his neighbors
think he has.
Esau was foolish to swap his birthright
for a mess of pottage If he could havo
traded it for breakfast food.
After marrying a man to reform him si
woman soon begins to complain that ho
Isn't a bit like the man she married.
Nothing delights a woman who' loves na
ture so much as gathering wild flowers and
grasses for the purpose of dyeing them-
Chicago News.
His Faux Pas
They were uttering the tender nonsense;
that succeeds the great question.
"And," said the girl, bravely, "If poverty
comes we will face It together."
"Ah, dearest," he replied, "the mere sight
of your face would scare the wolf away."
And ever since he has wondered why ahsj
returned th ring. New York Tribune. .
