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About Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922 | View Entire Issue (June 14, 1908)
unday Bee PART III. nALF-TQEIE SECTIC1I PACE 1 TO 4. THE OMAHA DEC. But & West VOL. XXXVII NO. 52. OMAIIA, SUNDAY MORNING, .TUNE 14, 1908. S1NOLE COPY FIVE CENTS. WILLIAM HOWARD TAFT AT VARIOUS TIMES IN BUSY LIFE The Omaha Interesting Sidelights on the Character of the Man Who Will Be Nominated for President of the United States tx thfi- Republican National Convention at Chicago During tho Week THE varying features of William Howard Taft, outlined in the accompanying group photograph, form an interesting study. Here are traced the development of the boy and the man the "Willie'' of childhood, the "young Bill" of , achool days in Cincinnati aud at Yale, and the "Big Bill" Taft of mature years. They outllue the strong, wholesome, manly boy, who had a full share of the fun of his day and gave and recelvej some of the hard knocks of boyhood; the fearless Judge, the peace maker of the Philippines and of Cuba, the war secretary, Panama canal builder, globe-trotter and campaigner. Secretary Taft is a peculiarly attractive personality. H is warm-hearted, approachable, frank, and blessed with the saving grace of humor, and at the same time he has always the strength and courage of his sound convictions. His "yes" means yes and his "no" precisely what Is spells. All along the path of this man from the boyhood to now. from the bulking youth who outwretled every one at Yale to the "qulckfooted fighting, elephant of our modern politics," ready to run for the presidency if his party so decrees, one may gather incidents, which speak of his courage, bis strength, his self sacrifice, his endurance, his patience, and his Intense hunianue&a. "He shows us," writes Walter Wellman, "a con- . vlnclng example that a man may smile and smile and still bo strong as a giant and firm as a rock. He shows us how true was that word of the late Senator Hoar 'that the best boy has something manly about him, and the best man bas much of the boy In him.' Taft is a man many of whose ways are those of the boy, a big, husky, rollicking boy, ever ready for a laugh or a Joke or a prank, yet never overstepping tbe bounds of dignity, mixing Jest and laughter with work, always bright and sunny, yet always a marvel of Industry and achievement." The Taft family spring from New England stock, both father and mother tracing their ances try back to the earliest colonial times. Shortly be for her death last December Mrs. Louisa M. Taft, mother of the secretary of war, completed a gene alogical history of the Tafts and of her own family, the Torreys, tracing tbe former back to Robert Taft, who settled in Menton, Mass., In 1669, and the lat ter to William Torrey, an Englishman, who settled in Wayimoutht Mass., in 1640. According to this record, the first American Taft had five sons, one of whom, Joseph, born in 1680, married Elizabeth Emerson, the granddaughter of the first minster of Menton. Joseph's second son was Captain Peter Taft, born in 1715; Captain Peter's third son was Aaron, born In 1743. He was fitted for Princeton, but had to leave college before he had finished, although he had already established a reputation as a scholar. He settled at Uxbrldge, Mass., but removed to Townsend, Vt., where he died In 1808. He married Khoda Rawson, the great-great-granddaughter of Edward Rawson, secretary of the Massachusetts Bay colony from 1650 to 1686. Peter Rawson, the third son of Aaron, born In 1785, married Sylvia Howard in 1810. He taught school and was admitted to the bar. He became Judge of the common pleas, Judge ol the probate court. Judge of the county court of Windham county, was one of the county comsissloners and Was for many years a member of the legislature. He removed to Cincinnati in 1841, where he died in 1867, leaving one son, Alphonso. - Alphonso Taft, father of the secretary of war, was born in 1810 in Tonwshend, Vt., and was grad uated from Yale in 1833. He taught for two yean In an academy in Ellington, Conn., and then became a tutor at Yale. He was admitted to the bar In 1838 and went to Cincinnati the next year. In 1857 be argued before the United States supreme court the claim of the city for tbe bequest of Charles McMlcken, which secured the nucleus of the endowment fund for the University of Cincinnati. Mrs. Taft wrote concerning her husband's reputation while he was Judge of the superior court: ( "No young man was ever turned away because his case was con sidered too small for the Judge's patience; no experienced lawyer ver felt his case too large or the questions involved too intricate for the Judge's capacity and learning. His most important case was the Bible in the Public Schools.' "The Catholics and Jews, who formed a large proportion of the cltlsens of Cincinnati, complained on the Introduction of religious Instruction Into the public schools as violating the spirit of the jpn ' Btttutlon. The school board stopped the reading of the Bible. The court was appealed to on the ground that the board had no power. "There was a violent contest and feeling ran high. To Judge Taft there was no auestlon of the right of the board to take "action. It was not in his nature to consider tor a moment popular clamor or the effect of his decision on his career. "The two other Judges decided against the board. Judge Taft delivered an elaborate dissenting opinion. When the case was taken to the supreme court of Ohio this opinion was sustained by tbe un animous court of five Judges, and It has since become the law throughout the United States. "The Bible In Public Schools' case arose In his path several timet later, and probably prevented his being governor of .Ohio. When, however, the storm of prejudice and bigotry had subsided and ' " i $ Vr K'?u Avv ' VAX ' ''.''I il 1 1 1'iii'ni ii' ' 'VV'S I. Mr. Taft at age of S. t. At the age of t. 6. As Judge of Circuit Court in Ohio. 10. Mr. Taft at the present time as Secretary of J. At flt in of IT. 4. At the age of 15. 5. About SO In his Junior year at Yale. 7. As Governor of the Philippines. 8. As Governor of Cuba. 9. Yale Alumnus. War and Presidential Candidate. FIFTY PHOTOGRAPHS OF WILLIAM HOWARD TAFT. TAKEN AT DIFFERENT TIMES DURING HIS REMARKABLY ACTIVE CAREER. th. people had 'time to consider the matter Judge Taft'. reputation time to make a r of the world and to travel all over the country ness for writing sketches of life "over the Rhine." a section or , n- neer ror , V as a Judge who knew neither fear nor favor inevitably Increased." as a fast rising favorite for the presidency. It is not surprising, in clnnatl. where the Wunburger flows and wnere ine mougai oi - .Hn it h.rf th. win Judge Taffs first wife, Fanny Phelps, was a daughter of Judge view of his achievements, his record as a. getter of results, as a w was tne forerunner of treason. For a while he reported the Charles Phelps of Townshend. Vt She died in 1851. Three chll- doer, that President Roosevelt says of him: "Taft ts the court3, and one day, to use his own language, be "pulled off a big dren were born to her, one of whom died In Infancy. biggest going concern in the country.' He keeps going all the time, atory," which went into the paper double-leaded and with big head- Charles Phelps Taft, the second son, is the proprietor of the He works from 8 o'clock in the morning till midnight He not only lines. Unfortunately he got his facts twisted, and on the following Cincinnati Times-Star. The third son, Peter Rawson, died In 1888. Works hard, but plays bard, laughs hard, sleeps hard, eats bard, and day he was summoned into court for contempt and received a lecture Judge Taft married Louisa Maria Torrey In 1853. Her first sometimes bits hard when roused." from the Judge that he never forgot, son. Samuel Davenport Torrey, died In Infancy. Secretary Taft was When he entered Yale college in 1874, young Taft settled down This early though brief experience in newspaper life and the the secend son, born September 15, 1857, Henry Waters Taft of New to capture all the honors, which Industry and ability could reach. Bpirit of camaraderie it engendered no doubt now moves the secre Tork the third, Horace Dutton Taft the fourth, and the fifth child His father was then a member of Grants cabinet, but that did not tary t0 greet newspaper men with a welcoming smile, which makes Is her daughter, Fanny Louise, wife of Dr. William A. Edwards of bother "Big Bill." And he got the honors, too, without being a grind, everyone of the boys feel that he is a Jolly good fellow, whether he Los Angeles, Cat. i As William Allen White says, "He danced well, sang well, wrestled has a bunch of news to give away or not The latchstrlng of bis door A striking similarity may be traced In the publlo careers of well, wore his clothes well, and probably loafed well, but never for- hangs outside for the boys, and they are welcome at any seasonable father and son. Indeed the san has followed to a large extent the got the main business of life to get an education. And he did the hour. An amuztng Incident which illustrates this feeling Is related. ... . , . . . K ,,, T, v.,. trail of honor and usefulness blaied by the father. Both graduated Job well, finished it up. rounded It off. put In good measure and quit Reaching his office late one afternoon the secretary was greeted by Qut tQ gow wUd' oaU ne w'onld hmva harvested them by the car-load. a number of newspaper men. uooa evening, genuemen, saia mm But he no wd oaUf and tnrnM nt0 nU mneM m ciean. secretary, and he shed his coat. The men looked at each other, Bt,nP(, r,fi-MV .m-hrin.(! hari.miiao.iei. nft-Wr,i w.n. wondering if the secretary was preparing to settle account wit d well.bred younf gentiemani wbom the younger men were point- and had literally thrown him out of a convention. He had the blind, roaring, inexorable wrath of a big roan of peace. And in those days, when he was still a boy to the old men. and only a boy to the young men, he was to tbe clan of his kind that loved him, still "old Bill." He was what slang calls a mixer. He fought, the gang on the floor of the convention and was never too nice to get down In the primaries and work at the polls. And when he came rolling down the street like a good-natured porpoise, or when he banged his) big fist on the bench as he sat in court, he was still "old Bill," much to be res pected, little to be feared, save by the unrighteous, and always to be loved. He had but one weakness for a politician work. He kept bis docket clean. His traces never scraped the wheel; his shoulders always were In the collar, and withal he never turned a hair. Work some correspondent guilty of printing "fake" stqrles about th tof to wMh gome prld6( Jtnd thelp RmDltoUB eWerlt hlm cllmD Panama canal. "I don't believe I have any news tonight" ld th wor. ,,.K -mp .i. i aid from Yale college. Both were Judges of courts and secretaries of the second man In a class of 120 boys. war. The father had mor varied and extended experience xear the dose of his college life young Taft showed the fine as American minister to courts of Europe, while the 0f honor, which later prompted him to stack and dethrone Boss son'- experience was limited to negotiating a settlement Cox as the political dictator of Cincinnati and decline all com- of the prior lands controversy at th Vatican, and personal visits promises with Senator Foraker. The class of 1878 had a spirited a l . !.. a ' 1mm s v 4 Vt a unrl A nsa n sr n naa atknln tm . . . . . . . - . m tl. i j a , S t I a ounui jT.. i i.uuc, vuuiii- election to cnoose me ciass orator, ana ian was eieciea oy a single secretary, pieasaciiy, ana no suppea oui oi uio wuimwi. i uiu v v i,., u, ..mii ship, executive ability and diplomatic skill stamped In the career of TOte. But after the election charges were made that some of Tsffs bear one little item. Civil Engineer Smith has reslrned from the M My fom thU daU. the father shine with even greater luBter In the" son because of his overenthuslastlc supporters had resorted to means to gain votes, canal work to acctpt a higher salary neaier home," and the seer- January, 1881 Assistant publie prosecutor. wider range of experience In dealing with govrnmental problems which might legitimately be criticised. Taft promptly resigned th tary wriggled out of his trousers. The youthful correspondent of a March, 1883 Resigned and became United States Internal 'and diverse peoples. The son is one of the few men, if not the only honor. Students appealed to him to reconsider his decision, Insist- foreign paper blushed violently, while the secretary wblsked a pair revenue collector. (Resigned March, 1883.) one, who has declined a seat on the bench of the federal supreme lag that be was honestly elected, but Taft had only one answer, of riding breeches from hi suit case, and then Mr. Taft explained. 'January, 1885 Assistant county solicitor. court , , "A long as there Is a single blot upon my title. I won't tak it" So "I am fifteen minutes late for an appointment I have to go riding Mrch. 1887 Resigned and appolated Judge of the auprem "It has became axiomatic In Washington," writes Walter Well- the class held another election and he was chosen almost nnanl- with the president," he said, "and it was a case of seeing you while April, 1888 Elected to th same position. man, "that whenever trouble occurs anywhere in the world beyond mously. Strangely enough the future Secretary of War chose as the I got Into my riding togs or of not seeing you at all, and I would not Feburary, 1890 Resigned and became solicitor-general of th th power of ordinary agencies to deal with, Taft is the men who subject of his oration. "The Vitality of the Democratic Party." Those willingly forego that pleasure." and as he struggled Into his riding United Ststes. must be sent to straighten It out. Not only did he bring order out who hesrd that oration still say that as an exposiUon of the theory Jacket he started at a log trot for the courtyard where his steed tM,arCth 189'R,fn1 an boam6 inig of tt Unlt Stales of chaos in the Philippines, but he averted civil war and anachy in of politics la a democratic form of government It was unsurpassed. tood waiting. ' eou Mch..OKeslgned and became president of th Phillppln Cuba, settled the difficult problem of the friars' lands by a visit to During the succeeding two years, while studying law at the In the early days of his political career Taft. (as William Allen commission. the Vatican, started the vast activity at Panama In effective fashion. Cincinnati Law school, Taft earned pocket money and gained much White pictures him) was "a hulking six-footer Just under 30, moon- Julr 1901 Inaugurated first civil governor of th Phillp- and then went back again to adjust a threatened struggle between valuable experience as a reporter, an occupation he followed reg- faced, good-natured, who threw off work by the ton. wlthout.sweat- P,nes- ' ... . . . . ,v ... i.rrtn .tfttes. Though the secretary of oep. h. rrri th. .l.ri, tnr . .v. . ..... . ...... . December. 1901 Visited the United 8tate by order of th " - - - ,uciiiu, ne uum uig. bui wiiu mat murrj uvari mat uiMciu . cuumenauce. in- Sprretarv of War War aepamaent wuu . ui arm upon ii ueiaiia. neipea re- lor a while under Murat Ualstead. and they do say that he made cldently, he had a fighting record. He had ground a blacksmith's organzi th arm, and creat a general staff, and Incidental! found things bum, while pushing th reportorlal pociL H had a fond- Xao UU Jtn aldewalk for libeling Judge Talt, h had whipped a ward July, 1902 Conferred with Pop Leo XIII and committee of .(Continued on Pag Three.),