Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1876-03-30
Vol. XXI. Whole No. llO4. No. IS.
The New Secretary of War.

The successor ito General Belknap as
Secretary OF War is Hon. Alfonso Taft.
Ii. D., OF Ohio. The West claimed the
position, and the President yielded to their
| wishes, after the declination of Senator
| Morrill,, of Maine. The new Secretary of
War was born at Townshend, Vermont, In
1910, and is therefore sixty-six years of
age. After obtaining good country
education, as it was styled in those days,
Mr.. TAFT in his nineteenth year entered
the freshman class in Yale College, and
soon attracted attention by the earnest
ness with which he prosecuted his studies.
After having graduated with honors. Mr..
TAFT accepted a position as teacher In the
High School at Ellington, CT, which he
filled for two years. At the end of that Pc
riod he became tutor in Yale. which DO
sition he held and at the same time attend
ed the lessons and lectures of the Law
School at the same institution. In the sum-
mer OF 1888 he was admitted to the bar at
New Haven, Connecticut. Immediately
after being admitted he removed to Ohio.
fixed his residence in Cincinnati, began
the practice OF his profession, and soon
gathered around him both friends and eli
ents. Having a liking for political life
and discussions, Mr.. Taft soon appeare d
In the ranks of the Republican party / n
Ohio. and was chosen delegate to the
convention that nominated Gen. Fremont
for President. In the same year he was
named tor Congress in the Third District
OF Ohio, but was beaten bv Hon. G. II.
fenuletion, the Democratic candidate
After some years of retirement from public
life. Mr.. Taft was appointed Judge of the
Superior Court of Cincinnati to fill va
cancv occasioned by the retirement from
the bench OF Judge Headly. He was twice
reelected To the same office. In 1872 he
resigned his position and re-eutered the
active ranks Of his profession in partner
ship with his two sons. While upon the
bench OF the Superior Court of Cincinnati
Judge Taft created quite a stir in all parts
OF the country by deciding that the Board
of Education OF that city had the power to
exclude the Bible from the public schools
on the ground that it was a sectariau book.
rms decision was by turns attacked and
defended, as the feelings and views of the
people leaned in one or the other direc-
tion. but no one questioned the honesty Of
the Judges motives or failed to commend
the ability with which he stated and defend
ed his opinions from the bench. In 1873 ex-
Judge Iatt was named as a candidate fdr
by the Republican party OF Ohio,
and although he was beaten IN the conven-
ton by Gen. Hayes stiil the vote cast In
his behalf in the face of a letter of dcclin-
alton. showed how strong he was with the
members Of his party. After the nomina-
ton Of Gen. Hayes, eX-Judge Taft made
number of speeches in his favor, in which
he took occasion to declare that he was
opposed to any division of the public
school funds ct the State or districts Ex-
J"d-c Tan is an able, honest man. and
ne public expect him 10 drive plunderer-
from their posts in the war Office and puri-
" ItN affairs in a most rig and thorough
manner.