The Wilmington daily Republican., 1891-05-22
JUDGE TAFT DEAD.
The Ex-Oabinet Minister'S Long
! Suffering Ended.
BRIEF SKETCH OF HIS CAREER

hoiy aS u haWyort Docaho occro-
tary of War aud Attorney Gen.
@eral, and Afterward Represented
the United States in Austria and
Isussia.
WASHINGTON, May 22. - Attorney
General Miller was informed yesterday
by Solicitor General Taft of the death al
Los Angeles, CAL, of his father, ex-At-
torney General Alphonso Taft. Mr..
Taft was also secretary of war under
President Grant and represented the
United States at the court of Austria
and Russia. Orders were issued to
drape the war department and the de-
partment of Justice buildings in mourn
ing for thirty days and to close both de-
partments on the day of the funeral.
The remains of ex-Attorney General
TAFT will be brought to Cincinnati for
interment.
Mr.. Taft's Career.
Hon. Alfonso Taft, LII. D., was born
at Townsend, VT, on Nov. 5, 1910. In
his 10th year he entered the freshman
class of Yale college, where he remained
until he graduated with honor. He was
first admitted to the bar in New Haven,
Conn. at the end of his preparatory
studies in the Yale law school, in the
summer of 1888.
He entered upon the practice of law
in Cincinnati in 1889, and rose rapidly
in his standing at the bar He gave in
his adhesion to the Republican party at
the time of its organization, and in 1856
was member OF the convention that
nominated Gen. Fremont for president
and was himself candidate for con-
gress the same year against George II.
Pendleton, in the First district, and was
beaten, this event closing his political
experience for many years.
He Becomes a Judge.
In 1865 he was appointed judge of
the superior court of Cincinnati to fill
vacancy occasioned by the resignation
of Hon. George Hoadly. After that he
was twice elected TO the same Office by
popular vote; the last time, in 1869, he
received the unusual honor of unani-
nous vote from the people Of both
political parties. In 1879 Judge Taft
resigned his position as judge of the
superior court, and entered upon the
practice of his profession with his sons,
Charles P. and Peter r. Taft.
In 1875 Judge Taft came prominently
before the country at large for the first
time by being candidate for the Re-
publican nomination for governor of
Ohio, being the principal opponent of
Gen. Hayes for the nomination. Gen.
Hayes withdrew just before the con-
vention was held, but his friends pushed
his name, without any vigorous protest
from him, and the ballot in the con-
vention showed 325 for Hayes to 1856 for
Taft.
As Cabinet Officer.
In the early part of March, 1876 Judge
Taft was called into President Grants
cabinet as secretary of war, and two
months later was transferred to tho po-
sition of attorney general, in which he
succeeded Edwards Pierrepont, who was
made minister to England. He was sue
ceeded as secretary of war by J. Don
aid Cameron. In March, 1877, after
his retirement from the cabinet at the
end of Grants term, Judge Taft was
candidate for the seat in the United
States senate vacated by John Sherman
on the latter's appointment to the secre-
taryship of the treasury under Hayes,
but the caucus nomination went to the
late Stanley Matthews on the third bal
lot. Judge Taft then turned his atten-
ton to the governorship, but was de-
feated in the state convention by Judge
William II. West, who was in turn de-
feated at the polls by Richard NJ.
Bishop. AT the state convention of
May, 1879, Judge Taft was again can
didate for the gubernatorial nomination.
He was again defeated in convention,
but by very narrow margin, as Foster
received only $50 votes to 211 for Taft.
Our Representative Abroad.
Meanwhile Judge Taft had resumed
his practice at the bar, which was not
again interrupted until April, 1882,
when he was appointed minister to
Austria by President Arthur. From
this position he was transferred, in
September, 1884, to the Russian mission.
Since his return from st. Petersburg he
has not taken an active part in public
affairs. His son, ex-Judge William Fl.
Taft, has been solicitor general Of the
United States since February, 1890.
o.