New-York tribune., 1903-07-26
GOVERNOR TAFTS ST4RT.
DR.. Babbitt Says 1t Vas Gained by
Whipping an Editor.

The Rev. Dr. Dean Richmond Babbitt, rector of
the Church of the Epiphany. McDonough-st. and
Tompkins-ave.. Brooklyn, gave interesting
"reminiscences to The Tribune yesterday of Gov
ernor William H. Taft of the Philippines DR.. Bah
bitt in earlier life practising lawyer in Gin
cinnati for three years. having been educated in
the law Office of Stanley Matthews, and later con-
nected with the law firm of Taft & Lloyd. of which
Judge Alphonso Taft, eX-United States Attorney
General, Minister to St. Petersburg and Secretary
of the War Department, the senior member
William H. Taft, his son, then just leaving
Yale. beginning the study of law in his fathers
Office.
The Rev. DR.. Babbitt said:
William H. Taft was a splendid example of ami.
nal MAJ as well as intellectual and moral manhood
had given much attention to athletics Yale. and
which he has been noted in his later public career
We all expected him TO make career for himself
put none OF US guessed how he would get his start
III ~ Puolc hte. Ihat start was most singular dra-
o was taking depositions for the firm at Marietta
Ia, CItlIo, ana was Just completing my work. when,
SIa4clHg over the morning papers, I was startled
10 ma that William Taft's claim public notice
and confidence was established the afternoon prevI-
Gus in Cincinnati by his whipping an editor IN de-
leVce V;i,to OF his Isl fathers and mothers good name
a b be0ngressImlan We're strolling down Fourth-st..
arrested by the neWs6oys G eahs M 63ut th
judge Taft scandal William Taft stopped a
and s$49 that wildly sensational article had been
got up by> a weak weekly paper bent on commercial
Sans by attacking the private life of Judge AL
his brother and cooy remarked Im gong to
whip the editor of that paper"
Charles Taft said. 'When?"
- Now, replied William; and. inquiring the way
70 70 me once OF the ed4or was fortunate in meet
!ng the culprlt scribe coming down the stairs 10
Charles Taft said. VIII. there's your man" The
ne was Editor So-ard-So and receiving the reply
that he was, said, Defend YOURSELF" and with
that nat, squared off in approved Yale method
This was in Fifth-st., where many persons were
ested, rapidly formed william II. Taft ' was too
h much Ior the Hoellous editor, and soon had his
him on the pavement with his weight and size like
a Colossus Of Rhodes. and asking, Have you
enoughg The reply was weak and meek afirma-
i've, and the editor was allowed to rise and make
That episode had two marked effects. minor and
major; one. the eXtingushing Of the obnoxious
Other, the lifting Of William H Taft into State
his fathers honor. The city was proud of him,
the State press gave him a local fame and I must
say that, being then not SO much a man OF peace
that celebrated his achievement.
H. Taft appointed TO the head of the govern
Ws elected dge of f snGerior onr Tnfh o o3SH a
afterwaTd made Solicitor General Of the United
more received his appointment to his present ex-
allied position as Governor of the Philippines But.
mind nib you he got his start in public life by whip
IN 1888, when was going out on the firing line -
met Judge Taft in Fourth-st Cincinnati, and he
said to me Well. DR.. ,Babbitt, you going out
No" I said Judge Taft, I shall never be
bishop and you will be President long before am
And why would not William H. Taft make a
splendid Presidential candidate to succeed Theodore
Roosevelt when having filed the accustomed time
Mr. Roosevelt graduates into that rare. limited
The irst step is to make Governor Tsft the sue
cessfu Governor Of the PHILIPPINES the many-sided
and dignined man OF affairs the refuser of an As
sociate United States Justiceship. candidate for
the appointed time comes he may step one step
higher into the Presidential candidacy