Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-08-01
GOVERNOR TAFT'S START.
Clergyman Says It Was Gained by
Whipping an Editor.

| all LAAeoA'
| From the New York Tribune.
| The Rev. DR.. Dean Richmond Rabbit
| rector of the Church of the Epiphany, Nc
| Donough street and Tompkins avenue
| brooklyn has given some Interesting rem
| iniscences to the Tribune of Gov. William
| H. Taft Of the Philippines. DR.. Babbltt In
earlier life was practising lawyer In On
| cinnati for three years, having been edu-
| Gated in the law office of Stanley Matthews
and later connected 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, was the senior MEM
Der. William H. Taft. his son, was then
| Just leaving Yale, beginning the study or
| law In his fathers office.
| The Rev. DR.. Babbitt said
| William H. Taft was a splendid example
of animal as we'll as intellectual and moral
manhood had given much attention to ath-
| letics a Yale, and was possessed OF those
| genial social qualities for which he hau
| been noted in his later public career. We
| all expected him to make a career for him
| self, but none of us guessed how he would
get his start In public life. That start was
| most singular, dramatic and sudden.
| was taking dispositions for the firm at Mar
| ietta Ohio, and was just completing my
| work. when, glancing over the morning pa
| pers l was startled to find that William
| Taft's claim on public notice and confidence
was established the afternoon previous IN
Cincinnati by his whipping an editor in de-
| Tense of his fathers and mothers good
name
William Taft and Charles Taft, his
| brother, later a congressman. were Strolling
| down 4th street. when, reaching 4th and
| Vine streets they were arrested by the
newsboys calling, All about the Judge TAFT
scandal William Taft stopped newsboy,
| bought paper, hurriedly glanced over 1t,
| and saw what a wildly sensational article
| had been got up by weak weekly paper
| bent on commercial gains by attacking the
private life of Judge Alphonso Taft:
The future governor OF the Philippines
| turned to his brother and coolly remarked.
| I'm going to whip the editor OF that paper.
Charles Taft said. 'When?
| Now replied William; and. inquiring
| the way to the Office OF the editor, was for
| tunate in meeting the culprit scribe coming
down the stairs to the street Charles Taft
| said. Will there's your man. The brother
went up to the scandaimonger asked II ne
| was Editor So and-So. and. receiving the
reply that he was. said. Defend YOURSELF!
| and with that squared on In approved Yale
method.
This was in 5th street. where many per-
| sons were continually passing. and cir
Gle, greatly interested. rapidly formed
William II. Taft was too much for the libel
! lous editor and soon had his man hors du
| combat and at his mercy. striding him on
the pavement with his weight and size like
| a Colossus Of Rhodes. and asking, Have
you enough% The reply was a weak and
| meek affirmative. and the editor was al
| lowed to rise and make OF.
| That episode had two marked effects.
minor and ma jor: one. the extingu!shing OF
| the obnoxious weekly, which never made
| issue again. and the other tho lifting or
| William H. Taft into state prominence as
| the manly and capable defender Of his
| fathers honor. The city was proud OF him.
| the state press gave him local fame. ana
| I must say that being then not so much a
| ,f NOV /
| cordially in the chorus that celebrated his
| achievement.
TT was but short time after that that
| William H. Taft was appointed to the head
| of the government treasury office at Gin
| cinnati then quickly was elected a Judge
| of the superior court. not long afterward
| made solicitor general of the United States.
| then circuit judge, and after a few years
more received his appointment to his pres
| ent exalted position as governor of the Phil
ippines But. mind you. he got his start in
public life by whipping an editor.
I'm 1898 when l was going out on the
firing line so to say. Of the Pacific coast
| on church work. met Judge Taft In 4th
| street, Cincinnati and he said to mo: Well.
| DR.. Rabbit, you are going out west and
will become bishop.
| mo I said, Judge Taft. I shall never
be bishop and you will be President long
| before 1 am bishop.
| "And why would not William H. Taft
make a splendid presidential candidate to
succeed Theodore Roosevelt. when. having
filled the accustomed time. Mr. Roosevelt
graduates into that rare, limited and dig
| nifed class known as ex-Presidents. The
first step is to make Gov. Taft the sue
cessful governor of the Philippines. the
many-sided and dignifled man of affairs,
the refuser of associate United States
justiceship, candidate for Vice President OF
the United States; that when the appointed
time comes he may step one step higher
into the presidential candidacy"