The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1904-01-17

folio which BIihu Root will lay down
this month.
1t is perhaps more dignified to refel
to hi n as "the Hon. William H. Taft,
but to the thousands who have graspet
his hand, heard his hearty laugh anc
felt the infection of his genial TN
mighty glad to see you,' he is Bill
Taft" At Yale he was sometimes
called "Bulr' Taft, on account of his
big frame and the determined way ir
which he broke down obstructing bar
riers.
He has, however, no difficulty in es-
tablishfng his right to be called "the
Hon" A a glance at his biography is
enough. Assistant Prosecutor foI
Hamilton county, Ohio; Collector OF
Internal Revenue at Cincinnati; Judge
of the Superior Court of Ohio; Solicitor
General of the United States; Judge OF
the Sixth United States Circuit Court
member of the Circuit Court of APP
peaIs; president of the Philippine Com
mission; and first Civil Governor of the
Philippines-al of these offices he has
filed, besides twice refusing a place
on the Supreme Court bench.
sIdIL IS Idlr anu
some people think he looks like ex-
President Cleveland. He is taller than
the Sage of Princeton, weighs more
and has little more hair, although
there has been a decided thinning out
of his light brown locks in the last
few years.
He wears a light brown mustache,
somewhat long. His face is full and
I0YIf of
steel gray eyes, that usually twinkle
with good nature, can give warning
that his geniality is not to be tres
passed upon.
In one respect Judge Taft is much
like Mr.. Cleveland. He dislikes to die
tate to a stenographer, and does a
great deal of his own writing by hand.
Like the writing of Mr.. Cleveland,
that of Judge Taft is in a SMALL femi-
nipe hand that would suggest anything
but the big man behind it. His auto
graph is in as great demand that
OF any other public man, and he is inn
mensely good natured about giving it.
One result of Judge Taft's residence
in the Philippines has been the intro
duction of the glad hand" in those
islands No better proof is needed of
his democracy.
As he travelled from Manila to the
uttermost provinces of the archipelago,
his loud, hearty laughter and cordial
handshake dispelled centuries of Span
ish dignity and reserve, and left
democracy that would delight the most
enthusiastic spellbinder AS an ex-
ample of his influence in this direction
on the Filipinos, the following will
serve.
He went into the province of Bula-
can to inaugurate a local civil govern
ment Naturally he inquired for the
most prominent citizen of the place,
who was produced in the person of
Senator Jose Seraphio, an ex-captain
of Spanish Volunteers and Presfdente
of Malolos.
The gallant captain was stiff with
dignity and on his uniform coat hung
half a. dozen gaudy decorations received
in his military and civil career. He
was prepared for some grand ceremony
and all the people expected to see the
new American Governor appear in gold
bullion, glittering stars shining belt
and all the blazonry of military pomp.
Instead Taft came along in suit of
light linen, and when presented to the
foremost citizen grabbed the little fell
lows hand with a hearty How dye
do? Glad to see you and a chuckle
that startled the Captain out of his
dream.
Two weeks later Capt. Serapio re-
ceived his commission as Governor of
that province. When he appeared to
take office the natives were surprised
to see him in plain white clothes. The
fine uniform and handsome decorations
Were gone.
How is this?" was the cry.
.'It is no longer customary" replied
the Captain, as he shook hands and
greeted his people in imitation OF
Tafts democracy.
The Filipinos caught on, and class
of glad hand" politicians has arisen
in the wake of the Governor-General. |
You have described Billy Taft" said
ex-Secretary OF State Day to the late
President Mckinley one day in 1899.
The two were travelling on railroad |
train to Canton, Ohio. and earnestly |
discussing the most absorbing admin |
istration problem at that time-the |
of the Philippines.
sI want a man to head the Philippine |
Mr. Mckinley said. who |
is strong. honest and tactful. man |
Of education and executive ability. A
man fearless, but conservative, and one |
who will get along with the military |
President McKinley's schedule of the |
Qualities desired in the head of the |
commission immediately brought Judge
Taft to the mind of Mr.. Day, and the
choice was then determined.
How Taft would regard such propo-
sitfon was another question. He was
asked to Washington. and in President
private Office there occur
ed a conference that showed the stun
he future Governor of the philippines
s made Of
There was then looming up prob
able vacancy on the Supreme Court