The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-05-29
MIR. TAFT IN OHIO POLITICS.
Excellent Personal Impression Maoo W
His Reappearanco Last Woek.

1HH. TAFT IN OHlO
Excellent Personal Impression Made ny
His Temperance Last Hoek.
To THE EDITOR OF THE SuN-Sir: Ihe
Republican State convention which me.
in Columbus Wednesday and THURSDAY Oh
this week has moro than usual signincanoe'
because 1t simalized the reentranoe h.o
Ohio politics Of the Hon. William H. 1ae'
Secretary of War. The older men In poh-
tics recall State convention at COLUMBUS
over twenty years ago, when he appeared
at the head OF the Hamilton county oeie-
CATION. 1t was turbulent body OF men
ana had not reached that state OF olso-
pine and obedience that 1t has now ao-
qulred under the government and iesoe'-
ship of George B. Cox. It was divided on
one Of the candidates for q State ONCE anu
the vote as announced was challenged
The chairman OF the con vention ordered
the delegation polled, and Taft, a. ohslr-
man Of the delegation, was proceeding 10
make the poll, when two big delegates eoe
into an alteration and squared on Tor
fight. Taft quickly thrust the pass book
in which he was noting the poll into his
pocket, and Selling one OF the fighters with
'''S iASHl diiA tHc Quiet WAtH hn' ASNs
he pushed them back to their seats, coWed.
Then he quietly went on with the poll.
Ten years afterward, when no was Sohci-
tor-General under President Harrison
administration, he was reminded OF the
incident and smilingly said: when one
has great physical strength he ia some
times tempted to use it when he ought not
to-" Shortly after that State convention
he practically retired from State politics.
became absorbed In the practise OF law, and
in 1887 was elected Judge Of the Superior
Court Of Cincinnati. He served for three
years. He was then called to Washington
as Solicitor General, and In 1892 was ap-
, pointed by President Harrison Judge OF
the United States Circuit Court Of Appeals
for the Sixth Circuit, which position he held
until President Mckinley appointed him at
the head Of the Philippine Commission
While he was Solicitor General he assured
his friends that his ambition wss entirely
judicial, and at that time it u probable he
had cast aside all thought Of further poht1'
cal activity. His judicial and forei On duties
still further separated him from the people
and affairs of his home State, and he lost
touch with them almost altogether He
was remembered as distinguished citizen
Of Ohio, and his old neighbors and friends
took genuine pride in his achievements
and in his growing strength and influence,
but with the vast majority be was only
name. When he became so prominent
that he was mentioned seriously as pos
sible Presidential candidate transitory In
terest in him was aroused, but he really had
no constituency at homo, and the common
remark was: ooh! he Is not a politician. he
will be appointed to the Supreme bench
some day, and end his days there. That Is
his ambition
1t was Senator Dick who asked and OBJ
tanned his consent to act as temporary
chairman Of the Republican State conven-
ton. 1t may be that Dick wished to cheok-
mate the ambition of his distinguished
colleague In the Senate and saw in Taft
means to accomplish this. Whatever
Dicks object was, he was right when he
said: "One to be oommandingly influential
In national affairs should have the oon-
stituency OF his own State behind and IN
touch with him. Secretary Taft did not
have that until he appeared on the conven-
ton platform.
Whether Secretary Taft will be a candi-
date for President or not, he has had the
opportunity to meet the active Republic
cans of the State face to face, to mingle
with them and take part In their delibera-
tions, and they have had the opportunity
to meet him and to measure him as a per-
sonal and political quantity. He was, of
course, the central figure Of the convention.
Probably not one in twenty Of the over
!, 100 delegates had ever seen him.
His speech at the opening Of the oonven-
ton was OF unusual interest, because It was
believed he would speak for tho Admins
] tration on some critical questions, but l
| think the interest in seeing and hearing the
man himself was even greater than the
MESA &c he was to bring. He read his speech
with clear, distinct voice, without orator
ical flourish, much as he would read an
, opinion from the bench The interest in
it and the man was critical and intense.
The lawyers smiled when he interpreted
"caveat emptor" az every one for himself
and the devil take the hindmost," but the
large audience looked and listened, eager
to catch every motion Of the speaker and
every word he uttered and not until he
had finished and said What is the pleasure
of the con vention?" did they wake up to a
genuine appreciation OF the man and his
message.
He had captured the convention. After
the convention there was a reception in
the Governors office, where the delegates
and others had an opportunity to meet
the Secretary and shake his hand. His f1no
presence, his winning smile and pleasant,
un conventional manner won every one, and
all felt that in Ohio there was a new power
that must he reckoned with In the future,
and a power that they feel will work for
righteousness and for higher and better
things in politics in the Buckeye State.
In connection with Secretary Taft's
reported declaration that his ambition Ia
entirely judicial it is interesting to hear
from his close associates that he thoroughly
enjoyed presiding over the convention and
coming again into personal contact with
the rank and file Of his party. A. c.
COLUMBUS. o., May 20.