Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1905-02-09
Two Williams.

Two Williams.
IL gees without saying that it is too
early i'll the game to form anything
like definite conclusions as to the per-
sonnet of the presidential tickets of the
leading parties in 1908. Nevertheless
one cannot help philosophizing a little
occasionally on that subject.
1t so happened that on Saturday. Jan
IS. as a member of the house commit
tee on ways ana means. / listened some
three hours TO Mr.. Secretary of War
William IL. Taft discuss the PROPOSE
ton to cut the Philippine tariff down
from 10 per cent of the Dingley rates
to % per cent, and on the evening of
the same day | passed something over
half an hour in the society of Colonel
William J. Bryan. What four years
may bring forth no man can tell, but
it is Il ten to one shot that if the Demo-
cratic national convention We're to meet
now Bryan would be nominated easily
on the first ballot and that il the Re-
publican national convention were to
meet now Taft would stand 4 rafting
good show of being nominated Both
these men hold the center of the stage
and are worthy to hold it. Governor
Taft has grown constantly ever since
President Mckinley sent him to the
orient. and Colonel Bryan is a bigger
man today than he has been at any
time since the polls closed in 1900
What's more he is growing at al
healthy rate these winter days. From
the day of his second defeat to the see
ond day Of the st. Louis convention of
1904 he lost ground steadily Many
said he was dead thought he was dead
hoped he was dead. but so soon us bel
got the floor of the st. Louis conven-
ton. which was the second day of that
historic gathering. on the Illinois CON
test ne began to grow. and before the
convention ended he was stronger than
ever before and has been growing ever
since. Men who used to sheer at him
now do him honor. President Roose-
yelts action in indorsing some of the
most important measures which Bryan
has championed for years is causing
many persons to revise favorably their
opinion Of the great Nebraskan. Divers
citizens now concede to him capacity
as a statesman who erstwhile declared
that he was only an orator. SO, on the
whole his stock is rising rapidly
Mr.. Secretary Taft makes most IA
vorable impression upon all who are
lucky enough to see or hear him. He
is emphatically big man-big physic-
ally, big Intellectually, big in expert
ence. He has had most varied ca
reer- United States judge governor
general OF the Philippines. secretary of
war. regulator of Panama. Whatever
he does he does Well '.Seest thou a
man diligent in his business? He shall
stand before kings
On dit that President Roosevelt in
tends to appoint him chief justice Of
the supreme court of the United States
vice Melville w Fuller when he re
tires. as he may do at any time on full
pay That would sidetracll him for
the presidency. whether the president
so intended or not. | am not Secretary
Taft's adviser. legal. spiritual or polit-
ical, but it appears to Il mere locker on
in Vienna that he would be acting I'M
wisely to swap off his most excellent
chance for the presidency even for the !
certainty Of the chief justiceship. Tol
be chief justice is a good thing but
to be president is better-much better |
This is proved by the fact that there
never was Il chief justice who would
not gladly have exchanged the wool
sack for the White House. while there
never was president who would have
snapped for the chief justiceship.
In addition to resembling each other
in sum total of ability, Messrs Bryant
and Taft are also alike in their prepos-
sessing manners. Each is busy with |
questions Of great pith and moment. |
yet each is Il good humored, amiable. |
smiling parsonage. AS hand shakers |
they are both unqualified successes.
Neither needs any legend across his
brow to the effect that this is a
man.'' Everybody having eyes knows
that fact on first impression.