The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1905-02-16
Two WILLIAMS.

1t goes without saying that 1t is too
like definite conclusions as to the per-
sonnel 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.
%, as member of the house commit
tee on ways and means, listened some
three hours to Mr.. Secretary Of War
William II. Taft discuss the PROPOSE
tion to cut the Philippine tariff down
from 75 per cent Of the Dingley rates
to 25 per cent, and on the evening Of
the same day 1 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
1t is ten to one shot that If the Demo
cratic national convention were to meet
now Bryan would be nominated easily
on the first ballot and that II the Re-
publican national convention were to
meet now Taft would stand a rattling
good show of being nominated. Both
these men hold the center of the stage
and are worthy to hold 1t. 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 a
healthy rate these winter days. From
ba 40 oPl ly Iafoof 70 ha
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 as he
got the floor Of the st. Louis conven-
ton, which was the second day of that
historic gathering on the Illinois con-
test, he began to grow and before the
convention ended he was stronger than
ever before and has been growing ever
since. Men who used to sneer at him
now do him honor. President Roose-
velt's action in indorsipg 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 statesman who erstwhile declared
that he was only an orator. So, on the
whole, his stock is rising rapidly.
MIR. Secretary Taft makes a 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 sidetrack 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 mere locker on
In Vienna that he would be acting un-
wisely to swap Off his most excellent
chance for the presidency even for the
certainty of the chief justiceship. To
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 chief justice who would
not gladly have exchanged the wool
sack for the White House, while there
never was president who would have
swapped for the chief justiceship.
In addition to resembling each other
in sum total of ability, Messrs. Bryan
and Taft are also alike in their prepos-
sessing manners. Each is busy with
questions OF great pith and moment,
yet each Is 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.