The Washington herald., 1906-12-30
SECRETARY TAFT
WILL NOT DECLINE
CONTINUED PROM FIRST PAGE.

held out to him of being the Republican
standard bearer in the next national
campaign. Naturally, he was hattered
over assurances from not only his cs,i
friends. but many leading Republicans,
that he was the one man who could save
his party and the country in 1903 Besides
ne knows. as nearly everybody did. that
he was President Roosevelts favorite for
the race But Mr.. Taft was not carried
on his feet. He positively declined to
permit his friends to herald him as a
candidate for Mr.. RoosevcIt's shoes or to
make any efforts, no matter how circum-
specify conducted. to get him prestige
ana votes among those who will have a
say In the selection Of the next Republi-
can nominee for President
Early this year, when it became known
that president Roosevelt had offered Sec
rotary TAFT the place on the United
States Supreme Bench to be made vacant
Dy the prospective retirement OF Associate
Justice Henry B. Brown, there was much
talk about Mr.. Taft's Presidential pros
poets. IT was said then that the Presi-
dent wanted to get Mr.. Taft ont of the
way so that ne tMr. Roosevelt could OBJ
tain another nomination for the highest
Office In the land. As a matter OF fact,
MI Roosevelt had no intention at that
time. and has not now, Of trying 20 secure
third term. He made the offer to M
Taft because all the latter's tendencies
were toward the bench. and il was not IS
an act Of questionable friendlincss, but as
q compliment TO "A man whom he liked
as much for his ability as for personal
reasons, that the President gave Mr.. Taft
the opportunity Of realizing his ambition
10 don the ermine. When Mr. Taft de
clined, after several months considera-
ton, 70 accept the hattering prefer Of a
diguiiied life office, and William II.
Moody. another member Of Mr. Roose-
velts Cabinet, was chosen for Justice
Browns place. there was a natural re-
sumption Of the reports that Mr.. Taft
was listening 10 the buzZing OF the Presi-
dental bee. But those who credited those
reports overlooked the important fact
they We're not fully acquainted with the
circumstances which led to Mr. Taft's
declinatiOn.
Why OfTer Was Declined.
At the time President Roosevelt told
Mr, Taft that the coming vacancy on
the highest judicial tribunal was his if
he wanted it, the Secretary Of War was
engaged in work which he was anxious
to complete before leaving the War De
partment Panama Canal affairs were
not progressing as satisfactorily as he
desired and there were things TO be
done with reference to the Philippines
which he wanted TO do himself. There
were other important policies pending,
also n not giving the President a pos
tive answer at the time the Supreme
Court offer was made, Mr.. Taft was in
huenced mainly by the desire TO adjust
canal affairs. Philippines matters, and
ether things within his jurisdiction, be-
fore leaving the War Department Later.
when he declined 70 accept the offer, he
was Influenced to a great degree by
these same considerations. although it
is reasonable to suppose that he felt 70
d certain extent the justice Of the insist
ence Of his closest personal and polit-
zeal friends that he would be unfair to
himself, 10 them, and 10 his party if he
placed himself beyond the prospect OF
having the Republican nomination for
the Presidency come TO him.
President Roosevelt has asserted more
than once that. politically and personally,
Mr.. Taft is one of the most distinguished
men in the country, and this opinion of
the President Is borne out by many
others, who regard the big Secretary of
War as q monument Of unselfishness. Tt
is said Of Mr.. Taft in Washington that he
cares 70 do nothing except his duty; that
he is not a sslf-seeker or a self-adver-
tiser; that he works hard because he
wants 70 do his work well. and that he
IS not botheTing a bit about the place he
viii occupy in history.
4 wish 10 say that my ambition Is not
political said Mr. Taft in the statement
he issued yesterday. This is a reference 10
his desire 10 be Chief Justice Of the United
States I am not seeking the Presiden-
tiaI nomination" he said, and in this con-
uectiOn il is denied that he has authorized
any political agents 10 create sentiment or
get votes for him. II his party insists
that he run for the Presidential Office, he
viii not decline To do so. but, in the
meantime. he viii not exert himself 10
help along the movement that has been
started in his behalf
Chance for Chief Justiceship.
There is a strong impression in Wash
ington that Chief Justice Fuller, of the
United States Supreme Court. may retire
before the end Of Mr.. RooseveIt's term as
President Should the Chief Justice leave
the bench, and the vacant office be Of
fered to Mr.. Taft his whole inclination
would tend toward acceptance. While
President Roosevelt would like Nj Taft
10 succeed him in the White House, and
has let it be known that Mr.. Taft is his
first choice for the residential nominal
ton, it is quite probable that he would
offer 10 appoint the Secretary of War TO
the Chief Justiceship if a vacancy should
occur before March T. 1909.
Members Of the Ohio delegation in Con-
gress are inclined TO await further devel-
opmentS before commenting for publica-
ton on the situation brought about by the
publication of the story of Mr.. Taft's ten
tative candidacy and by his statement.
Senator Foraker. whose chances for the
are believed by m; ny TO have
been increased by Mr.. Taft's statement,
naturally declined to say anything.
Representative Theodore +. Burton,
who was the leader Of the anti-Foraker
movement in Ohio last fall. carefully
dictated the following sentence when
asked for an expression:
Secretary Taft will have large fol-
lowing among Ohio Republicans, even if
he is only a receptive candidate for the
Presidency"
If they have done nothing else, the de-
of the last twenty-four hours
have given the politicians something TO
talk about and think about The first gun
of the campaign for the Republican nom
nation may be said 20 have been fired,
and from this time forward the fight will
be on in earnest, even if there are but
few outward evidences Of 1t for a few
months.