The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-12-30

OF President too highly 10 permit himself
70 seem to seek It. President Roosevelt
nAs asserted more than once that po-
hticaIly and personally Mr.. Taft was one
oIthemost disinterested men In the country,
and this opinion OF the President is borne
out by many others, who regard the big
secretary OF War a. a monument Of un-
selishness. II is said Of Mr.. Taft in WASH
ngton that he cares to do nothing except
his duty, that he is not a self-seeker or a
sen-advertiser, that he works hard because
no wants TO do his work well and that be
n bothering a bit about the place he
VIII occupy In history.
L wish to say that my ambition is not
political" said Mr.. Taft in the statement
be issued to-day. This is a reference to
his desire to be Chief Justice Of the United
States. Il am not seeking the Presidential
nomination. he said, and in this oonnec-
ton 1t may as well be denied that Mr.. Taft
has authorized any political agents to
create sentiment or get votes for him.
He is just quietly doing his work. II his
party insists that he run for the Presidential
office he will not decline to do so, but in the
meantime be will not lift his hand to help
along the cause that has been started In his
behalf.
In he statement that he made to-day
Mr.. Taft indicated that he believed he was
out Of b race for the Presidential nomina-
ton, because Of what seem to me to be
objections TO my availability which do
not appear to lessen with the continued dis
charge Of my official duties" This is a
pathetic reference to the attacks that have
been made on Mr.. Taft for the policies that
he has been obliged to carry out in the dis
charge OF his duties as Secretary of War.
The particular reference ia TO the I'M
popularity of the Presidents action in
Diminishing three companies Of negro
soldiers without the formality Of legal
proceedings. As Secretary OF War Mr..
Taft wal required to carry out the Presi-
dents orders. II he does not sympathize
with the Presidents drastic course he ia
too loyal to say 30. Loyalty to those whom
he serves is one Of Mr.. Taft's strongest
characteristic and accounts to some
degree for his great popularity.
Mr.. Taft has never regarded himself as a
strong man for the Presidential race, but
his friends say that the things which he
holds would weaken his chances for cleo
ton woul really make him strong with
the people. One of these things was his
attitude toward labor troubles when he
was a United States Circuit Judge. he
not only issued injunctions against labor
unions to prevent them from interfering
with the business of blacklisted concerns
but he saw that the i~niunotions were en-
forced. Mr.. Taft's attack on the Cincinnati
Republican machine in 1905 is another thing
that he is said TO regard as tending to weaken
his political chances and he has felt keenly
the criticism TO which he has been subjected
for this and other things he has lone that
nave a political bearing.
There is a strong impression in Washing
ton that Chief Justice Fuller OF the United
States Supreme Court will retire before
the end Of Roosevelt's term as President.
Should the Chief Justice leave the bench
and the vacant Office be offered to Mr.. Taft
his whole inclination would tend toward
acceptance. While President Roosevelt
would like Mr.. Taft 20 succeed him in the
White House and has let it be known hat
Mr.. Taft Is his first choice for the Presi-
dental nomination, it Is quite probable that
he would offer TO appoint the Secretary of
War TO the Chief Justiceship il a vacancy
should occur before March 4, 1909.