The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-08-10

| roar method of our admiral
Teddy will be surprised at the
simpler methods of Mr.. Taft.
He Smiles Often.
But to return to his actions in max
! ing a speech The average farmer or
| citizen, standing at the back end of a
| plain passenger car, and awaiting the
appearance of the secretary of war,
will soon be pleased to see what looks
| like a stocky individual appear at the
back of the train. This gentleman,
with his hands in his pockets, or else
! folded across his ample stomach, or
perhaps placed backward upon his
| hips. will lean over, in free-and-easy
fashion and begin smiling. That's all.
| He smiles. Pretty soon the infection
of the famous Taft smile is caught by
I the nearest nearer. then by the next
then by the next and so on until, be-
fore he has ever opened his mouth
| he has an audience roaring with
laughter of the good, wholesome.
American sort.
The effect everywhere is the same
The ferocious secretary of war, no
matter where he goes captivates the
method of taking things they
come" He is absolutely human, one
of the most human men who ever
graced a judicial chair-and that is
saying great deal, backhanded ly, for
Mr.. Taft.
To illustrate this point in his charac-
ter, it is only necessary to recall his
remark upon a recent tour of inspec-
ton. He had come to western fort.
and the cavalry. marching past him in
review, was in rather zigZag line, ow
ing to the nervousness of one of the
captains. The officer of the day was
shouting all sorts of orders. Taft APP
preciating the situation, looked ahead
of him cheerfully and said:
Never mind, major. That's only hui
man. We mustn't let the little things
bother us"
AS judge. as builder of new ena-
.pires, (the Philippines for instance), as
an appraiser of the Panama canal, as
human side of everything which appeals
TO him.
PIayfeIIow With Children.
In his summer homeeat Murray Bay.
Quebec. surrounded by his. family, this
trait is everywhere apparent. To his
children-he has three-he is Just a big
older .playfellow. On the golf links his
good hunor is CONTAGIOUS. He is the
kind of man who makes a good neigh
Dor; you can sit at your back porch
in your shirt sleeves and talk across
the fence to him without either one of
you losing your dignity. He. has the
habit of making YOU feel at houne-a
very human and delishtf,ll habit.
But there is more TO Mr.: Taft than
his aniabie ~fving-in to all accidents
and occurrences. The whole American
nation is beginning to appreciate this
mans marvellous capacity for steady,
untiring work. Adopting
the old saying. he has been called
rightly "a steam engine in pants He
is by turns stolfd and stern, tactful and
patient. ample and good humored IN
his generosity. He is also cautious. as
any number Of reporters who nave trleu
to interview him can testify. He viii
not talk about the presidential posi-
bilities bottled up within him
At a banquet in Kentucky, a toast
master manipulated this. toast: Gen
+Ier,ar We viii drink to the health of
our or' president at oyster Bay. and to
o11r next president at our table Taft
looked up with a smile; 4 VIII drink
: s1fas asked a politician present. but |
there was no reply |
Does Not Play to Gallery.
The best thing about him, as peo-
ple will admit after having studied