The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1907-08-18

don't look big, do I? I don't really mind
the adverse advertising. Tn not exactly
an old lady, you know. And even adverse
advertising is good advertising at times
Indeed, the best thing in the world is ad-
TeTtising"
Opposed 10 SeIf-advertising.
These last words come queerly out Of
the Taft mouth; for II ever there was a
prominent statesman in this country who
was opposed to self-advertisement. that
statesman is Taft. He has proved time
and time again that his viewpoint is the
plain. common-sense' viewpoint, that
he is no politician. that he speaks
the truth as he sees H. Big. ami
able. honest. clear-sighted wfse-these
are the adjectives which must be applied
to the man from Ohio. whether he is TO
run fer President or not in 1908,
There is an old Song Of David" which
legend says was scrawled by Christopher
Smart upon the walls of an English pris-
on: among the lines are some which. with
out exaggeration, might well be applied
TO our own Mr.. Taft. CT the twentieth
century:
Great. valiant, pious. good and clean,
Sublime coutsmplative serene.
Strong, pleasant, constant. wise!'
Mr.. Taft is a big" man in every sense
Of the word. There is no political log
rolling or chicanery going on about him.
so far as he Is aware He Is no match
for the local politician, bent upon be
ing seen" with the Secretary Of War, and
is unskilled IN the ways of such folk On
one occasion, since the possibility Of his
Presidential campaign has been bruited
about, he was fOrcibly made the guest of
three political leaders in certain mid
Western city A dozen other leaders"
were locked out Of the hotel dining room
while the victorious three prepared to
make a local reputation for themselves
through their association with the regen-
orator of the Philippines
Unrufied by Politicians.
Mr.. Taft smiled, as he always does, and
accepted their hospitality. But imagine
their amazement when he arose at the end
Of the substantial meal, made his way TO
the day coach on his train and closeted
himself with the heretofore desplsed dOz-
en-. to the exclusion Of the three schen-
ers. His direct. administrative mind had
felt the need of dealing only with such
things as came Immediately TO hand,
and It is safe to say he never for a mo-
ment thought of the political favors and
disappointments which he was comforting
upon the local celebrities.
But to return to his actions in making
speech The average farmer or citi-
zen, standing around the rear end of
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 a free-and-easy fashion and begin
smiling. That's all He smiles.
Taft Smile Infectious.
Pretty soon the infection of the famous
Taft smile is caught by the nearest hear
er. then by the next, then by the next, and
so on until, before 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 country by
his smile and his easy method of taking
things as they come" He is absolutely
human, one of the most human men who
ever graced a judicial chair-and THAI is
saying a great deal. backhandedly. Tor
Mr.. Taft
To illustrate this point in his char
acter. it is only necessary to recall his
remark upon a recent tour of inspection.
He had como to a Western fort, and the
cavalry, marching past him in review.
was in rather a zigzag line, owing TO the
nervousness Of one of the captains. The
officer of the day was frantic. squirting
| this way and that, and shouting all sorts
of orders. Taft approaching the situa-
ton. looked ahead Of him cheerfully and
said:
Never mind, major That's only hu-
man. We mustn't let the little things
bother us"
| AS a Judge, as a builder of new empires
| (the Philippines, fof instance). as an ap-
praiser OF the Panama Canal as wal
/ official and as man, II is the human
side of everything which appeals 10 him
At Play with HIS Family.
| In his summer home at Murray Bay
| Quebec, surrounded by his family, thi:
trait Is everywhere apparent To hi.
/ children-he has three-he is just a big
older playfenow- On the golf links hi;
good humor is contagious. He is the kind
of man who makes a good neighbor
you can sit at your back porch in YOU
shirt sleeves. and talk across the fence Il
him without either one Of you losing YOU