The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-10-03
rem Picture Of TOpeka's Dis.
tinguished Visitor.
Just Plain BilI'' to His Iuti-
mate Friends.
J FAMOUS SMILE.
Known for Many Years for Sun
ny Temperament.
Serious When Necessary But
Never a FrOwn.


opportunity to observe him in public
relations with men.
And Taft?' he asked, as If the
situation in particular were under
discussion at second hand. Taft?
o, Taft just laughed"
Couple this characteristic of the
n ssible next president of the United
,S.ates with the large frame of the
man weighing 500 pounds and recall
the fact that this infection of the
laugh comes from a man trained to
the law, experienced of the bench.
schooled in diplomacy, ripened by
travel, and above all bulwarked by
common sense and unimpeachable
honesty-and you have Taft-Taft.
who Just laughed"
win judgment, and sanity, and
honesty directing and tempering the
laugh or big man, what Characters
TIC could be more reassuring?
Studious posturing in a man may
cover temporarily a multitude of
wisdom in such degree that 1t is bur
densome. But to laugh, openly and
frankly. with both hands deep in a
pair of trousers pockets-where is
the tmposter who would risk it?
just Plain "Bin."
One may find light on this
characteristic of William H. Taft by
looking in on men who know him
best in Taft's home town of Gin
cinnati. He is "Bill' Taft down there.
He was bill Taft when he occupied
the bench of the superior court of
Cincinnati; he was bill" while he
occupied the position of solicitor gen.
eral under President Harrison. and
when he vacated the bench of the
United States circuit court in 800 to
a. host OF Cincinnati friends went
down to the station to see Bill" Taft
on his far away mission.
History will record the difficulties
Of this mission. 1t may overlook the
fact that when in 1907 Taft went
back to the islands to a cool re-
ception on that official visit, he de-
parted home after a farewell re-
ception such as never before had
stirred the Filipino people. Taft had
'just laughed" and the Philippines
had laughed with him
But If Taft can laugh he does not
need the Complementary frown when
occasion demands that he stand firm
ana fast some one looking on from
distance beyond earshot while
President Roosevelt, gesticulating his
earnestness, on one occasion chaI-
lenged the position of his war secre-
tary. wrote this of the picture pre-
sented:
"Taft's left hand was in his overcoat
pocket and his right hand held a black
fedora hat. He did not gesticulate:
he spoke in soft, low sentences ana
yet you could fairly feel the Impact
Wnen they reached the president
thought of angry waves beating
against an immovable rock. It was a
study to give the imagination free
play, and yet know better than can
say mat the placid. imposing firmness
Oh the secretary won a victory"
How He Fooled the Guide
Apropos CT Mr.. Taft's person son,e
one has remarked that since the time
OF washington the United States never
has had a really fat president. But
the term fat does not apply to the
300 pounds or the presidential candi-
date. He is of frame to carry the
weight. and still preserve the sense %
proportion. Friends once bribed a Ca
madam guide to lose Mr.. Taft in the
wilderness OF Canadian trout
stream. 1t was an all day Job for the
guide. But In time for the camn SIM
per Taft came swinging home. hungry
as a bear. Half an hour later the
guide, draggled and winded, came in.
raging.
What fool you max wis me, Hev sit
lose, shure Mike. hey git lose: but
holly mackerelle. she walks me ali
'roun' dey dam Canada"
When Taft was on the bench he
faced labor problems and rendered his
decisions. Later in his public career he
found partisan opponents who tried to
show that these decisions had been
inimical to the interests of the laboring
man. Thus when it came about that
Taft was to speak on the great east
side Of New York in Cooper Union
friends begged of him to confine his
talk to political generalities. Brainy
men and women of socialistic and sim
gle tax ideas were to be present.
But to this advice of his friends Taft
''just laughed" without warning
however, the big man arose and in q
speech OF $4,000 words tackled the labor
question to the exclusion of virtually
ali else. Sincere honesty was in HE
pose, and his breadth of view and fair
ness instantly were revelations to his
hearers. They cheered, fired the hot
shots of questioning at him, and re-
ceived answers that provoked more
cheering, and when the Cooper Union
meeting was at an end hundreds press
ed forward that they might shake his
hand.
The big man plays at golf as hard
and heartily as he works His 400
pounds sits in saddle with the poise
ard certainty that belong to the
trained horseman. The Taft summer
home at Murray Bay, Canada, gives TO
its occupants all the pleasures that
summer homes in such environments
can give. Yet this is only a rented
home, and friends enjoying the hosnI-
tality of its unfinished board walls have
referred to it as the shack"
Taft Family.
To William H. Taft. however. the
Taft family and its friends constitute
home, and. public man that he has
been for years, the Taft family has ac-
companied him as far as IT has been
possible in his globe circling duties.
Little Charlie Taft probably is the
most travelled boy of his age in the
world. He has accompanied his father
on two journeys of tremendous dis
tances and made the recent trip with
the secretary around the world. The
boy is the special chum of his father
on the globe trotting journeys. If the
father is too busy with social or Official
business to attend to the demands of
the small boy for company in his play
then the mother is his partner. And