The morning journal-courier., 1908-07-22
Wednesday, July 22, 1908.
MR. TAFT IN VIRGINIA.

hh. TAT IN NthntNtAs
 It was altogether q charming talk which Judge William II Taft gave the people of section of Virginia on Mon- day upon the occasion of the opening Of new court house at Germantown. He will, of course, be called on many times before November to speak of an infinite variety of topics, but 1t is safe to say that no one will appeal more to his own emotions, or find him more intimately in touch with its underlying and fundamental phllosopay
 T cannot go into the atmosphere of a court room" said Judge Taf;, with out feeling of deep regret that I ever left it, because for eleven years I was upon the bench. I cannot refrain from commenting on what was to me, ex- cepting only the family relation, the most intimate friendship and the sweetest relation 1 have ever experl- erced in my life" Those who are fam liar with the career of Judge Taft and tion of hls life, was will fell just lit- tie tug at the heart strings and a swelling in the throat as they have brought home to them again in this simple manner the smashing of youth dreams by the inevitable progress of government needs. It was Taft whom the government needed and drafted. Taft had no further need for the gov- ernment than to serve 1t faithfully upon the bench, when, if success crowned his efforts and recognition be- came his, he would in the end feel that he had made the most of his life as he could foresee it's demand upon him.
 The longing which he still has for the bench and to which he confeeses with such characteristic frankness is the natural longing, which every man must have who has found that the currents of life have swept him into other channels than the ones originally se- lected. Even the man who became prime minister found himself Tn the twilight days of life amusingly disap- pointed that he had been unable to achieve the distinction of boyhood dreams, and become a stage driver Success in the vocation imposed has nothing to do with their feelings of dis appointment wrung at an unexpected moment; they spring entirely from the regret born of misdirected but credit able boy dreaming. In MT. Taft's case the feeling is a bit deeper doubtless, because at the time he was called from the bench he had every warrant to be- lieve that the ambition of his life was within reach. There Is reason to be- lieve too, that when he retired from his bench to preside over the destinies of the Philippine Islands, and later to administer the affairs of the war department, he still hoped to return to judicial work and end hls days of &C., tive life in It's employ.
 The few words spoken to the good people of Germantown revealed as no other of his public speeches has the deep and rich nature of the man to whom duty appeals with such win some force and power and with whom self interest counts for so little. In another connection he showed his over towering common sense In estimating the conduct of people in political con- flict He congratulated the people ot Bath county upon the partisan equii- brium existing there For" he con tinued, "where party is constantly in control, so as to be the overwhelming ly victor party everytime, 1t is with great difficulty that evil men are kept out of administration of the govern ment" These sober words of wisdom come with real significance to the people of Connecticut where practi. cal assurances of probable victory al the polls for the Republican party, dut largely if not entirely to the winning personality of Judge Taft, are encour aging the nomination of man fol governor whose defeat would be eer tain at another time; of whom in fac 1t Is virtually said that it is unne cessary to consider his demonstrates weakness as a political leader so grea Is the stimulus of the Taft personal ity. If Judge Taft comes no neare ever than that to warning the Repub Iican organization of Connecticut as tt it. conduct this fall his words should be thoughtfully dwelt upon.