The Washington herald., 1908-06-21

started as a reporter after he graduated
from Princeton in 1886. Before he be-
came treasurer of the Brooklyn Bridge
in 1889 he had filed several editorial posi-
tions on the metropolitan dailies.
Mayor Taylor. with his sixty-n.ne years,
the dean among the more prominent mu-
nicipal chief executives. was tventy-four
when he quit the office of the BOOnville
(Mo) Observer, in wsich he had worked
as an apprentice and become managing
editor. and left for California. Here he
took first, his degree in medicine, then
his degree in law. To-day he is vice pres
ident Of a medical college that was large
ly founded through his instrumentality
and dean Of a college Of law. As a work
er for civic betterment he has been IA
nous for upward of a quarter of a cen
tury on the coast, where his first Job
was that Of clerk on a steamboat plying
between San Francisco and Sacramento;
he went West when victim of the gold
fever.
Has Literary Tastes.
Dr. Taylor is distinctly a bookish man.
After his retirement from active law
practice and until he was chosen to fill
the post made vacant by the deposition
of Eugene V. Schmitz, he spent practical
ly all his waking hours in his library and
the bookshops of San Francisco. He had
not the least intimation that the men
who had ousted Schmitz were considering
him for the mayoralty. When the sum
mons came to him 10 head the city gov
ernment he was found browsing around
in one Of his favorite boolshops, and II
was with sigh Of regret that he left the
dust-covered volumes for the mayors Of
fee.
Though he has won n fortune through
law: though he is esteemed by Western
educators as one OF that sections patrons
of education; though the medical men
Of the Coast look upon him as one of
their leaders. and though pretty much all
OF San Francisco IS proud of his record
as a reform mayor. DR. Taylor himself
Is perhaps prOudest OF his position as
translator of the sOnnets Of Jose de Her
edia, a Cuban born poet. who was a
member OF the noted group Of Partisan
authors who revolved around Victor
Hugo. These translations by DR.. Taylo.
published privately-have given bin an
enviable reputation as litterateur among
the really critical of things literary.
In 1870, while he was stu private secre-
tary 10 Coy. Haight, Of California. DR.
TAYLOR married into the Stanford family
Following the foundation Of the Leland
Stanford, Jr.. University he was d trus-
tee of that institution. and until dis.
agreement with Mrs. Stanford caused
him 70 resign from the board lis was an
| influential voice In the affairs of the uni
versity. Though a Democrat in national
politics, DR.. Taylor has not voted a
straight municipal ticket In forty-fvt
nd
Coasts original independent ,oter. Sar
Franciscans generally were aware of this
fact when DIT TAYLOR was up Tor election
as mayor last fall; IL assured them that
he was thoroughly Independent in civic
matters, and il doubtless had something
20 do with securing him his triumphant
| election.
Not Radical Partisan.
In private life George A. Hibbard. who
is trying 20 give his native city Of Bos
ton a nonpartisan business admlnistra.
ton. Is treasurer Of corporation OF tail.
ors. In politics ne is "a Republican. bat
since he has become mayor he has giver
as cold comfort 10 the politicians OF his
/ own party as 10 those OF the opposit,
| faith.
A Republican politician himself sine,
he attained his majority. Mayor Hubbard
al one time was chairman OF the Repub
Z lican city committee of Boston. and con
Quoted a successful mavoralty campaign
As a member Of the Nassac chusetts Iegis
. lature he was regarded as a partisan OF
partisans. He was serving his sec0nC
term as postmaster Of The Hub wher
/ the politicians Of his party. in their des
perate hunt for a man willing 90 stant
| up against Mayor John F. Fitzgerald
Democrat. up for reelection, turned q
/ Hibbard
( Mayor Fitzgerald's administration hat
1 been denounced widely by his opponent,
as wasteful and eNtravagaut. Hubbard
/ seized on this cry, promised in hi.
| speeches that n elected he Monld DO n