New-York tribune., 1908-06-14
A Genial Man Who Sets at
Ease All Who Talk
with Him.

"A great brain and great heart in a great
body is the way Lyman Abbott. the well known
student of human affairs, characterized William
II. Taft the who most likely to re-
ceive the Presidential nomination at the Republican
National Convention which opens in Chicago next
Tuesday. This is as much to say that he is
all round man of the highest order.
When recalls the labors which he has per-
formed one is almost ready to dub him a modern
Hercules The great. tail body. which has become
familiar the general public in the many
in which he has been depicted is not
1abby one, but sufficiently firm and muscular to
make an imposing NEUROLOGICAL giant. In his youth
he noted wrestler. In his matsrer years
he might be lkened to the ancient hero through
his labors. Not that they resemble the actual
labors which Hercules obliged to undertake
but many Of them were labors unsought. labors
imposed upon him because they were difficult.
considerable part of his life has been spent in per-
forming tasks in all parts of the world laid upon
him by others, some of them against his inclna-
ton. Unlike the labors of the son of Acmene. his
have been feats of the mind and heart Where
the ancient giant gained his ends by brute force
by the arts Of the wind, to employ the phraseology
of the fable, this modern man Hercules
ployed the genial arts of the sun. Each is typical
in his methods and characteristics of his era.
Taft has done his work unostentatiously that
10 style him modern representative of the Greek
hero will seem TO many like hyperbole. The
methods of the not impressive those
of the wind. When. however, one stops to recount
his many deeds and their character it is seen that
he quietly has done things requiring the highest
qualities. The great pacicator he has been de-
scribed apty. A cloud threatens. 1t is
charged with antagonistic currents. Taft appears
the scene. In some indescribable fashion he
neutralizes the warning elements: the comes
out, and, to carry the figure step further. a
rainbow is In the sky 1t may be the polyglot
millions of the Philippines the of poll
tcians in Panama and the thousands in Cuba All
feel the influence of his presence the moment his
huge, benefcent form walks firmly and with the
poise Of perfect confidence down the gangplank.
1t is the combination OF mind and heart. working
together in perfect harmony. which causes people
almost instantaneousy to believe in him. He in
spires confidence. The scales Of justice in his
hand, and they will balance evenly. 1t is written
upon his face and his actions have proclaimed il
to the world The characteristics of Taft are illu-
minated by the many stories told about him.
JOKES ON HIS SIZE.
with the clear blue eyes and brownish mus
tache which is unable to conceal the geniaiity of
its supporter is his size His ample girth is one of
the jokes of official Washington. While he was
Governor General OF the Philippines he made a
long and toilsome journey to Bencat. on his re-
turn knowing that the Secretary of War would he
somewhat concerned over his safety after making
such tour through the unsettled native country
he cabled follows TO Mr Root:
Arrived sa fe and sound aSter riding ono hundred
miles mulsbsek"