Milford chronicle., 1908-06-26


e In 1898 the war with Spain threw
y into American possession the Philip
b pine Islands. President Mckinley ant
8 his cabinet passed anxious hours il
. discussion Of the problem What shall
his sincere purpose was to help the PEG
pie of those islands. When he was gov.
, ernor Of the archipelago some Ameri.
can residents complained of certain
rulings made by him. Taft replied:
These islands are being governed
for the benefit Of the natives. If you
don't like the government you can get
out"
And he said it firmly, though. OF
course. good naturally. An Ill natured
remark from Taft is a thing altogether
unknown. 1t is not Of record that the
big Ohioan ever got angry save upon
that one memorable occasion when as
a young lawyer he thrashed a fellow
who had libeled Taft's father. Even
then Taft took his own time about get
ting good and mad.
The little Filipinos were awed by the
immense size Of the American who
had been sent to guide them into the
paths Of progress. At first they held !
aloot Presently they began to come |
closer. There was something in the |
Taft smile irFesistibly attractive. This
big American was by no means so
fierce as his size suggested. He was in
fact docile and affable, a friendly sort
of fellow, who seemed to want to help
folks along. Moreover, he had no ex-
aggerated sense of his own importance.
He wore no uniform, no gold lace, no
badges Of distinction. White hannels
or duck suficed for Governor Taft's |
garb. with cap or a straw hat to Gov
er his expansive head. He went around
among the natives just like an old
friend, studying their needs, informing
himself as to their history, so that he
night the better appreciate their point
# view, and always passing upon mat
ers of administration in the spirit of
he jurist on the bench who weighs
arefully both sides of a case before =
his opinion
The result of the Taft methods and -
he Taft manners was that the Filipi-
os came to love the large and liberal ba
american who was sent to rule over al
hem. They called him Saint" Taft. bu
nd when he departed for the United
tates they were not to be cOmforted
overnor Taft had remained long
lough to prove to the islanders that q
lie United States has no intention to
,ploit them or their resources for the
'neit of anybody other than them
Ives. He had made good his express
desire to do something to help the
lipino- people. He had shown that
archipelago's new government was
the benefit of the native people and
in the interest of the American set =
rs. This attitude of a guardian ma ~
to a ward was something new IN
the sun, and it required some time ..
the fact to percolate into the Fill
o understanding and into the appre-
lion of the skeptic world.
'hen William H Taft in 1904 re-
ned to enter the cabinet he already
a man with a career. He had
ieved enough to place his name
rely in American history. But his
'er was still in the making. The
ted States found it necessary under
ty provisions to interfere in the
lrs of Cuba in the interest of peace
a stable government Secretary
proceeded to the island and
ed it through the throes of a civic
luton. In Cuba, as in the Philip
), Taft spelled tact"
ough in public life for a quarter
century, Mr.. Taft's only elective
was that of superior court Judge
no. That Office he resigned to ac-
a presidential appointment The
that four presidents of the United
have selected him for important
indicates the capabilities of the
Taft was but twenty-four years
e when President Arthur made
collector Of internal revenue for
istrict in which he lived. This
on, which the average politician
be delighted to get, Taft re-
after less than a year in order
ctice law.
e Of his friends felt that in &C.
g the Craftsmanship of the Phil
commission and quitting the
lie was AOIIelIng une career
urist Twice during his stay in Al
Islands he could have ND
ed the supreme bench had he
willing to quit his work in the
l. But he was in the midst of
important duties there in mold
civil government for the native
and refused to return to the
States merely for his own ad-
e.
lie Philippines Mr. Taft had a
illness. When convalescent he
Elihu Root, then secretary of
Feel fine; rode eighteen miles
y mule today" Mr.. Root ca
lck: "Glad you are all right.
the mule?" This, of course,
official joke on the Taft avOir-