The Washington times., 1908-06-10
FaUortte Sons and Others
No. 4-WILLIAM HOWARD TAFT,
Possibilities and NearPossibties for the Republican
Nominations for President and Vice President
Personalities and Achievements

President Mckinley. to cross the seas
and become governor o. fbA PHILIPPINES.
Il was sense OF patriotic duty that
led him to accept that office and IL
was mat same impeIling power that
caused him to throw himself heart and
soul into the work So Interested did
he become in his Filipino charges that
when Root resigned as head Of the War
department and Tart vas drafted TO
succeed him, he insisted upon keeping
supervisory charge over the people
whose arection he had won and whose
aspirations and iimitations re SO well
knew.
Problems of War.
After being engaged in the paciaca-
uon Of savages he was now confronted
with the problems of warfare and
schemes OF attack and defense; then
congress loaded onto the War Depart
ment the task OF building the Panama
canal Taft assumed this, with his
other burdens with entire eauanimity.
Nhen the Panamans became FESTIVE
anu Iahcleo grievances arose between
'hs United States Government Of The
Canai ZChe and the newly established
republic. Taft went himself and. with
minute tact, and with an aUuareutly
intultlVe realization OF South American
- Ilatdclei' adjusted the differences AMI
"Ol ltie confidence and regard Of the
new allies OF the United states.
j, would seem that the Philippines
ana the Panama Canal with their many
ll Llllcdte details we're OF themselves
enough 10 fuly occupy the time OF one
man let when President Palma's gov
tIhmeht IN Cuba fell 10 pieces IL was
81 VIZ was called upon 10 perform
Ile Work OF oIganIzaJiOn. II was
tart VINO went 10 Rome ON the deli
cate diplomatic mission OF adjusting
the large claims or the Roman CATH
one church for the property taken from
II IN lhe Philippines, and he succeeded
so admirably that the authorities OF
Rome and the United States. and the
FIllplnos themselves, applauded his ac-
complishment.
When the controversy arose between
EoWens the American minister TO Ven
ezuela, and LOOMS. the Assistant Sec
-tJdly or state, It. was Taft-acting at
the time as Secretary Of both state
ana war as Well as sitting on the lid"
Tor the absent PTesideut-W no conduct
ed the inVestiga tiDn and rendered iudg-
ment The financial rehabilitation of
SaLio Domingo was also worked out
under his supervision.
Win an OF these muitifarIOus Ye-
probabilities put upon him he vet finds
time 10 attend 90 the thousand and one
details OF the business of the War De
pertinent. OF course, he has able as
Slstants. But Il is a fact that no i'm
portant paper issues from the War De
parJmeut which has not received the
careful personal attention Of the Sec
Rotary No matter how volumiuous the
records I'M ihe case. Taft insists up0n
going through them until satisfied that
he has q thorough understanding. with
marvellous faculty for the quick as
sanitation OF facts he reaches a deci-
sion rapidly and it IS seldom indeed
that ne has 10 revise a Judgment IN
the consideration OF c0urJ-uaTtial cases
Le IS especially careful and not iufre-
quently tempers justice with mercy.
OF one thing. however. ne Us int0ler-
ant, and that is deceit Receiving one
day the case OF an officer condemned
10 dismissal from the array, and dis
posed TO be lenient with him for the
sake OF his family, Taft went through
the records Suddenly. throwing them
aside he remarked "Ah but he lied
about IT," and proceeded 10 approve the
Court-martial decree.