The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1908-09-10
WILLIAM HOWARD TAFT.
A Man Who Has Done Things.

sshS htaS SSuS huNUASs
Responding to the call of the ma
ton for a man equal to the emergen-
cies confronting the Republic, the
people themselves have found him
and presented him to the electorate.
Naturally, the people sought among
themselves for one truly representa-
tive to the highest ideals of American
citizenship. Their self-understand-
ing and correct valuation Of men led
them to the individual who more
thoroughly than any other fulfilled
their requirements and that was
William Howard Taft.
William Howard Taft, of Cincin-
natl, Ohio. probably is the way he
would designate himself. That des-
ignation, however, Is grossly made
quate. For while Mr.. Taft is an
American of Americans, he Is also a
citizen of the world who, as invited
guest, consellor and advisor of for
eign governments, has exerted an in
huence for peace and international
good will unsurpassed by that of any
other American statesman, living or
dead.
The dignity OF private citizenship,
which he enjoys to-day. is in perfect
accord with his temperament and in
clination. There never has been. nor
will there ever be, anything in official
honor sufficiently alluring to draw
Mr.. Taft away from his lifelong iden-
tity with the plain people.
As boy in Cincinnatihe was ready
to give and take in all the stirring
controversies, mental and physical,
which give effect to the law of the
survival OF the fttest. AS a student
at Yale he displayed all the qualities
OF wholesome young manhood which
have made that university famous,
and the endearing traits of his char
acter were honored at the reunion of
his class during the recent summer
by a celebration more delightful to
him, perhaps, than any other demon
stration of public favor possibly
could be.
In the frank, fearless manly boy
hood and college life of William How
ard Taft there was the promise of an
earnest, generous, upright manhood.
That promise has been completely
and splendidly fulfilled. The serious
affairs of life appealed irresistibly to
the young collegian after his gradua-
ton, and at the early age of twenty
four he appeared as Assistant Solic-
itor in his home county.
Mr.. Taft's professional advance
ment from the position Of Superior
Court Judge and Solicitor General to
seat on the bench of the United
States District Court was due solely
to a frank recognition of his proved
integrity, his diligence and impartial
ity in the administration of justice
and his loyalty to the Hottest stand
ards of judicial conduct. 1t is said
of him by one who, as lawyer, knew
him well: HE was the gentlest, fair
est and most upright of all judges be-
fore whom have practiced. He was
as incapable Of doing an unkind or an
unjust thing as snow is of turning
into SCOT"
1t is, however, in his career since
his oluntary-though reluctant-re-
tirement from the bench that we shall
find the most remarkable evolutions
in Mr.. Taft's development as an
American statesman.
The country had gone through an
unsought war, the successful outcome
of which imposed new and enormous
responsibilities upon the National
Government, and placed the United
States in the attitude of a first class
power. obliged to face the perils of
permanent contact with Old World
nationalities. Momentuus problems
arose-partly racial, partly religious,
partly constitutional - all complex
and urgent. They required an Inn
mediate revision and enlargement of